Landlord unfair charge lost key

db_x

Hi all,

Had a horribly stressful day yesterday after returning from holiday and all night flying I have lost my one and only front door key.

I've checked everywhere that I can think of maybe 5 times each and not found it and the only conclusion I can come to is that I left it in the door half asleep and someone taken it from my front door in the the couple of hours I spent before realizing I didn't have it (I was half asleep and could have easily happended) I live on a busy road so it could have easily been seen in these couple hours.

Now I've looked around and there are lots of tutorials on how to change one fairly quickly DIY style for little cost however my tendency specifys the lock set changing is £89 and as my landlord often uses their keys to get in so they would notice very soon.

They have their own fully employed DIY guy who will do it in 5 mins at no cost to them so it's unfair in my opinion.

Where do I stand legally with changing the locks myself? They're a student letting firm and so I only have 2 months left on my tendency and I live alone so no other keys need issuing.


Thanks for any responses in advance!

Db

notbritishgas

db_x wrote: »

Hi all,

Had a horribly stressful day yesterday after returning from holiday and all night flying I have lost my one and only front door key.

I've checked everywhere that I can think of maybe 5 times each and not found it and the only conclusion I can come to is that I left it in the door half asleep and someone taken it from my front door in the the couple of hours I spent before realizing I didn't have it (I was half asleep and could have easily happended) I live on a busy road so it could have easily been seen in these couple hours.

Now I've looked around and there are lots of tutorials on how to change one fairly quickly DIY style for little cost however my tendency specifys the lock set changing is £89 and as my landlord often uses their keys to get in so they would notice very soon.

They have their own fully employed DIY guy who will do it in 5 mins at no cost to them so it's unfair in my opinion.

Where do I stand legally with changing the locks myself? They're a student letting firm and so I only have 2 months left on my tendency and I live alone so no other keys need issuing.


Thanks for any responses in advance!

Db

If the landlord has a key why not admit what you have done and get a new key cut from their key.

agrinnall

Have you asked the LL if they will allow you to change the lock yourself, and obviously provide them with keys when you leave (no need to supply them earlier, LL has no right to use a key to enter without your permission, although in some circumstances they may be allowed to force entry if they don't have a key)? If they will let you then all is fine, if not then you'll have to abide by the tenancy agreement that you signed. If you change the locks without agreement then expect the LL to make their change once you've gone and retain the charge from your deposit.

agrinnall

notbritishgas wrote: »

If the landlord has a key why not admit what you have done and get a new key cut from their key.

I would imagine because the OP suspects the key was taken from the door, therefore wants to change the lock anyway, which seems like a sensible idea to me.

notanewuser

notbritishgas wrote: »

If the landlord has a key why not admit what you have done and get a new key cut from their key.

Because somebody else now has a key and knows which house it belongs to........?

thesaint

What does your tenancy agreement state about changing the locks?
If it forbids it, you are not allowed to, but the landlord would be limited in options to "punish" you for doing so.

db_x wrote: »

They have their own fully employed DIY guy who will do it in 5 mins at no cost to them so it's unfair in my opinion.

You are joking aren't you? If he is fully employed by them, that means they pay him.

db_x

Yeah i don't want a spare as I think someone took it.

After thinking I realized there is a latch on the door they don't have a key to and isnt in use so I'm thinking I will replace that and use that for the remainder of my tendency then they won't know unless the try to enter without telling me which is illegal anyway..

thesaint wrote: »

You are joking aren't you? If he is fully employed by them, that means they pay him.

he gets paid hourly on set hours, he is usually in the office cuppa tea in hand waiting by the phone.

Ie they don't need to pay a locksmith as they already pay this guy= no extra cost other than the spare barrel

giddypenguin

he gets paid hourly on set hours, he is usually in the office cuppa tea in hand waiting by the phone.

I don't really see why that's any of your concern...
If you think the charge is unfair, why did you sign a contract with unfair fees in it? I don't really see how you can argue this fee now... you've already agreed to pay it in the event you need to change the locks, you took the gamble that you'd never need to... now you do...

vegasbaby100

I dont think that it is that unreasonable. To change a barrel lock in Hammersmith from a lock smith last week was 75 + VAT. Yes its london. But why should the landlord have to have a DIY job????

Why dont you get a professional locksmith to change it.
That would be fair surely?

What he does with his staff is his choosing and may not want him changing it.

sandsni

By your own admission it was your carelessness that resulted in a key for your front door now being in the hands of goodness-knows-who (and who will know for sure which door it belongs to). But you think the LL should pay to secure a property you have rendered insecure, and now you think "using the latch" will be ok?

How long were you on holiday for? How do you know people haven't been in and out of your house during the time you were on holiday? Have you checked to make sure nothing has been damaged or taken? Having lost the key (for whatever length of time you were on holiday) may have repercussions for the LLs insurance (and yours), so you need to inform him and hope that you're not liable for any other damage that occurred while you left the place unsecured.

StuC75

Err because the OP likely left the Key in Door when they returned home? tired and hands full with cases? they left it in the door and went to bed?

if its the Upvc \ composite 'barrell' lock then you would need a key to be able to remove the barrel - since it need a slight twist to be removed once the retaining screw has been removed..

sandsni wrote: »

By your own admission it was your carelessness that resulted in a key for your front door now being in the hands of goodness-knows-who (and who will know for sure which door it belongs to). But you think the LL should pay to secure a property you have rendered insecure, and now you think "using the latch" will be ok?

How long were you on holiday for? How do you know people haven't been in and out of your house during the time you were on holiday? Have you checked to make sure nothing has been damaged or taken? Having lost the key (for whatever length of time you were on holiday) may have repercussions for the LLs insurance (and yours), so you need to inform him and hope that you're not liable for any other damage that occurred while you left the place unsecured.