Problems with locks on rented property

N79

Unless I am missing something I do not see any evidence of negligence on the part of the LL or LA in this thread.

You really need to calm down when talking to the LA etc - you come across as very aggressive with lots of silly legal threats. This does not help resolve your problems.

Have you written to the LL yet asking them to reimburse you? This really is the first step.

scottyh56

Very calm in dealing with LL - don't worry. Everyone tells me I roll over which is why I'm sounding out here. Anyway, I'm not threatening, I'd just like people to be aware of possible consequences if £5k of contents goes missing!

N79

In order to stop "rolling over" you need to start writing with your greviances. You really must write to the LL, enclosing a copy of the receipt and explaining, as you have here, why you did not get prior approval. Then wait and see if they are willing to reimburse.

All of the first three posters on your thread have given you this exact same advice. It may be a little more work but you need to move beyond the telephone which is far to easy for a lazy LA to ignore.

scottyh56

Sorry, should have stated that I have emailed all info to agent within 2 hours of their office reopening after Easter. The issue is the prevarication I mentioned - deciding whether to replace Banham, fit 5 lever instead etc. It took 6 weeks to get spare keys & I feel I am going down same route again.....

Here's the follow up just sent.

"Hi < Agent >

I've heard nothing for several days on this - if we are broken into (a real danger, given the apparent history of a recent break in) then the situation becomes far more complicated if our insurance company refuses to deal with a claim. They are going to understand a temporary lowering of security but this is getting beyond that.

I mentioned the cost of the locksmith. Can you clarify where we stand on that?"

N79

I do not know what your original email said but I offer the following comment to be useful and in a spirit of help, but I realise that this post may appear to be a dig at you. It is not, it is just my opinion on the art of complaining. If they say no to such a request then you can decide whether to fight on to the next level.

When you are writing a letter to difficult people or making a complaint you really need to include the following two things.

1. What you want them to do.
2. The timescale in which you want them to do it.

scottyh56

Hi - no problem! If I was feeling annoyed then it was some of the comments in this thread. I even get it with tradespeople - when I first moved in I had a central heating engineer around to fix a shower pump & had to put up with comments that it was my fault because I was running the water too hot. He completely missed the fact that the hot water tank thermostat was not working & needed to be replaced. I now know how it feels to be on the end of subtle (or not so subtle in his case) prejudice!

Anyway - I've received a reply and a locksmith is apparently about to contact me. The issue of the call out fee for the emergency locksmith was ignored but I might return to that once we have the lock sorted.

lynzpower

The problem is this is how long Bramah takes to replace keys. We have been waiting in our company almost 10 weeks for some keys. It is only bramah ( i understand) that copies them themselves, your normal locksmith/ timpsons etc will not do this.

I do not think that this is a fault neccesarily on behalf of the letting agent, honestly I think everyone is staggered by how long Bramah actually takes- I know we were at work, normal key pace we use takes 5 mins.


i wonder why you have been criticised for being so disappointed there is no out of hours service. In all my years of renting, I have never EVER been provided with an out of hours number in all my years of renting through agencies. Its totally ineffectual and you would think it makes more sense to have an emergeny.

my feeling is if you get nowhere Idd give them notice and withhold this from the deposit but send copies of all invoices+ reciepts into them.