Tenant

Old_Git

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Slithery

The tenant is perfectly within their rights to change the locks and not give you a copy of the keys.

davilown

As above, tenant is totally allowed to change the locks and not provide you with a key.

You have no entitlement to enter the property whilst the tenant remains in the property - it is their home.

[Deleted User]

Old_Git said:

my tenants have been renting from me for 6 years . 
A few months ago I went around to see them . 
Male tenant answered the door and told me he changed the locks to keep me out . He also said he had an oil leak , he phoned my plumber to fix the leak and he didn’t want that plumber back . I did check with the plumber who said the tenant is telling lies. 
Back to the locks , four times I have asked for keys and the last reply was I would have them within a week. 
I should add I have never used the keys since the tenant moved in , do I have a right to a key for emergency access. 

There was an interesting debate about the changing of locks on the Landlord Law Blog a decade ago.  On one hand tenants have the right of quiet enjoyment but it is not an absolute right. On the other if the tenancy agreement says a tenant can’t change the locks then the tenant is in breach of contract but practically speaking there’s little a landlord can do about it. 

https://landlordlawblog.co.uk/2011/03/07/tenants-legal-help-when-the-police-unjustly-support-your-landlord/

I’m always curious as to in which emergency situations the landlord having a key will help. If the place is burning down the fire brigade aren’t going to wait for you to come round with your key. 

IIRC @Old_Git this rental property in in Northern Ireland so the cases and laws quoted on the Landlord Law Blog won’t help you as it’s  aimed at landlords in England. 

I wonder if the simplest solution is to start the eviction process and find a tenant who is less of a PITA. 

prowla

Lover_of_Lycra said:

I’m always curious as to in which emergency situations the landlord having a key will help. If the place is burning down the fire brigade aren’t going to wait for you to come round with your key.

Some years ago a neighbour was away on holiday and I happened to see that their kitchen ceiling had collapsed and water was running out over the windows.

I called the police who came around and forced entry, sorted out getting a plumber to come and turn off the water main, and generally handled things; there had apparently been a water leak some time over the past fortnight which had built up to quite a lot of damage.

(Coincidentally, they came back from their holiday whilst everyone was still there.)

I guess that is a situation where a key-holder would have been useful.

AdrianC

prowla said:

Lover_of_Lycra said:

I’m always curious as to in which emergency situations the landlord having a key will help. If the place is burning down the fire brigade aren’t going to wait for you to come round with your key.

Some years ago a neighbour was away on holiday and I happened to see that their kitchen ceiling had collapsed and water was running out over the windows.

I called the police who came around and forced entry, sorted out getting a plumber to come and turn off the water main, and generally handled things; there had apparently been a water leak some time over the past fortnight which had built up to quite a lot of damage.

(Coincidentally, they came back from their holiday whilst everyone was still there.)

I guess that is a situation where a key-holder would have been useful.

If your neighbour had been a tenant, would you have had contact details for their landlord?

And would a key have made a lot of difference in the grand scheme of the damage to the property, relative to forcing the door/loock? It's going to be a large insurance claim anyway...

user1977

Landlords of commercial properties invariably have (a) a right of emergency access and (b) no keys. At best they might have contact details for the tenant's keyholders. Locksmiths (or a size 10 boot) can be used if necessary.

Norman_Castle

Old_Git said:

my tenants have been renting from me for 6 years . 
A few months ago I went around to see them . 
Male tenant answered the door and told me he changed the locks to keep me out .

Why tell you, had you tried your key? Why the need to specify, "to keep me [you] out"?

Greymug

Old_Git said:

my tenants have been renting from me for 6 years . 
A few months ago I went around to see them . 
Male tenant answered the door and told me he changed the locks to keep me out .

How did that come up in the conversation? Did he spontaneously say he changed the locks or was it more of a case of you trying to make your way in and then asking why your keys wouldn't work?

Because, if it's the latter, you can't do that.

Norman_Castle

prowla said:

Lover_of_Lycra said:

I’m always curious as to in which emergency situations the landlord having a key will help. If the place is burning down the fire brigade aren’t going to wait for you to come round with your key.

Some years ago a neighbour was away on holiday and I happened to see that their kitchen ceiling had collapsed and water was running out over the windows.

I guess that is a situation where a key-holder would have been useful.

There's a difference between choosing someone to be a key holder and allowing a landlord to have access.

theartfullodger

- unless there is a clause in tenancy requiring tenant to provide key.

Dear Git, care to speculate about what prompted tenant to behave like this, please?  Calm polite question from another landlord.