What to do when you arrive and no one answers

[TMB]

So just turned up to a tenanted house to do some work agreed we would be here at 8.30 9.00 been banging on the door ringing the bell for the last 45 minutes but no answer students live here so are all sleep at a guess can't get hold of the owners I do a fair bit of work for them so don't really know as how to proceed as I've got to pay the lad who's with me and for my wasted time but don't want to upset the client thoughts would be appreciate many thanks Tom

[Shane]

If you know the client and are confident he will pay, crack on.

As for the studentsd still being asleep - you know what everyone will say about that.

[justo7]

How well do you know the landlord, would he honor the agreement if you went ahead anyway? Is there access to the site (removing panels if necessary etc....). Do you have another job to pull forward so you can make the most of the day? Can you so tool maintenance? Clean kit, vehicles, sharpening etc?

 

 

 

So just turned up to a tenanted house to do some work agreed we would be here at 8.30 9.00 been banging on the door ringing the bell for the last 45 minutes but no answer students live here so are all sleep at a guess can't get hold of the owners I do a fair bit of work for them so don't really know as how to proceed as I've got to pay the lad who's with me and for my wasted time but don't want to upset the client thoughts would be appreciate many thanks Tom

[agg221]

Are they asleep or are they ignoring you? I wonder what would happen if you went round to where the work is to be undertaken with the biggest saw you have with you and revved it up full to warm it up? Maybe a curtain or two will twitch, at which point knocking on the door again may get more results?

 

Ale

[SteveA]

If you've done a fair amount of work for the owner and been paid reliably, without a quibble; if it were me I'd just crack on with the job.

Cheers, Steve

[dan494]

Had that once, phoned the landlord and he was still in bed elsewhere as was supposed to be letting us in. 😡The job never did get done but luckily one of the neighbours spotted us and wanted a quote for some work, turned out to be a mornings work, did it cheap to guarantee a yes and did it there and then

[Old Mill Tree Care]

I do lots of work at rented houses. The tenant invariably doesn't care and when they won't answer the door, I run a chainsaw flat out in front of the door until they do.

No joke.

 

And I don't wait 45 minutes. Two is my limit

[10 Bears]

Students may live there - but are unlikely to be there out of term. Most universities sent their undergrads home May/June. Perhaps this is why you aren't getting an answer?

 

How did you make the agreement with the owner? Do you have a formal contract? If so, I don't see the problem in getting on with it and billing them as I have personally done a lot of work like this. Even an email agreeing for you to do the work on X day for £N is a formal contract and you can crack on.

 

If you haven't got anything in writing at all then I can understand your hesitancy, but only you know how you set up the agreement to do the work.

[woody paul]

Just crack on, got to a job last year which was booked for 8.30-9.00 start no one in gate lock which has boarded panel above so about 12 foot high. Spoke to neighbour there out was the answer from them. Any way after a long talk to them I went over fence and unlocked gate, owners wife came back a hour later like hell in her car jumped out saying sorry was in a rush and for got then asked how we got in looking puzzled.

[Joe Newton]

We had this at a student rented house in Coventry. No answer, gate locked, etc. the place was a mess, open bin bags scattered through the alleyway etc.

 

The landlord came out and suggested putting a boot to the gate, and he'd reclaim the cost as the tenants had been notified! I couldn't believe my luck! I have to boot the chipper container closed twice a day anyway, so I've got a pretty solid front kick

 

Anyway, gate sorted, conifer killing ensued, then the cheeky tenants later accused us of breaking their rickety bodged up weight bench!