Can I change the locks on my rental property

B_Blank

Wee_Willy_Harris wrote: »

If flooding is such a major issue for you, perhaps you should re-evaluate your routine maintanence provision. The idea any more than a tiny minority of rental properties floods in any given year is far more of a joke. Perhaps, in the spirit of mutual regard for each others homes, landlords could also give the tenants a spare key to THEIR home????? Thought not.

Precisely!!

The attitude ALL landlords have that the house is THEIRS and we are there to give them money is a joke. Once they rent it out it stops being there house and it becomes our home for the length of the tenancy. This means the landlord has no right whatsoever to even think about coming round, unless it is to fix things - which is part of his obligation as a landlord.

We pay landlords for a home - not to be treated like a piece of sh!!t beneath their shoe.

tsstss7

It is possible that disgruntled ex tenants can coming calling and try to gain access. One of my neighbours was evicted recently and the new tenant told me thay had returned a few weeks later after she had taken occupation and tried to let themselves in. I think they had left stuff behind as the move was rushed and had expected the place to be empty for a while.

Eton_Rifle

B_Blank wrote: »

The attitude ALL landlords have that the house is THEIRS and we are there to give them money is a joke.

We pay landlords for a home - not to be treated like a piece of sh!!t beneath their shoe.

I'm a landlord and have never once set foot in any of my tenants' homes and I don't intend to ever do so.

To address your second point : one particular house I rent out at the lower end (£625 a month) of the market and for which I have bent over backwards for each set of tenants, accommodating their hearts desires - every single one of them has utterly shafted me and left me with a huge bill for damages.

I've only just today found out that the tenants who have just moved in this month have already started damaging the place far in excess of their deposit.

Each of these tenants has treated me like a piece of sh!!t.

Respect cuts both ways, B Blank.

josievg

I have just bought a house and the first thing I did was change the locks as it seems a sensible precaution - you never know who has keys.

I did the same in my two previous rental properties even though there were clauses in the agreement forbidding it.

I was in my last place for 3 years and previous place for 10 years and (as far as I know) my landlords were unaware that the locks had been changed.

I had a story ready, for if they should ever find out, that my key snapped in the lock and I'd had to change it. Meant to give them a copy of the new key but forgot.

Never needed the story as it turned out.

[Deleted User]

Eton_Rifle wrote: »

Respect cuts both ways, B Blank.

Absolutely agree, a rule people should respect in all aspects of life!

If people treated each other with respect we would not need solicitors or LA!!

James_N

B_Blank wrote: »

Precisely!!

The attitude ALL landlords have that the house is THEIRS and we are there to give them money is a joke. Once they rent it out it stops being there house and it becomes our home for the length of the tenancy. This means the landlord has no right whatsoever to even think about coming round, unless it is to fix things - which is part of his obligation as a landlord.

We pay landlords for a home - not to be treated like a piece of sh!!t beneath their shoe.

Your previous posts all indicated you were living at home. When did you join the ranks of the disaffected tenants?

poppysarah

B_Blank wrote: »

Thinking of taking a place but had some bad experience with landlords thinking they can come into my house.

My question is can I legally take a place and then change the locks without asking/telling the landlord? I could then maybe change the locks back when my tenancy is over?

Thanks

How would he know unless he's going in when you're not there?

Norman_Castle

My question is can I legally take a place and then change the locks without asking/telling the landlord? I could then maybe change the locks back when my tenancy is over?

Yes, you have the right to privacy in your home. I would change the locks as soon as possible and be suspicious of a landlord who objected.

peaches48

If changing the locks is not something you wish to do, can I suggest something else.
You can buy chain locks i.e. it's like a normal door chain, except you can go out and lock the chain in place. Someone trying to get in with a normal door key, when opening the door, will see the chain and think that you are inside. Even if you don't respond to them knocking or calling out (leave a radio playing for more normal behavious if you are inside), you could say you were in the bath and didn't hear them and then question them as to why they were trying to gain access without any prior agreement or notification, which is something I believe a landlord has to do (except emergencies: flooding, fire etc. but then why would they be around just when that happened). They would then hae to give a good reason. But the main point is, you would have stopped them gaining entrance but without having to change the locks.

pawlala

B_Blank wrote: »

If a LL came in and I wasnt expecting him what could I do to make him leave? Could I treat him as a home invader or do I have to let him stay? COuld I say leave or I call the police and if he keeps coming in can I physically restrain him?

I'd firstly ask him what the bloody hell he thinks he was doing entering the property without prior agreement.