Can I change the lockers in my rented property? Do I need LL permission?

[Deleted User]

To cut a long story short my husband is moving out of our jointly rented flat in November.
I want to keep the tenancy as it is because I fear the LL will take the opportunity to evict me so he can get new tenants in and charge more. We have being paying the same rent for the last 3 years whereas prices in the are have gone up. I also have permission to work as a childminder in the home and not all LL are happy with it and this is another reason why I don't want to move at all. LL will still get his rent from me and STBX will not contribute anymore despite his name on the tenancy (this is a deal between STBX and I) If I was sure the LL would renew the tenancy in my name only for the same rent price I would do it in a heart bit.
BUT...
I am not comfortable with having the same locker, even if STBX hands his keys back to me, who knows if he made a copy? Can I just change the locker without telling the LL? He never comes in without notice and I can give him a set if he finds out and wants one. I just want to be sure that STBX will have no access to the flat at all.

Mojisola

Yes, you can change the locks. You don't have to tell the LL.

Keep the old locks and put them back if you move. You can then replace the locks on your rental.

G_M

You're a boxer? With a locker at the gym? Ask the gym if you can change.

Alternatively, if it is your home you are concerned about, first see what the tenancy agreement says if anything, about changing the locks.

Most likely it requires you to either ask permission and/or give the LL a copy of the new key.

You could, of course, ignore this contract term and just change the lock, but you'd be in breach of your contract. What the LL would choose to do about this if/when he finds out is up to him.

[Deleted User]

Sorry I am not a native speaker LOL

Annisele

So long as you're happy to give your LL a copy of the keys, I don't think changing the locks will be a problem in itself.

I've twice changed locks in breach of contract - once because the lock broke, and once because I was sure (but couldn't prove) that one of my neighbours had stolen my keys. Both times I told the LL as soon as I could, and both times he thought what I'd done was reasonable.

I do think that having the tenancy in joint names may potentially come back to bite you.

From your ex's perspective, he remains liable for the rent. If you don't pay, he has to - which might cause him problems. If he wants to claim benefits to rent a new place, he should find out whether staying on the old tenancy will be an issue. (I don't know if it will be, but I think it potentially might be).

From your perspective, if your ex is named on the tenancy then he can move back in whenever he wants. If you don't trust him with keys, do you trust him not to do that?

Pixie5740

It only takes one of you to end a joint tenancy so your husband to give notice to terminate the tenancy. I think it would be better for you to approach your LL to see if you can end the joint tenancy agreement and start a new tenancy in your name only.

If you've been a good tenant then the odds are in your favour that the LL will want to keep you on. Even if he were to to increase the rent in line with other properties in the area then you may as well stay there as by the sounds of it you won't find somewhere cheaper than will allow you to keep running your child minding business anyway.

fairy_lights

Well if you are always there to let your landlord in for repairs and inspections, then he wont know you've changed the locks anyway. You could then change them back when you eventually move out and he would never know. But if you're not comfortable with that, change the locks, give the landlord a key and say you had to change it because you lost/broke your key.
Or the third option is to be totally upfront and tell him your husband has moved out.

[Deleted User]

Thanks for all the replies.

My CM business is 3 hours a day only at this point (used to be full time before). I have another part time job and it will become full time at some point too and I will probably close the CM business anyway.

But if I can avoid payng higher rent, yes I will, it is London BTW, rent is already very expensive. And please don't tell me to move out if the area. I don't want to do it because my job, my client and my daughter's school and other activities are round the corner, I don't have family here and only a few friends living close to me.

I will be a single mother raising my child all by myself. My STBX is angry at the thought of paying any manaitance. He doesn't earn loads either. His wages are around £1550/month and when I was talking to him about manaintanace, he said he was going to open a savings account in our daughter's name and pay £50 per month until she reachs 18 and can have access to the money...!!!!!!? I had to explain to him that he is supposed to help putting a roof over her head and food at her table so he told me he would give £50 a monthe and now I will have to go and contact CSA or whatever, he doesn't undertsand he can just pick and choose a figure from the top of his head.

And no I do not trust him, he is an alcoholic who becomes violent towards me and I already called the police 3 times on him. Unfortunetely as he doesn't beat me up black and blue and doesn't rape me and doesn't phisically harm the child (maybe I call the police before this all happens?) it is a joke. I can not get any substancial sup[port from women's aid, the council, police, nothing. Apparently domestic violence on the level of emotional abuse, name calling and passive agressive behaviour is not enough. Even a solicitor advised me to let him do he worse and get him arrested.

Re: Benefits: I have a letter from him saying he is moving out of the property and giving the council his new address so I can claim HB as a single parent. He will also sign a letter when I give him his share of the deposit. He doesn't want me to move either because our daughter is setteled there and he is moving close enough so he can see her on his days off. He knows I am hard working and responsible, fiancially savvy and hosnest. I won't stop paying the rent. He is a financial mess and I always looked after the home adm.

I will just change the locks or ask the locksmith to re-key (I think this is the right word?) the lock and keys that I already have. I will tell the LL I did it and give him a set.

fairy_lights

No need to pay for a locksmith, its really easy to change the barrel of a lock. There are videos on YouTube that can show you how.

Lord_Baltimore

Changing the locks without informing the LL may compromise his insurance. I think you ought to get permission first to be on the safe side.

Pixie5740

Changing the locks won't prevent you from being evicted if it comes down to it. If you ever get to the stage of the LL issuing a section 21 or a section 8, going to court to get an eviction notice and then court appointed bailiffs come to physically evict you from the property a set of changed locks isn't going to stop them.

After your fixed term ends there's very little to stop your LL increasing your rent anyway.