Landlord has gave spare key to neighbour?

Mother_soontobe_Teacher

My son and his girlfriend have just moved into a flat. Today, the landlord let his son and girlfriend know that the guy two flats below has a spare key in case my son and his girlfriend ever 'get locked out' (a local maintenance guy also has a spare key)


We have never met the man, but know he lives alone. All three of us can't help but feel this is pretty strange, for a neighbour to have a spare key that the tenants have not even met!


My sons girlfriend will be alone in the flat sometimes and I don't know .. I just feel its quite an uncomfortable situation.


I know chances are his a friendly trustworthy guy but still feel its rather cheeky for the landlady to do this.


I would love to hear other peoples opinion on this.

Tigsteroonie

Does your son have somebody else local that he could trust with a spare key for such occasions (such as yourself if you are near)?

I would suggest changing the barrel of the lock(s). Keep the original so that they can be replaced when your son moves out. And make sure that your son remembers never to tell that neighbour that he's locked himself out, so that the switch doesn't get revealed!

ViolaLass

If they change the locks, they can control who has spare keys.

Southend1

Just change the locks.

quidsy

Yep, change the lock barrel. Your son may find his insurance void in case of a breakin if the insurance co gets wind there are random keys floating around. Mine suggested changing the barrel for this reason when I informed them I was moving

Mother_soontobe_Teacher

Thank you for the advice, can my son really just change the locks? legally? My son does not really want to get on the wrong side of the landlord but we do feel this is a little out of order.

quidsy

There is no law to prevent it and any clause in their contact is not legally enforceable. They have right to quiet enjoyment and that includes safety and security in their home.

jackomdj

Change the lock and reinstate the original when he moves out.

jjlandlord

It's rather odd though the landlady seems to have the best intentions.

If there is nothing in the agreement about changing the locks, then all good. If there is then it would be a problem if that caused a loss to the landlady, which is unlikely.
They should think about the potential impact on their relations with the landlady, though.

On the other hand, people tend to over react these days. For example:
"My sons girlfriend will be alone in the flat sometimes and I don't know .. I just feel its quite an uncomfortable situation."

Install a CCTV and alarm, and be ready to call the police at all times!

quidsy wrote: »

They have right to quiet enjoyment and that includes safety and security in their home.

No, it doesn't.

quidsy

Some random man having access to the flat should be a worry for the girlfriend. He could be ted bundy for all anyone knows but even if he is just a harmless bloke he has no reason to hold a key.

And are you seriously saying that tenants have no right to saftey in their home?

Mojisola

jjlandlord wrote: »

On the other hand, people tend to over react these days.

Would you be happy for a stranger to have a key to your house?