The saga of a communal front door and the security keys

Eton_Rifle

There may be a card that you need to present to the locksmith before he will agree to cut the keys - and even then it may only be particular locksmiths who will do it.

I've had these sort of locks fitted to houses that I've rented out so that the tenants are unable to cut duplicate keys.

Fiddlestick

Can Persimmon write you some sort of "letter of authority" that they agree for the locksmith to cut the key, and that the authority is good for 14 days from the date of the letter?

Maybe that would work?

Hugbubble

Hi, I was given a similar type of key when I bought my flat.

Timpsons said they wouldn't cut them without a letter from whoever was authorised to do so. My management company weren't particularly helpful in telling me who would be the best person to write such a letter....

So, I basically got a letter on headed paper from work (I work for a large higher education establishment) saying that it gave permission to cut the key, and Timpsons accepted this.

I warn you however, it cost £20 and took 3 weeks for the new key to come, but I had to have it done as I was scared of losing my sole key.

Good luck.

vyle

Hugbubble wrote: »

Hi, I was given a similar type of key when I bought my flat.

Timpsons said they wouldn't cut them without a letter from whoever was authorised to do so. My management company weren't particularly helpful in telling me who would be the best person to write such a letter....

So, I basically got a letter on headed paper from work (I work for a large higher education establishment) saying that it gave permission to cut the key, and Timpsons accepted this.

I warn you however, it cost £20 and took 3 weeks for the new key to come, but I had to have it done as I was scared of losing my sole key.

Good luck.

That sounds like a good idea. Do you have a template of the letter you wrote? Also, did timpson take the letter/do any follow up on it, or just accept the letter at face value?

Mr_Thrifty

Can't u just get it done at the market? Plenty of dodgy key cutters there.

SurreyChris

An independant locksmith might be more helpful than a chain one like Timpsons. The guy in charge won't be a manager for someone else, they'll own the business and own/rent their own equipment so they can use their discretion and common sense.

When I bought a second hand car that didn't have the original master key for the immobiliser, only the spare one (all perfectly legitimate, the owner had owned the car for the last 5 years and lost the master key) the chain locksmith around here wouldn't touch it but the independant one was fine once I showed him the log book and my photo driving licence.

In this case I'd imagine they'd be happy with some proof of address and photo ID.

hermum

They must be able to issue another set of keys, or when you bought the flat did you have to sign something to say that you will always live alone? 2 people living together need a set of keys each.

Hugbubble

vyle wrote: »

That sounds like a good idea. Do you have a template of the letter you wrote? Also, did timpson take the letter/do any follow up on it, or just accept the letter at face value?

It was my partner who went into the shop, but as I understand it they took it at face value. They may have kept the letter (I can't remember- it was 2 years ago!) to cover their own back in case of a complaint. But as you are a legitimate key holder, this shouldn't be a problem.

vyle

I've dug out the lease agreement and spent the past 20 mins reading through it trying to decipher legalese.

Before going to a locksmith again and risking sending my key off (which would make life very difficult) I'm going to try to get Persimmon to get a key cut on my behalf.

In Part 2 of the first schedule, it says the following:

1. The rights for the Lessee (in common with the LEssor and the Company and all other authorised by the Company or entitled to the like right) at all times and for all purposes incidental to the occupation and enjoyment of the Demised PRemises:

c) full and free right and liberty for the Lessee his servants and licensees at all times for the purpose only of access to and from the Demised Premises to pass and repass on foot only over and along the footways on the Development and the amenity Areas and the Accessways comprised in the Block.

I would assume that having the liberty and right of access to the Demised premises (my flat) at ALL TIMES would mean that should I lose my key, or should I and my partner need to access any area we have the right to keys that allow access?

I'm going to copy that out and post it to persimmon and demand an answer.

lynzpower

These are difficult keys to cut and many places will not carry the blanks. You usually need a authorisation letter although I guess the email might well suffice if it is headed with the company name.

Timpsons as good as anywhere to be honest, independent security specialists might also carry them but generally not keys/cobblers independent type places.

They do take a long time IME.