We have an absent landlord who is engaged in deliberate avoidance. No address, family claim he is dead/missing/never heard of him for fun.
Their tenant has some damage to a balcony section which includes partially broken/shattered glass which could represent a danger if was to become loose and fall and could also injure the tenant.
We have asked the tenant for access (nicely and in writing) to inspect this and they are playing hard ball. Claim we are terrorising them and they wont do anything until the 'landlord' talks to us. This is never going to happen. The classic case of the unit owner using their tenant as a weapon to protect them from having to accept responsibility as a member of a management company.
The lease provides for full rights of access at any time given reasonable notice which we have provided to the tenant and the unit owners old address (which is just going into the ether) and we been more than patient.
Has anyone any experience of this. My next step is to advise the tenant that we will 'affect access' to our balcony if we are prohibited or prevented from doing this by them after providing reasonable notice and explanation.
We have a locksmith on standby to remove (but not replace) any lock that may be in place to counteract our rights under the contract lease. Do we need a court order as well?
Does this sound reasonable? My fear is that this glass will drop out and kill or maim someone in the future if left and then no doubt we will be sued for negligence because we did nothing when we had a right and obligation to ensure the safety of everyone in and around this building.
Their tenant has some damage to a balcony section which includes partially broken/shattered glass which could represent a danger if was to become loose and fall and could also injure the tenant.
We have asked the tenant for access (nicely and in writing) to inspect this and they are playing hard ball. Claim we are terrorising them and they wont do anything until the 'landlord' talks to us. This is never going to happen. The classic case of the unit owner using their tenant as a weapon to protect them from having to accept responsibility as a member of a management company.
The lease provides for full rights of access at any time given reasonable notice which we have provided to the tenant and the unit owners old address (which is just going into the ether) and we been more than patient.
Has anyone any experience of this. My next step is to advise the tenant that we will 'affect access' to our balcony if we are prohibited or prevented from doing this by them after providing reasonable notice and explanation.
We have a locksmith on standby to remove (but not replace) any lock that may be in place to counteract our rights under the contract lease. Do we need a court order as well?
Does this sound reasonable? My fear is that this glass will drop out and kill or maim someone in the future if left and then no doubt we will be sued for negligence because we did nothing when we had a right and obligation to ensure the safety of everyone in and around this building.