Access to your rented home for repairs and inspections

You need to let your landlord into your home to:

• check gas and electrical safety

• fix problems that you have reported

• deal with problems that make your home unfit to live in

• deal with serious damp and mould that affects your health

Check your tenancy agreement to see if your landlord can visit for other reasons.

For example, regular inspections, improvements or viewings for new tenants.

Your landlord should not use these reasons to visit too often or disturb you.

When your landlord can visit

Landlords should only do work or inspect your home at reasonable times.

A 'reasonable time' means a time that is likely to be convenient for you.

It should not be too early or too late, or when most people would be busy.

You should get:

• at least 24 hours' written notice of an inspection

• reasonable notice if someone needs to carry out repairs

'Reasonable notice' is usually at least 24 hours. But it could be very short notice if you need emergency repairs. Your landlord must tell you first and should not just turn up.

Your landlord can send someone else to inspect your home or fix a problem, like a contractor or an agent.

If an appointment is not convenient

Suggest a different time.

You might not need to be there in person. You could:

• ask a family member or neighbour to let them in

• give your landlord or agent permission to enter with a key

You can copy our template into a message or email:

Your landlord should not just turn up if you do not agree to an appointment.

Shared houses

Your rights may be different if you live in a shared house.

Your landlord cannot come into your home without permission if you have a joint tenancy for the whole property.

If you have a separate tenancy agreement for your own bedroom, your landlord cannot come into your room without permission. But they can usually come into communal areas like kitchens and bathrooms without asking.

They must still have a good reason to be there and should treat the property as your home. They should not come in too often or at inconvenient times.

Your tenancy agreement might give you more rights.

If you have a licence agreement

Your landlord can enter your room without permission if you have a licence agreement rather than a tenancy.

Your licence agreement should tell you more about your rights.

Licence agreements are not common. Get advice if you have one.

Do not refuse access for repairs

Refusing access for repairs, inspections and safety checks could:

• put your health and safety at risk

• break the rules of your tenancy agreement

• make it more likely the landlord will evict you

Your landlord might also ask you to pay towards fixing a problem if it became worse because you did not let your landlord in to fix it early.

If you're worried about your health

Let your landlord know if someone coming into your home might put your health at risk.

You could agree steps to reduce contact and get work done while staying safe.

You can copy our template into a message or email:

If you have bad physical or mental health

You could ask your landlord to wait with a visit until you feel better.

Make it clear that you will agree a different time as soon as you are well.

You can copy our template into a message or email:

Access for painting and home improvements

Painting and decorating are not repairs. Your landlord does not have to do this unless it's to deal with damage after fixing something in your home. For example, repainting after a leak.

Bigger jobs such as a new kitchen, bathroom or windows are not usually repairs unless this is the only way a problem can be fixed.

Check your tenancy agreement for what it says about your landlord's access for improvements.

You might have to let your landlord in if your tenancy agreement says so. But your landlord should not use this as a reason to disturb or harass you.

If your landlord wants to redecorate before you leave

Sometimes landlords want to decorate or renovate as soon as you give your notice. This is usually so that new tenants can move straight in.

You do not have to give access for this if you do not want the work to go ahead while you still live there.

Viewings when your landlord is selling

Your landlord might ask you to let them and potential buyers into your home if they want to sell your home.

You do not have to let them in unless your tenancy agreement says so.

If your agreement says you must let them in, you can ask your landlord to organise viewings for when it is convenient for you.

If your tenancy agreement says you must allow viewings your landlord still needs you to agree to them. They might take legal steps to access the property for viewings if you refuse.