Landlords Keys

lighting_up_the_chalice

Innys1 wrote: »

I do repairs when it's expedient to do so and it suits me, not them - as long as I've given them the 24hr notice, I'm not doing anything illegal.

So, you'd happily send a contractor to your tenants home at 4am if that was convenient with you and you'd given them 24 hours notice?

No wonder you're so good at finding tenants. Your attitude to them is certain to give you plenty of experience in that field.

jjlandlord

lighting_up_the_chalice wrote: »

In which case, they no longer have exclusive possession.

Not at all.
You do not seem to understand the topic, so please refrain from adding confusion.

lighting_up_the_chalice

jjlandlord wrote: »

Not at all.
You do not seem to understand the topic, so please refrain from adding confusion.

You cannot have exclusive possession without the right to exclude.

lovinituk

lighting_up_the_chalice wrote: »

So, if the tenant popped round to the landlords address to put this months rent cheque through the letterbox and noticed a pair of upturned feet at the bottom of the stairs, they should just walk away, safe in the knowledge that they have no interest in the matter? Really?

You're on a wind up surely? So all tenants should hold the landlords keys just in case of your unlikely event happening?

In the real world, any normal person would call the emergency services!

You're just being petulant.

AleMrsT

SaLoGo wrote: »

Is my Letting Agent/Landlord legally entitled to demand a spare key to my house?

I have just checked over my TA and all I can find is a paragraph under keys stating: "Keys - Not to have additional keys cut without the consent of the Landlord"

The last TA is dated 4th November 2013 and is an AST for 12 months ending 3rd November 2014. I've been on a rolling periodic tenancy (I think that's how it's described) since.

So my issue is that my LA have discovered that I have changed the locks to the house I am renting. I did this when I moved in May 2013 for my own peace of mind. The LA came to do an inspection today claiming that they wrote to me a week ago advising of this, but I have received no letter. They couldn't access the property as I was at work, they know full well I work full time, so tried to use their key which wouldn't work.

They have advised me that I must provide them with a key, or they will change the lock and charge me for the cost of this. Can they do that?

I personally don't want random workmen having access to my home when I am not there. I'm not denying them access, I'm willing to make myself available for inspections/repair etc so I am not being difficult.

It should state in your lease that you are not allowed to change the locks without consent. Therefore, unless you got written consent, YOU have breached the tenancy, and yes, the landlord is allowed a key to the house that they own. Whether they choose to give one to the agent they employ is up to them.

Most of the time, when a tenant is refusing access, they are hiding something.

SaLoGo

This is getting silly now! I have the answers I was looking for, nice to have opinions from both sides of the coin thank you all. I shall leave you all to debate the option of a tenant having a key to the landlords house just in case....

Innys1

lighting_up_the_chalice wrote: »

So, you'd happily send a contractor to your tenants home at 4am if that was convenient with you and you'd given them 24 hours notice?

No wonder you're so good at finding tenants. Your attitude to them is certain to give you plenty of experience in that field.

Sending a contractor round at 4am would hardly suit me because it's going to cost me more, wouldn't it? Unless you know of a roofer who offers discounts for working nightshifts?

I have property assets worth several hundreds of thousands and I do what I think is reasonable to protect them. If you, or a tenant don't like it that's too bad.

And, not that it's any of your business, but my tenants in one house the tenants have been there four years and in another for three years. I have keys to both the houses.

lighting_up_the_chalice

lovinituk wrote: »

You're on a wind up surely? So all tenants should hold the landlords keys just in case of your unlikely event happening?

In the real world, any normal person would call the emergency services!

You're just being petulant.

No more or less unlikely than a leaking roof.

I thought trust was your thing?

Innys1

lighting_up_the_chalice wrote: »

So, if the tenant popped round to the landlords address to put this months rent cheque through the letterbox and noticed a pair of upturned feet at the bottom of the stairs, they should just walk away, safe in the knowledge that they have no interest in the matter? Really?

Applying this logic, the postman should have keys to all the houses on his round, as should the milkman, dustman and window cleaner.

SaLoGo

AleMrsT wrote: »

It should state in your lease that you are not allowed to change the locks without consent. Therefore, unless you got written consent, YOU have breached the tenancy, and yes, the landlord is allowed a key to the house that they own. Whether they choose to give one to the agent they employ is up to them.

Most of the time, when a tenant is refusing access, they are hiding something.

Just to answer this as it is aimed at me. No, my lease does not state anything about changing the locks, so I haven't breached the agreement. And no, I am not hiding anything. I haven't refused access. I came home to an email to state that they had tried to gain access to do the inspection and couldn't get in and could I call to discuss. When I called she advised me they had sent a letter, a letter I haven't received. I have no problem with them doing an inspection. I have a problem with them accessing my home without my consent or knowledge. Had they emailed or called in the first place I'd have arranged to be in to give them access.As I said, I am not being difficult.