Landlord won't post keys

beedeedee

You're going to be very popular with the neighbours if you move in at 2.00am............

Miss_Marple_2

I don't think that the landlord is being unreasonable by refusing to post the keys - I wouldn't do it either.


If it were me, like others have said, I would pop up to Birmingham on the train and meet the landlord as early as you can on the Saturday. If you get an early train, you can get back to London by lunchtime ready to pack the car of your lift. Use the train travel time to make plans or relax. The journey time can be under an hour and off peak you can get some great deals - I did a return last weekend for £15 ( Birmingham to London).


Travel West Midlands have a good website if you need to get any buses around Birmingham once you arrive.

TBagpuss

Depending on how flexible your lift is, you might also be able to travel one way by train to colelct the keys, having packed the car before setting out. Your friend can then drive up when they are ready and meet you at the flat. In the mean time, having got the keys, you can be doing things such as cleaning the flat (if it needs it) getting in some staples so you can offer your friend food and tea when they arrive.

London to Birmingham by MegaBus costs £4.

Yes, it takes up time, but I don't think it is unreasonable for the landlord to be uncomfortable with posting the keys.

DRP

longbaygirl wrote: »

Happy to pay for recorded/registered delivery. I'm dependant on lifts - might not arrive till 2am on Sat night.

unfortunately that is your problem, not his.

Use public transport (easy and cheap - as previously posted), get a more definite time from your friend or get more a more reliable friend to give you a lift.

summerholiday

Hire a car ? Not cheap but flexible for you.

silvercar

Flash sale on London to Birmingham trains. Buy today for travel in August only £8. (Found in today's MSE weekly email).

http://www.londonmidland.com/days-out-and-offers/attractions-and-offers/flashsale/

G_M

The landlord must make the property available on the day the tenancy starts.

longbaygirl wrote: »

Have asked landlord to post keys to me - so I have them whenever I arrive - but he has refused saying I just have to turn up at a 'reasonable' time - letting him know in advance and he will meet me there to give me the keys.
He is making the keys available.

What is more, he is being flexible over the timing, within reason.


Legally - as I'm paying rent - can't I just have my keys in advance before I arrive - especially as I don't know what day/time I will be arriving.
Legally? No.
The landlord must make the property available on the day the tenancy starts. Not the day before.

What can I do? Suggestions? Feeling worried now that landlord is being difficult before I've even moved in - but he has my money.

He is not being difficult. He is probobly having 2nd thoughts about leting his property to you. "Oh dear - this is a difficult tenant.... before he's even moved in."

:eek:

agrinnall

longbaygirl wrote: »

Is it really too much to ask for my keys to be posted (recorded/registered delivery)?

Yes, as many of the replies have made clear. I'd agree with G_M that the LL may be starting to think letting to you could be a mistake.

Renwaldo

Long time lurker, had to post to reply to some of the dross on here.

Shocked at the replies to the OP here, I think what he's asking is perfectly reasonable. It's not like the keys can be linked to the flat in Birmingham should they be lost en-route anyway, and I'm certain they wouldn't be the only copy of the key in existence. Also you CAN get guaranteed post for Saturday, so I'm not sure why people were saying that. Finally the very very very small chance that a Special Delivery item does go missing, you can claim compensation up to £1,000, so no one will be out of pocket.

Does anyone here seriously think it's reasonable to travel for 4+ hours on the morning that you're planning to move just to pick up a set of keys?? I wouldn't dream of it - also the guy is already paying rent on the place so it's not like he's asking for them early or anything.

Some of the posts on here are so stupid I kind of think the person must have been joking when they wrote them. How is this person being a difficult tenant?? They live in London, the flat is in Birmingham, posting the keys is an easier job than arranging to meet someone and the costs of doing it are being covered by the tenant. G_M in particular, I read your posts a lot and they generally make sense but you're off the mark here.

davidmcn

thesaint wrote: »

The landlord has no obligation to send the keys to you early.

If the tenancy has already started then this is late, rather than early, surely?

I don't see anything unusual or particularly risky about posting a set of keys. Yes, they could go missing in the post, but they're far more likely to go missing for all the usual reasons that people lose keys.