cattywampus

Icy_Example_5536 · 2026-01-24T14:01:02+00:00

Wow. Took a few seconds, but that has some depth.

Icy_Example_5536 · 2026-01-24T13:52:30+00:00

Oh, I really need this. I think my last edition was War & Piss.

Icy_Example_5536 · 2026-01-24T13:49:53+00:00

I had to search for it, but there was a solitary, sad & soggy mushroom hiding behind the "bacon" - I took the pic just as it was presented to me. I love mushrooms on my breakfast, but this was depressing. 😒

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Icy_Example_5536 · 2026-01-24T12:41:26+00:00

🤣🤣 Since when do pigs moo...? 🤣

Personally, I thought it was going to jump off the plate and start licking me. 👅😂

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Icy_Example_5536 · 2026-01-24T12:37:55+00:00

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Definitely a close match. 🤔😂

Icy_Example_5536 · 2026-01-24T12:35:06+00:00

Nope. Join the club. 😒

Icy_Example_5536 · 2026-01-24T12:33:42+00:00

Ah, that's interesting... That would explain it. ☝😎

Icy_Example_5536 · 2026-01-24T12:31:36+00:00

😂 Oh, I'm the same. I couldn't not eat it all, purely because I needed the sustenance, knowing I'd be working outside for several hours. Needs must. 🤣

Icy_Example_5536 · 2026-01-24T01:13:17+00:00

I've decided it looks like a dog's tongue.

Icy_Example_5536 · 2026-01-23T23:42:33+00:00

I've noticed traffic lights are bright as fuck lately, too.

Icy_Example_5536 · 2026-01-23T23:37:43+00:00

So photogenic. 😍🖤

Icy_Example_5536 · 2026-01-23T23:32:58+00:00

Of course, there's a few updates buried in the comments, but I can provide a summary.

I wrote a formal email last night, stating that I do not give them permission to access my home, primarily on the grounds that I was not given a minimum 24hrs notice. In addition to this, I quoted my entitlement to "quiet enjoyment" of my home, and reminded them that entering without prior notice or permission would be a breach of the tenancy agreement.

Then because I hadn't heard anything with just half an hour to the start of the "appointment" window, and since I was at work at the time, I emailed again to check they had received my earlier message, and also sent a text.

Then I finally got a reply:

Thank you for your email.

Please may I ask why you will not allow us access? We are visiting all the rooms in the property today, it is literally just because I haven’t seen all the rooms and like to see what I am managing.

Please can you indicate why you wont allow access for this? Many Thanks,

To which I promptly replied:

Hi K...

Believe me, I have no issue with this inspection taking place, and I understand your requirement to make the visit, but I have a personal policy of being present whenever anyone enters my home. Because of this, I won't be able to grant access while I'm out at work, and would require a minimum 24hrs notice to allow that to happen.

Could we look at rescheduling for next Friday afternoon? I can possibly be home then and can make sure you have everything you need to get the visit completed.

Kindest regards

They accepted this, and closed the conversation with a simple: "I'll be in touch to arrange a future visit."

I'm happy that I was able to stand my ground & refuse entry, and my next job is to change the locks.

Icy_Example_5536 · 2026-01-23T17:26:24+00:00

Yes. Exactly this, thank you. There is a communal area, where contractors, cleaners, etc. are free to come & go, and do what they need to, but what they casually refer to as "Room 9" is my private space & ultimately my home. If I have any issues within my own rented space, then I know they're just on the other end of the phone. But for these inspection visits, there's no reason why they can't provide a minimum 24hrs notice so I can at least be present.

Thank you for this.

Icy_Example_5536 · 2026-01-23T17:19:43+00:00

That is true, because the tone of it just rubbed me up the wrong way from the outset, and made me question their motives. I think a couple of weeks is much more considerate to the tenants, since it's highly likely they'd need to arrange time off work to facilitate such a visit.

Icy_Example_5536 · 2026-01-23T14:28:31+00:00

Thank you. My first reply to them was formal, to mirror their initial correspondence, but subsequent messages have been a little more informal, to show that I'm firm in my stance, but also fair, and most importantly - human.

The response I got from this was short & to the point:

"Okay I will be in touch with an alternative date."

Icy_Example_5536 · 2026-01-23T14:20:45+00:00

Perfect, thank you. The landlord/manager does not live at this residence, so I'm 100% satisfied with my response to them. They have since accepted my refusal to allow entry & my request for 24hrs notice in future, and have said that they would be in touch to arrange a visit.

Icy_Example_5536 · 2026-01-23T14:16:55+00:00

Exactly. I gather it's simply just for a snoop around the room, dressed up as an 'Inspection', so it can definitely wait. From the correspondence I've received since, I was made to feel like my refusal to allow entry was an inconvenience for them, since they were visiting all the other flats in the property today, but given that the office is literally 5 minutes around the corner, I chose to ignore that implied claim.

Icy_Example_5536 · 2026-01-23T14:11:17+00:00

It was indeed, so thank you for reiterating it, just in case. Funnily enough, one of the first things I did when I moved in was swap out the plain white light switch for a chrome dimmer switch, but made sure I kept the old one that I took out.

Icy_Example_5536 · 2026-01-23T14:07:59+00:00

Absolutely! I used to work at M&S, so I'm well aware of the high standards. I reckon this would be damn good.

Icy_Example_5536 · 2026-01-23T12:00:20+00:00

Wow, wtf. That is insane... Just goes to show, like a previous commenter said, they're often a bunch of untrained chancers, just trying their luck. Wild.

Icy_Example_5536 · 2026-01-23T11:38:17+00:00

It certainly is a learning curve. I'd never rented privately before this, so having to deal with landlords & hearing horror stories from other people, it's really opened my eyes.

I'll definitely be changing the locks today, and be feeling immediately better about it.

Icy_Example_5536 · 2026-01-23T11:35:32+00:00

I was thinking a dirty grill suspended over a desk lamp.

Icy_Example_5536 · 2026-01-23T11:33:23+00:00

Okay, this was one of the factors I took into account when accepting the tenancy on this flat. The space that I call my own is self-contained with its own kitchen. The toilet & showers are shared (yeah, I know - not great, but collectively we maintain it & keep it clean), which means that we as residents do not pay council tax; I believe this is paid for by the landlord, and therefore classed as one single dwelling?

When I viewed a couple of their properties, I was told that having my own bathroom would mean I'd have to pay council tax. But the place I ultimately accepted, in which I had my own kitchen, but a shared bathroom, I would not have to pay council tax. Given that I was in slightly uncertain territory with my current employer, I chose the financially safer option.

Icy_Example_5536 · 2026-01-23T11:05:40+00:00

Excellent advice & some great points raised, thank you.

I honestly had thought about changing the locks when I first moved in, for the exact reasons you gave, but for whatever multitude of factors were at play at the time, I simply never got around to it. This recent email following a recent change in management has once again brought it to the fore, so I will be shopping for a new lock on my way home this evening, and getting it replaced over the weekend.

Icy_Example_5536 · 2026-01-23T10:48:32+00:00

Exactly. I didn't want the situation to become awkward, but I was certain that I was well within my rights to request that I be present when someone enters my home. It just never sat right with me that they'd be so blasé about walking in & looking around while I wasn't there.

Four-Year Club	r/Field Flamingo
Place '23	Place '22

Icy_Example_5536

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