Former Cleaner won’t return key

mjm3346

Doesn't really matter if the key is returned or not as either way you should be looking at changing your locks.

unholyangel

theonlywayisup wrote: »

No, it comes at appropriation. The appropriation was not dishonest.

Anything subsequent isn't appropriation. It is after that event.

The Theft Acts also requires someone to 'permanently deprive' perhaps this is what you are misunderstanding?

(1)Any assumption by a person of the rights of an owner amounts to an appropriation, and this includes, where he has come by the property (innocently or not) without stealing it, any later assumption of a right to it by keeping or dealing with it as owner.

In other words, if you treat something as if you are the owner/wrongfully exclude the owner from their rights over the property then that is appropriation.

Whether it is dishonest or whether there is intent to permanently deprive is another matter.

mjm3346

All the cleaner would have to say is they have "lost" the key or posted it back to you and it has been "lost"in the post etc and that would end (if there was) any "official" involvement. (might be worth checking your contract to see what, if any, liability they would have had if they lost a key while still working for you)

Dr_Crypto

Thanks all - I’ll change the lock and forget it. I could have done that in less time than I’ve spent trying to contact her!
Bit annoying but that’s life.

photome

Carrot007 wrote: »

Unless of course it was a registered key, which is always a good idea for a rental/safety.

there are ways to get one of those cut