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URGENT advice needed. Letting agent threatening to change locks on my door
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I am really shaken up. Unfortunately it is not possible to speak to a solicitor or to an advisor at somewhere like Shelter, until Monday morning. I'm presuming the letting agents won't harass me further before Monday? Also this particular letting agency are renown for being aggressive and breaking the law apparently (according to other tenants in the same building)0
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Communicate yes, but there is absolutely no need to give them a key if the T does not want to. Why is that foolish?
I'm a bit confused. If it is potentially illegal for them to change the locks against my will and to make these threats - why are they doing it? Surely for them to put such a threat in writing is rather foolish as I could present it to a court if need be?0 -
QuantumSuccess wrote: »I'm a bit confused. If it is potentially illegal for them to change the locks against my will and to make these threats - why are they doing it? Surely for them to put such a threat in writing is rather foolish as I could present it to a court if need be?
Probably because they have no knowledge of the law. No qualifications or experience are required to become a LA. Some are completely unprofessional.0 -
Communicate yes, but there is absolutely no need to give them a key if the T does not want to. Why is that foolish?
The OP has already offered to provide a key. The landlord has a duty to repair and ought to have a key in case of emergencies - although yes I know opinions differ on that. I'm sure the lease proscribes changing the locks.No reliance should be placed on the above! Absolutely none, do you hear?0 -
Thank you very much everyone for your advice so far. I should add that my letting agents are really unpleasant people. So my priority here is simply being absolutely clear on what my legal rights are rather than trying to be in my letting agents good books. Interestingly I have a letter dated 6 days ago, from my letting agent, that says, "I have spoken to your landlord and he is happy to extend your tenancy for a further 12 months when it expires." I'm printing everything out so I have all the paperwork to hand should I need it.
ETA: I see the woman from the letting agent has now replied to my last email. She says that she is going to serve a Section 8 notice on me for adding a new lock to the front door. I have heard of Section 8s but I am not quite sure what it entails. Can anyone enlighten me?0 -
It is notice seeking possession for breach contract. However, it can only succeed on certain grounds described under the housing act. You cannot be evicted for changing the locks whatever the contract may say. None the less, keep all communications and respond only on writing.0
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The LL doesn't have right to access without permission and therefore does not need a key. The LL has handed the property and access to you with a contract and lawfully has to abide by this.
You are allowed to change the locks during your stay as long as you leave the property in the same state as you found it.
Tell them they are disturbing your "quiet enjoyment" of the property and you view it as harassment. Hopefully they will take the hint and back off.
Don't worry, they obviously think you adding a lock means that you have other motives and they have jumped to conclusions.
Give them a call and explain why you added the lock as the above posts state.0 -
dorset_nurse wrote: »The LL doesn't have right to access without permission and therefore does not need a key. The LL has handed the property and access to you with a contract and lawfully has to abide by this.
You are allowed to change the locks during your stay as long as you leave the property in the same state as you found it.
Tell them they are disturbing your "quiet enjoyment" of the property and you view it as harassment. Hopefully they will take the hint and back off.
Don't worry, they obviously think you adding a lock means that you have other motives and they have jumped to conclusions.
Give them a call and explain why you added the lock as the above posts state.
Dare I ask what sort of motives?:o0 -
That you might be planning to sit tight and stop paying rent... that there is a reason you don't want the LL or EA in your property; like you are growing plants you shouldn't, burying people in the cellar etc
(ok that was OTT) you get my drift 
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