Stolen property in shared house by keyholder. Who is liable?

[Deleted User]

I've deleted this

Fire_Fox

You wouldn't be insured anyway if there was no sign of a break-in and you certainly wouldn't be insured without a crime reference number. Have you reported the theft to the police? Might scare your housemate into making sure the bike is returned safely ...

[Deleted User]

yes it's been reported & I have a crime ref number. They couldn't get any finger prints unfortunately

Emmzi

your responsibility to insure and secure your belongings, not the landlords. He has no liablilty.

[Deleted User]

they said that if I suspected someone in the house it would be treated as ny other theft

Jowo_2

Right, you suspect but can't prove your flat mate was responsible for the theft but believe the landlord is filthy rich and won't mind paying towards its loss because you didn't bother to insure your contents? Most ASTs typically make the tenant responsible for insuring their belonging - what does yours say?

Is it possible that the theft was carried out a tenant from an earlier tenancy, who may have kept a copy of the key and the landlord did not change the locks after the previous tenancy ended?

[Deleted User]

it was secure. it was inside a locked house

Jowo_2

Deleted User wrote: »

they said that if I suspected someone in the house it would be treated as ny other theft

right, so if there was a break in by a burglar, then the landlord would also not be responsible for paying for the tenants missing/damaged belongings caused from this act of crime...

[Deleted User]

Thanks. Yes I know it was my responsibilty to insure. I don't have an @i'm entitled thing going on. i am just wondering what I can do. The locks haven't been changed since past tenants.

[Deleted User]

Surely people can't just let themselves in to a house & help themselves to what's inside with a set of keys and no one be liable?

Jowo_2

you can ask for discretionary compensation from the landlord but there's no obligation for him to pay.

change the locks yourself and give a copy of the key to the landlord if he's dragging his feet and you don't think he's the responsible party - swapping out the barrels themselves with identical ones is cheap and simple.

however, since the suspected instigator of the theft is actually responsible and still living in the property, then the thefts will continue...