Tenant posted key to me - and it hasn't arrived....

JennyP

My tenants moved out last weekend, which I'm rather glad about as they have been a pain of whinging complainers from the word go! (Take the time for example at 11 p.m. at night when they rang full of vitriole because the washing machine worked. It turned out that they hadn't plugged it in. We didn't even get an apology for either the late phone call or the harsh words!)

Anyway, back to the point.

I said I'd return the deposit within 7 days which I normally do. However, one of them then contacted me to say that she still had keys as she'd had a spare set cut (against the T & C of tenancy agreement). I said to drop them at the letting agent which is literally round the corner from her new house. She said she'd post them to the letting agent so I said no, send them to me. I assumed she'd have the common sense to send something important like keys special delivery.

The keys were posted first class on Monday but haven't arrived. She is pestering for her deposit but we are worried that we should now change the locks to the property.

I don't know if she put anything else in the envelope with the property address on. I've asked her but I don't trust her to tell me the truth to be honest. We did consider whether we should ask her to write a letter confirming that she didn't so that if we don't change the locks, and someone does enter the property without forcing an entry, we will have some recourse. The locks were new at the start of their tenancy so no-one but them and us could have a set of keys.

What do you think please?

clutton_2

wait another few days - then if they dont turn up - change the locks and deduct the cost from her deposit. keys put into ordinary envelopes can often get mangled in sorting machinery and can take a few days to re-appear .

lynzpower

We always ask our people to return keys recorded or at the least sighned for.

If the keys have gone missing then the tenant could then have had the proof so they can reclaim from the post office. Have you checked she didnt send it recorded?

JennyP

She didn't send it recorded. I have asked if she at least got proof of postage and put it in a padded rather than an ordinary envelope. Also she says she didn't put the address of the property in it, but my boyfriend and I don't trust her - she seems to have been molly coddled by overindulgent parents and to have the life skills of a twelve year old. Put it this way, her mother came round to clean the flat at the end of the tenancy and move her stuff out.
What recourse do I have if the flat is subsequently burgled but there is no forced entry?

clutton_2

just change the perishin locks - take control - this is your property !!!!!

JennyP

Thank you for the replies!
The keys did eventually turn up. They had been opened in the post then repackaged by the Post Office. The address was inside too. I knew that tenant couldn't be trusted. I haven't changed the locks as I'm just trusting that whoever opened it at the Post Office didn't make a copy and write the address down before posting it on. Cross with the tenant but have returned her deposit. Didn't see what else I could do really. Did try to ring her as I wanted to tell her how irresponsible she'd been in posting the keys so badly packaged, not recorded and with the address inside but she isn't answering her phone to me.

lynzpower

HOw much will a new barrell on a yale lock cost? WHat about 15 quid maybe? Personally, I would change the yale lock ( easiest to do) and leave the chubb one as it is.

We did this on this house when I had my bag nicked and it had a bill in there with my name & address on.

I was fairly sure that no one would come and let themselves in, you can never be too careful. It would have been horrendous to come home to find someone had let themselves in and rinsed the place.

You can always keep the barrell and keys for a later date when you can use them later. We have kept our old one, its perfectly fine, we will probably use it in another property. In your situation, it does make sense to change the lock once one tenant has gone, then have a new lock for your new tenant, then when they go, swap the barrells over again and interchange them - saving you money :money:

theres loads of advice on how to change a barrell yourself its not as hard as youd think, and i wouldnt pay a locksmith 80+vat again I dont think, it is fairly straightforward.

sarah1975uk

I have had nightmare tenants as well, they vacated the house left the key on the kitchen work surface and house unlocked and left omggggg did i go nuts. Definately change the locks honey for your own peace of mind its your house!!

clutton_2

""It's a statutory right which cannot be removed by wording in the AST."

which Act of parliament is this Statutory right in ?

guppy

clutton wrote: »

""It's a statutory right which cannot be removed by wording in the AST."

which Act of parliament is this Statutory right in ?

AFAIK it isn't in any

In my (unprofessional) opinion, a clause saying you musn't change the locks would be valid, but impossible to enforce, so long as the lock was replaced without damage at the end of tenancy.

clutton_2

"It's a statutory right" - means it is enshrined in a Statute - ie part of a law - your opinion is an opinion, like many of my views are mere opinions. But this key business, and all the nonsense spouted about the Sword of Damocles is not a statutory right as far as i know

there are very few posters on here who actually know tenant and landlords law - i know a few bits and pieces - mainly through my membership of National Landlords association, and through the wide reading i do - but so many posters post as if their word is law ...... gives them a boost i expect !