Builder not returning house keys...

only_sleeping

Just over 2 months ago we had some building work done on our property, and as myself and my partner were at work, we had to leave a house key with the builder.

The work has been finished for 8 weeks, and despite us having paid in full (though there are some snags to be sorted still: yes, I know paying in full in this circumstance was a mistake - lesson learned), he still hasn't returned our house keys.

I have asked for them back several times on the phone, and he's assured me they are on the dashboard of his van, and he'll drop them off when it's convenient.

One of the snags was that I didn't think the radiator was working as it should be, and he promised to get his plumber to get in touch to arrange to come round. After a period of a few weeks hearing nothing, I got in touch with my builder (who said he was shocked that the plumber hadn't been in touch with me and sorted the problem!), got the plumber's number, and contacted him directly.

We arranged that he would be around last week to fix the problem, and drop the keys off at the same time.

I waited in and...nothing. No plumber, so no keys. Again, shock from my builder, who told me that the plumber now had my house keys, and that he was going to get back to me with an explanation ASAP - I've heard nothing since the end of last week.

I took the decision to have the lock changed to the door he has the key to, but think that it's only fair that he stump up the £60 quid this cost me.

Does this seem reasonable? I know it's unlikely that if he can't be bothered to drop my house keys off it's unlikely he'll want to be professional enough to pay for the locks being changed, but I don't feel I can leave this alone - any ideas of strategies to try?

Thanks in advance...

cyclonebri1

only_sleeping wrote: »

Just over 2 months ago we had some building work done on our property, and as myself and my partner were at work, we had to leave a house key with the builder.

The work has been finished for 8 weeks, and despite us having paid in full (though there are some snags to be sorted still: yes, I know paying in full in this circumstance was a mistake - lesson learned), he still hasn't returned our house keys.

I have asked for them back several times on the phone, and he's assured me they are on the dashboard of his van, and he'll drop them off when it's convenient.

One of the snags was that I didn't think the radiator was working as it should be, and he promised to get his plumber to get in touch to arrange to come round. After a period of a few weeks hearing nothing, I got in touch with my builder (who said he was shocked that the plumber hadn't been in touch with me and sorted the problem!), got the plumber's number, and contacted him directly.

We arranged that he would be around last week to fix the problem, and drop the keys off at the same time.

I waited in and...nothing. No plumber, so no keys. Again, shock from my builder, who told me that the plumber now had my house keys, and that he was going to get back to me with an explanation ASAP - I've heard nothing since the end of last week.

I took the decision to have the lock changed to the door he has the key to, but think that it's only fair that he stump up the £60 quid this cost me.

Does this seem reasonable? I know it's unlikely that if he can't be bothered to drop my house keys off it's unlikely he'll want to be professional enough to pay for the locks being changed, but I don't feel I can leave this alone - any ideas of strategies to try?

Thanks in advance...

Because of that, them no, it isn't reasonable

Your biggest issue is to get the work finished, that could amount to more than £6o if it goes tits up.

I think the message is, as you have intimated, lesson learnt.

You could always go and burn his house down. (It's a joke)