Recovering Keys from Cleaning Agency/Cleaner

princeofpounds

Wondering if anyone has any advice on this one.

We had a cleaner until recently, obtained through a cleaning agency.

On terminating the contract, we have found it impossible to recover the keys from either the cleaner or the agency.

The agency are denying any liability, and even more annoyingly are showing a really bad attitude about actually helping to recover the keys. 'It's your problem' is a phrase that has been used.

Our contract was with the agency. The contract says right at the top they are providing cleaning services. They arrange sick/holiday cover etc., receive ongoing fees.

Some of the small print however talks about 'introduced' cleaners, and they are now claiming that they merely provided introduction and any dispute is between ourselves and the cleaner.

(You can ask why we signed such a badly drafted contract; all I can say is that my partner is not as switched on to such things as I am).

We have a receipt for the key signed by the cleaner.

I am now considering small claims. It is as much to force a sense of urgency as anything else. I am pretty sure I can pursue the cleaner, but I am wondering if I can pursue the agency also. I think they would be easier to enforce a judgment on and also it would be a bit of moral payback for their attitude. I also think there is a good chance they may be the liable party.

Does anyone have any experience of something like this, or any good resources or advice? Web searches are continually leading me to disputes between landlords and tenants over deposits and cleaning, which isn't what I'm looking for.

marliepanda

How much is it going to cost to replace the locks/lock barrels ?

Work that out and then decide whether it's worth the hassle.

want_to_save

who did you pay the cleaner or the agency?

princeofpounds

I paid the cleaner and the agency some money every week.

It will be a three figure sum to sort out, as three locks are involved (and only one is easily swappable)

I'm aware there is a benefit/hassle trade off here. I quite confident in making that decision. I'd rather get the keys back but I have to inject a sense of urgency somehow, and I don't like being messed around with no consequence

harrys_nan

How will you know, if you do get the keys back that they won't have been copied ?
I wouldn't risk it and would def change all of the locks, regardless.

WantToBeSE

I am a self-employed cleaner and do some work via an agency.
You need to look at who signed the contract. Also, is the cleaner employed by the agency, or self-employed?

From what you have described so far, the agency are the ones who are responsible for handing you back the keys. Be aware that the actual cleaner may have the only set though, so could you approach her/him direct and ask for them?

unholyangel

How long has it been?

susancs

harrys_nan wrote: »

How will you know, if you do get the keys back that they won't have been copied ?
I wouldn't risk it and would def change all of the locks, regardless.

I agree with you and would at least change one of the three door locks that OP mentions to prevent anyone using the keys.

robatwork

As soon as you let someone have your keys that you don't trust 100% (eg. a cleaner) assume everyone/anyone in the world has your keys.

Change the locks.

Paul_the_Painter

Luckily my house has 3 sets of patio doors, all with same lock barrel size. Nothing too fancy mind Juliet balconies on each of the two upper floors and the actual patio doors. Cleaner only gets keys to the patio, and each time we have to change cleaners, I swop them over. Now debating what happens next time as I've run out of changing options, but the barrels are only about £10.00 each.
I'm unsure why the OP thinks that they will cost £100 for each barrel to change, unless they are security locks to a block of flats? The most expensive euro barrel I've seen is around £40.00 for an unusual size, at a very high security level. Anything other than that is just as cheap for the parts, (if not cheaper, think £5-£7 for a Yale type barrel) but potentially a bit more labour (mortice lock in an unusual/old size that requires a bit of chiselling)