Can I change the locks on my rental property

Geenie

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.

OK, so lets get this straight. A tenant goes off to Australia for 3 weeks during the coldest December in recent history. They decide to turn all of their heating off, not turn off the water, despite their tenancy agreement stating they need to maintain the place during the winter months. The house is insulated to a high degree, has double glazing and is well maintained with smoke alarms, fire extinguishers.

We get a call from the neighbours to say that water is pouring from burst pipes and coming into theirs! Don't give me any nonsense, they left the place freezing with no heating.

What do you think we should do then if we don't have a key to the place, and when we ring the tenants they state they are on the other side of the world?!


Seriously get real. The damage they caused was considerable to a Grade 2 listed building. If we hadn't had keys to get in then I dread to think what the result would have been when they eventually came back.

Norman_Castle

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?

You can tell him to leave, call the police if neccessary. If he keeps coming in its harrassment.

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/renting_and_leasehold/rights_and_responsibilities/landlords_responsibilities#0

Morglin

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

Yes, you can change the locks without permission of your landlord, and it's a sensible thing to do anyway - who knows who may have keys to the place?

But, keep the lock/barrel and put it back when you vacate the property.

Lin