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URGENT advice needed. Letting agent threatening to change locks on my door
QuantumSuccess
Posts: 488 Forumite
I have been in my current flat for coming up 3 years. The lease is due to expire this August and each year previously the lease has just been renewed by the landlord. I am currently in my 3rd consecutive 12-month Assured Shorthold Tenancy. Today i received the following email from the letting agent:
"XX has been down to the property twice this weekend and it has been noticed that you have had an additional lock put on the front door. This is breaking the terms of your contract. If you do not respond to the email or contact the office within 5 days we will be instructing a locksmith to change the lock at your cost. We will also not be renewing your tenancy agreement."
Where do I stand legally? I did not change the locks. After a series of break-ins in my building I took advantage of a free security appraisal by the community police. They told me that the lock on my front door was "pathetic" and advised me to fit an additional five-lever lock. I had a locksmith fit such a lock for me and sent my letting agent an email informing them what I'd done and offering to send a key for the additional lock to the landlord. I did not hear back from them until now. Can anyone here simply tell me where I stand legally on this please?
"XX has been down to the property twice this weekend and it has been noticed that you have had an additional lock put on the front door. This is breaking the terms of your contract. If you do not respond to the email or contact the office within 5 days we will be instructing a locksmith to change the lock at your cost. We will also not be renewing your tenancy agreement."
Where do I stand legally? I did not change the locks. After a series of break-ins in my building I took advantage of a free security appraisal by the community police. They told me that the lock on my front door was "pathetic" and advised me to fit an additional five-lever lock. I had a locksmith fit such a lock for me and sent my letting agent an email informing them what I'd done and offering to send a key for the additional lock to the landlord. I did not hear back from them until now. Can anyone here simply tell me where I stand legally on this please?
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Comments
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They can not do that!
It is harassment pure and simple.
If they follow it through, inform the police then pursue a claims against them for wrongful eviction.0 -
Colincbayley wrote: »They can not do that!
It is harassment pure and simple.
If they follow it through, inform the police then pursue a claims against them for wrongful eviction.
Just to be clear Colin - are you saying that they legally cannot change my locks and charge me for it? They have stated clearly that they will change my locks within 5 days.0 -
QuantumSuccess wrote: »Just to be clear Colin - are you saying that they legally cannot change my locks and charge me for it? They have stated clearly that they will change my locks within 5 days.
They CAN NOT change your locks! Simple
By all means, send them a key if you wish, but they can not lock you out of the property.
Have you phoned them to see why they want to do this?0 -
You are entitled to do what you like with the locks during the tenancy, however you are obliged to return it as you found it at the end.
It would be illegal for the agent to change locks during your tenancy, but they could legitimately charge you if you failed to return the locks to the original state at end of tenancy.
They are not obliged to renew tenancy but any attempt to lock you out would be illegal eviction, a criminal offence.0 -
Why don't you simply do as they ask and contact them and explain what happened? Why go on the offensive?0
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Colincbayley wrote: »They CAN NOT change your locks! Simple
By all means, send them a key if you wish, but they can not lock you out of the property.
Have you phoned them to see why they want to do this?
this seems to have been prompted by one of their staff seeing that I'd added a lock to my door0 -
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Tortoise is right - sort it out amicably and give them a key. The fact that they are acting foolishly does not mean that you should do likewise.No reliance should be placed on the above! Absolutely none, do you hear?0
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I would ask them what business did they have to visit the property twice during a single weekend.
Then I would remind them that changing the locks (which costs would be none of your business) could be construed as illegal eviction, which is a criminal offence.
Eventually, to cool things down, I would remind them of your offer to send them a key, and why you added a lock, adding that they should be happy that you did not ask them to pay your costs.0
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