Key snapped in door

webdigga

Hi,

So as the title suggests, I opened the door to my main building and the key snapped and stayed in the lock. (happened to someone else in the flat the week before but luckily hers fell out of the lock)

I got a quote for £90 from a locksmith and a hardware store said the barrel of the lock would be £10 to replace. After seeking advice I was told that as it's the main building door to the flats and not my own flat entrance, I would have to ask the management company to fix the issue.
I emailed my landlord, explaining what happened, who gave me the number to the management company. I then called the management company who said they would try and get a locksmith out that same day. I think it was a further 2 days before the locksmith finally arrived.

He replaced the lock and provided new pairs of keys to the 6 flats.

Stupid me presumed that somehow the maintainance fee paid by my landlord would cover the cost but apparently not. So my landlord receives a bill for £291 for the cost of the work, with no breakdown in the invoice. My landlord is now demanding the money from myself.

So my questions are:-

1. Does the responsibility to pay the bill sit with myself?

2. If I am paying the bill then I would want to dispute the total figure and have a breakdown of the cost. This is not currently possible as the bill has been sent to my landlord so I am unsure how to proceed. I have contacted my landlord stating what I dispute but he is unwilling to send this over to the management company and insists that I would need to move the bill to my name so that I can personally dispute the figure.

I am unsure how to proceed here but I do want to do what is right. Any ideas?

Thanks
David

G_M

If the lock was faulty and caused the key to snap, then your landlord should pass the bill back to the management company.

If the key snapped due to mis-use (eg you used too much pressure /turned it wrong way etc) then you are liable.

It's a question of proof, of course. Did the original locksmith you called indicate why the key snapped?

SailorSam

The fact that someone else had trouble the week before you, may indicate the lock was faulty.

webdigga

G_M wrote: »

It's a question of proof, of course. Did the original locksmith you called indicate why the key snapped?

The locksmith asked me how it happened, I said I didn't do anything different than normal and it just snapped ...

webdigga

SailorSam wrote: »

The fact that someone else had trouble the week before you, may indicate the lock was faulty.

Thanks. I guess this is possible yes. I am still not sure how I should proceed though really as I'm stuck not being able to dispute it as the bill is not for me and also not wanting to put the bill in my name until I'm 100% sure it's fully my responsibility.

davidmcn

webdigga wrote: »

Thanks. I guess this is possible yes. I am still not sure how I should proceed though really as I'm stuck not being able to dispute it as the bill is not for me and also not wanting to put the bill in my name until I'm 100% sure it's fully my responsibility.

It doesn't sound like it's anything to do with you, or the sole responsibility of your landlord - it's a maintenance cost for the managing agents to collect from the various owners.

G_M

You have a choice:

* accept liability and pay, thus effectively admitting fault, or

* deny liability; blame a faulty lock; provide what suppporting evidence you can (eg a statement from the other person it happend to, a statement from the locksmith); and pass the bill back to your landlord suggesting he take it up with the managmnt company.

Gilead

I would contest if I was in your position - depending on contracts etc I would have thought it would be the management company has to resolve and between them and LL to agree between them on costs.

As it is a shared doorway you are not to know if there has been general wear and tear since lock was installed. Locks need changed every so often, so I do not see why you should be penalised.

theGrinch

what happened between the snapping and the locksmith out over 2 days? What key out?

vansboy

Its not YOUR key, it's THEIR key, THEIR lock, THEIR maintanance issue.

The cost should show up simply as part of the general expenditure to look after the flats.

VB

Marktheshark

Locksmiths are for when you have lost all the keys and have an emergency.
Hence why what was a ten minute job for a joiner or maintenance man cost £291

I would tell him to shove his invoice, the lock was faulty and you will not be paying for a repair to his faulty lock.