Lost key charges

ljcash

Hello 
can anyone advise me please . I have lost my key (rented accommodation) and the letting agent has told me it’s £255 to replace (it’s a special security key & they said if you lose your key they have to replace main door key as each flat has a key which opens communal door and also the front door to their own flat ) I know it’s only a special locksmith company who does them as I’ve asked a few normal key cutters and they said they can’t do them only this particular company can . Now I believe to have the key cut is around £30 . I have lived here for 8 years and have never lost my key or been given a new one because another tenant has lost their key . I want to know if i can challenge this charge as i feel this is totally unreasonable . Thanks in advance 

Slithery

That charge sounds about right for a master keyed system with multiple barrels specially bitted. Is this charge mentioned anywhere in your tenancy agreement?

london21

You can try to negotiate with them but you do not have much choice if only they can do the copy. 

theartfullodger

Does the tenancy agreement or any other paperwork you signed specify such a bonkers charge, please?

canaldumidi

ljcash said:

..... they said if you lose your key they have to replace main door key as each flat has a key which opens communal door and also the front door to their own flat ) .....

So presumably they have to replace the keys to all the other flats as well as yours? Assuming you are ight about the £30 (and you may or may not be), that's £30 x number of flats (how many?).

And some flats may have 2 or more keys to replace.

Plus there's the time involved in someone in admin taking round X keys to each flat and explaining why.

Idiot_Savant

Maybe no-one else has ever lost their house key! I've never lost mine in 45 years.

8 flats at 30 a flat plus the front door and any spares that anyone might want - I think you're getting off lightly.

Marvel1

Approach the company yourself, cutting out the middleman (agent) fees.

Newnoel

Marvel1 said:

Approach the company yourself, cutting out the middleman (agent) fees.

And if they have a shred of integrity, they will show you the door. There is a reason there are strict controls around who can copy a security key

saajan_12

Slithery said:

That charge sounds about right for a master keyed system with multiple barrels specially bitted. Is this charge mentioned anywhere in your tenancy agreement?

theartfullodger said:

Does the tenancy agreement or any other paperwork you signed specify such a bonkers charge, please?

No need for it to be in a contract, this isn't a fee for the LL's profit, but rather a request from the tenant / rectifying the tenant's breach. The amount should jsut be based on the actual cost to remedy the lost key being out there..

Section62

Marvel1 said:

Approach the company yourself, cutting out the middleman (agent) fees.

The issue isn't about the OP replacing their lost key, the problem is the main door now isn't secure.

To make it secure means replacing that lock, which also requires the locks on all the flat doors to be changed.

Hence the true cost isn't 'x' times the cost of cutting a key, but instead the cost of (number of flats)+1 new locks. Plus the hassle of arranging with all the other flat occupiers to have their locks changing (obviously giving them the appropriate notice etc etc)

As Slithery says, that cost doesn't seem unreasonable in the circumstances.


But it is a different question whether the OP is obliged to pay, and there's only one place that information will be found.

Slithery

Section62 said:

Hence the true cost isn't 'x' times the cost of cutting a key, but instead the cost of (number of flats)+1 new locks.

And not just your standard lock from your local DIY place either. They will need to be individually bitted to the relevant master setup by a professional locksmith.