Ex cleaner has my key

pramsay13

Okay a bit of a strange one so bear with me.

My mum and dad were staying in my house for a while and employed a cleaning company during this time. The cleaner kept a key during this time.

Mum and Dad have moved to their own house and it turns out the cleaner has left the cleaning firm but still has the key.

The cleaning company boss cannot get in touch with the ex cleaner so some random person that no longer works for the firm has our house key.

Any suggestions for what we can do?

Carrot007

Change the lock. It is usually very easy. (Even the hard ones!)

pramsay13

Carrot007 wrote: »

Change the lock. It is usually very easy. (Even the hard ones!)

at our cost?

preable

pramsay13 wrote: »

at our cost?

Yes the cleaner no longer works for the company or get your parents to pay as they forgot to get the key back? Its not that expensive.

Carrot007

pramsay13 wrote: »

at our cost?

Well obviously.


Unless you just want to leak more money that is would cost!

greatgimpo

pramsay13 wrote: »

at our cost?

Can we get a whip round organised?

Korkyb

What kind of lock is it?


As has been said previously they are a doddle to change & not expensive.


Amazing how many people move into a "new" house & don't change locks - no knowing how many keys could be floating around from previous owners!

Ant555

pramsay13 wrote: »

at our cost?

Depending on the lock - possibly £8.79? + someone handy with a screwdriver.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/union-6-pin-euro-cylinder-lock-35-35-70mm-satin-nickel/2008G?tc=DA5&ds_kid=92700038925482935&ds_rl=1241687&ds_rl=1245250&ds_rl=1244072&ds_rl=1245250&ds_rl=1247848&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI47fDhsu25AIVFODtCh3d1QblEAQYBSABEgKVsfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

vacheron

Locks are easy to change once the door is opened.

Also, if the cleaner has any bad intentions, there was nothing to stop them making a copy of the key all the time they had it in there possession, so having the key returned is no guarantee that the risk is removed.

We didn't change any of our locks when we moved in 9 years ago. It all comes down to your own judgement of the risks you perceive. However regardless of that, the company or the cleaner aren't obliged to pay for anything, but I guess you could always go after your parents for the money if it matters that much.

PasturesNew

The lock needs to be changed. The old lock can be retained and it might come in handy at some future point for somebody, so not entirely "useless" as such.

Somebody has to pay for that. You now as it's urgent and might invalidate your insurance.

Then you make a claim on the cleaning company. They had a contract with your parents, so it might be your parents who have to do that (well, sign what you put in front of them).

davidmcn

PasturesNew wrote: »

it's urgent and might invalidate your insurance.

It won't "invalidate the insurance" as such, but the insurance is unlikely to cover claims resulting from somebody letting themselves in with a key.

(though I think people here tend to overstate the risk of a keyholder doing something as obvious as nicking stuff from a property for which they're known to have a key)