VERY bizarre query

Dani85

Right this might sound daft, but I shall start at the beginning!

Last Wednesday we picked up the keys for our house. I got told that another set of keys were going to be dropped in by the vendors relatives (as the vendor now lives in Australia) on Thursday or Friday. With the hectic move etc, I realised on Monday morning, hold on we havent had a call from the EA.

So I rang up and they said they were going to email the vendor as the keys still hadnt been dropped in to find out whats going on. I am just about to call them about the keys again now.

BUT yesterday, we came into the house after work and in the bathroom there is a heavy smell of aftershave and NOT one my OH wears. Its almost as if someones had a wash and a pruning session in our bathroom!! Now, 3 people said they could smell the aftershave as I thought I may have been being v.v.v.v paranoid!!

If we can't get this other set of keys back, is the EA or vendor liable to pay for my locks to be changed? Or would I have to do this off my own back.

Longwinded and weird I know but thanks in advance!!!

prutter

Woah, that does sound concerning.
Get down b&q and get a new barrel for your door lock (comes with new keys).
Should be a 10 min job to replace. I've not done them myself, but my Dad did ours on our flat, and had it done within 5 mins - he says it's a doddle!

nobblyned

First thing I do in a new house is change the locks anyway. This might be the only spare set of keys you are aware of, but who knows how many other sets there might be. You might be really careful with your keys, but who's to say they were.

At a minimum I'd change the mortice locks front and back, a good one is about £30-40 (5 lever) and for £60-80 you've got peace of mind. They're pretty standard and easy to fit. Don't rely on replacing just the Yale locks. This cost is just something I would expect when buying a new house.

As for your possible visitor, was anything else out of place? I'd be sure to check all the valuables carefully. If you can find physical evidence of anything missing then I'd consider the police.

rafraf03

Very scary indeed !

Like Prutter says, changing the barrel is a quick and easy job (there should just be one screw to remove...)

I think it will be the first thing I'll do when we move !

maninthestreet

Could it have been the EA??

charlesworth82

Could it have been a ghost?

But seriously I agree and would get the locks changed as soon as possible and if there is a house alarm get the code changed on that.

scope

I changed the lock last time I bought a house, and will this time aswell, probably before unpacking... Gives you peace of mind, who knows how many copies of the key is in circulation....

aurorahelios

Personally I'd always get the locks changed anyway when moving into a new house, you don't know how many copies of keys are in existence or who has them. I found a key belonging to a relatives house that she had moved out of about four years ago lurking in my draw. I've since disposed of it, but if I was dishonest or a weirdo it wouldn't have taken minutes to check if it still worked and be in the house.

se999

I always change the locks too.

It's amazing how many neighbours have spare keys (which is OK once you know them), relatives who only visit once in a while, estate agents, dog walkers..... The list just goes on and on.

House insurance claims can be iffy if there's no sign of forced entry.

Dani85

Thanks very much everyone. I think a trip to b&q tonight is in order!!!

Tiger_greeneyes

Unfortunately, it's down to you now. Spare keys could be anywhere. You could check with your solicitor to make sure you can't claim from someone else but I'm 99% certain that the responsibility would be put back onto you to change the locks.

Annoying, I know, but once it's done, it's done