Old Agent has 2nd set of keys to rented property

Lady_K

Daughter has started renting a property a couple of weeks ago and was given 1 set of keys for front and back doors. She asked for the 2nd set and they told her they would be dropped off in the next few days at the property. This didnt happen so she asked again and the agents said they were having trouble getting in touch with the owners who were supposed to be posting the 2nd set of keys to thier offices. They told her if she wanted to get another set cut the owners should refund the cost but I don't see why she should have to do this and also she wants to know where the 2nd set of keys is for sure. She asked them to please get it sorted as she does need the 2nd set. They have now told her that the previous agents have the set of keys and so far they have not been able to get them back from them.

The house was previously put up for let by a different agent but the owners swapped agents to the ones my daughter rents the house through now. I don't like that the old agents have these keys to the house where my daughter is living now and soon she will be going on holiday, its not nice thinking that complete strangers have the keys, they shouldnt have them at all anymore.

What can she do to get her present agent to sort this out quickly? they are difficult to get hold of and it seems once youve signed up for so long renting a property with them and they have the commision they put you on low importance. She hasnt a clue how to use the boiler or controls and has asked for the intructions but still doesnt have them too

franklee

As a tenant I'd ring up the other agent myself to make sure they've been told the property is let. It's been known for a second agent to walk in on the new tenants with a viewer as they weren't kept up to date.

If there is a theft with no sign of forced entry then will your daughter's contents insurance be valid?

I'd put a complaint to the agent in writing giving them few more days to retrieve the keys and if they do not then I'd change the barrel of the locks before the holiday, keeping the old ones to reinstate at the end of the tenancy. Really having a set of keys floating about isn't acceptable.

(There was one extreme case on this forum where the property was let by the second agent to a second tenant while the new tenant, found and installed by the first agent, was away for couple of days shortly after moving their first few belongings in).

Also if the property was let before then the old tenants may have cut extra keys. Another reason to change the locks IMO, I'd pay for that as a tenant, money well spent to secure home and belongings. Most new locks come with three sets of keys IIRC.

tbs624

The fact is that you don't know how many sets of keys there are to any property you move into, bought or rented. Just change the lock barrels and relax: keep the old ones somewhere safe to put back when your daughter moves out.Changing the cylinder is a very straightforward job. I really couldn't be bothered writing to an LA about this one. You are absolutely right that once signed up on the dotted line you become less of a priority, so find the quickest route to peace of mind for both you and your daughter.

Lady_K

Thankyou,

This is the first time the property has been let it seems as the agent told her that the owners had to move with thier job so decided to rent the house out, the nieghbour confirmed this too as although she didnt talk to them she knew they were the owners and no one had rented the property after they left. So it will be the owners and the 2 different agents that have had keys at least.

Is it legal for her to change the locks on both doors? At the moment the present keys are the big type ones although the back door is upvc and the front I think is double glazed but wooden with similar lock. How do we know which type of locks to get to replace them?

Trust_2

Another option, not sure what insurance she has on the property, presume contents, read the policy, look for loss of keys,

You will have a small (Normal) excess charge, and they will change all the locks,

Yes it is manipulating a policy but technically a set of keys have been lost, and it does cause a risk to the property

As for legality of changing locks, you just need to inform the letting agent and get it in writting.

Good luck

Rick62

Yes it is legal, just keep the old barrels and put them back when she leaves.

It is very easy to change the barrel, usually just undoing a couple of screws. You just replace the barrel (not the whole lock) with one of same type, between you you must know one person with some basic practical skills to help?

barnaby-bear

Lady_K wrote: »

Thankyou,

This is the first time the property has been let it seems as the agent told her that the owners had to move with thier job so decided to rent the house out, the nieghbour confirmed this too as although she didnt talk to them she knew they were the owners and no one had rented the property after they left. So it will be the owners and the 2 different agents that have had keys at least.

Is it legal for her to change the locks on both doors? At the moment the present keys are the big type ones although the back door is upvc and the front I think is double glazed but wooden with similar lock. How do we know which type of locks to get to replace them?

I have a key to my friend's old rental house for watering their plants - it had another set of tenants, and two owner occupiers in the intervening 7 years and I happen to now know the next door neighbours - it's a terrace and I can see the same lock - I'm so tempted to ring the door bell and say "hi, would you like this spare key to your house?"

Lady_K

I have just rang the agents myself because no matter what my daughter decides to do about changing the locks they arent doing thier job and they should have given her the extra set of keys by now anyway.

I withold my number so its more likely the bloke will pick up the phone as to him it could be a potential new customer rather than one already on the books that he really can't be bothered with. He lied and said he had tried to call my daughter on Monday, of course she would have had a missed call from him if he had and he did not leave a voice message or text to back this up, I don't believe he has thought twice about this key situation.

He could not wait to get off the phone, he said again he had not got them and the old agent had and its not going to be a problem to get them back its just a matter of picking them up, so why hasn't he and why do we have to constantly chase this up! I said it wasn't right that other people have the keys to the property and it should have been sorted before now. Why he said he tried to contact her on Monday I don't know because all she needs is for him to drop them off even post them through the door if shes not in

I don't trust him in the slightest and when my daughter leaves the property I will not be at all surprised if he finds something wrong to keep the security bond. I asked my daughter if he went through the preoperty when she moved in as there was some marks on the white carpet and a big stain hidden by a chair that I didn't want him saying she had done when she leaves but she said he wasn't bothered he didnt look at any of that. He might well have not been bothered to take note of these things when she moved in but might be very interested when she moves out. I have told her to show him the marks now so he knows, but again I really don't trust him.

His business has no office base which concerns me, he just has email and telephone contact on his website, he says its him and 2 other guys but there is no evidence of any other partners. What if he goes on holiday and theres a problem with the boiler or something

She won't be staying more than 7 months unless they drop the rent substantially then so she didnt want all this hassle with keys so I'm mad she'd have to change them at her own expense or have to claim for something and pay excess on any insurance she has for lost keys that she has never seen, to be hionest I think it should be standard practise that landlords should cover this cost if a tennant requests new locks

00ec25

Lady_K wrote: »

Ito be hionest I think it should be standard practise that landlords should cover this cost if a tennant requests new locks

CALM DOWN

you really seem disturbed over the fact that a known set of second keys is not with your daughter. You have no confirmed idea how many other sets are in existence, the advice you have been given to change the locks is the only way in which you are going to have assurance that your daughter is safe from intruders in this property.

your daughter has an absolute right in law "to quite enjoyment" of the property, but realistically how can you ever be sure that that is the case unless you have changed the locks yourself and hold the keys yourselves. If that level of security is what you are obsessing over then its your problem not the LL's, so why should the LL pay for it (or realistically pass the cost back in higher rent!)

ruggedtoast

If you move into a rented flat theres probably about a dozen people or more with access to the property if they wanted. The agents, the cleaners who clean the agents offices, the landlord, the landlords mates and entire family, every tenant who ever lived there.

If someone wants to break into your house they will do. Not having the keys will slow them down by all of about 35 seconds.

barnaby-bear

ruggedtoast wrote: »

If you move into a rented flat theres probably about a dozen people or more with access to the property if they wanted. The agents, the cleaners who clean the agents offices, the landlord, the landlords mates and entire family, every tenant who ever lived there.

If someone wants to break into your house they will do. Not having the keys will slow them down by all of about 35 seconds.

We all have the same issue if we buy a house too - when I was green I didn't but these days 10 minutes after me and my stuff go in - new locks - when renting we used to swap barrels with our closest friends....