Master keys

G_Noakes

Hi
I just wondered if anyone knew the legalities on the following - there are three flats in my building. One day the flat above lost her keys. I jokingly said use mine and she did. The door opened! It does in the other flat after speaking to the other renter.

Basically we all hold master keys to each other’s flats. I barely know the other renters and don’t feel comfortable knowing they can enter my property.

My question is - is this legal?

[Deleted User]

G_Noakes wrote: »

Hi
I just wondered if anyone knew the legalities on the following - there are three flats in my building. One day the flat above lost her keys. I jokingly said use mine and she did. The door opened! It does in the other flat after speaking to the other renter.

Basically we all hold master keys to each other’s flats. I barely know the other renters and don’t feel comfortable knowing they can enter my property.

My question is - is this legal?

Don't worry about, just change the locks.

Davesnave

G_Noakes wrote: »

My question is - is this legal?

There is no law against it, so far as I know.


Now the situation is clear, all of you should change your locks. If you are renting, keep the old one so you can return the property in the same condition as you found it.

davidmcn

No law against it I can think of - as above, if you don't like it then change your lock.

Norman_Castle

Likely to have been done for the landlords convenience. Change the locks.

bengalknights

Change the locks then when you leave change them back

Benight

G_Noakes wrote: »

Hi
I just wondered if anyone knew the legalities on the following - there are three flats in my building. One day the flat above lost her keys. I jokingly said use mine and she did. The door opened! It does in the other flat after speaking to the other renter.

Basically we all hold master keys to each other’s flats. I barely know the other renters and don’t feel comfortable knowing they can enter my property.

My question is - is this legal?

The is no law against it, but I doubt you were all issued with master keys.

A master key is a key that opens several locks, each of which also has its own key.

Sounds like you just have locks with a common key entry. There are only a certain limited number of keys variants (for a given lock design), so I feel sure your key will open a number of other doors too, although it is odd that all doors on the same development have the same key. Even more odd if you all have a common landlord.

Anyway, let the landlord know, and if they are any good they will sort it for you.

da_rule

You could potentially argue that it’s a breach of your right to exclusive possession as the landlord has given others a way to share possession of your flat without your consent.

Also, this may invalidate your contents insurance.

I would contact the landlord and get them to sort it out. Or, as has been suggested already, just swap the lock.

Is this one of those keys that opens the door into the block and then into the individual flats? As it may just be that when ordering the keys the landlord gave the key cutter the code for the master key rather than the individual codes for each of the flats.

agrinnall

Do all the flats have the same LL? If so then it may well be that the explanation in post #5 is correct.