Landlords accused me of changing locks

DanS1

Have just moved out of a rented flat into a new one with same landlord. Basically now being accused of changing the locks on the last place, as they've tried entering with a master key but can't get in. I was once told the master key didn't work for my flat, and if I ever needed repairs, to be at home.I've told them this but they can't take my word, and are now charging me £200. What should I do?

lesalanos

General_Grant said:

DanS1 said:

Have just moved out of a rented flat into a new one with same landlord. Basically now being accused of changing the locks on the last place, as they've tried entering with a master key but can't get in. I was once told the master key didn't work for my flat, and if I ever needed repairs, to be at home.I've told them this but they can't take my word, and are now charging me £200. What should I do?

When you changed the locks, did you not keep the landlord's lock?
As you didn't reinstal the original lock, when you left did you provide them with all the keys for the lock you installed?

He hasn't changed any locks

elsien

Who told you the master key didn’t work? Landlord? Agent? 

grumiofoundation

DanS1 said:

Have just moved out of a rented flat into a new one with same landlord. Basically now being accused of changing the locks on the last place, as they've tried entering with a master key but can't get in. I was once told the master key didn't work for my flat, and if I ever needed repairs, to be at home.I've told them this but they can't take my word, and are now charging me £200. What should I do?

When you moved out you presumably handed keys back? Haven’t they tried this.


how are they ‘charging’ you £200? 

If via deposit scheme - dispute via scheme. 

DanS1

grumiofoundation said:

DanS1 said:

Have just moved out of a rented flat into a new one with same landlord. Basically now being accused of changing the locks on the last place, as they've tried entering with a master key but can't get in. I was once told the master key didn't work for my flat, and if I ever needed repairs, to be at home.I've told them this but they can't take my word, and are now charging me £200. What should I do?

When you moved out you presumably handed keys back? Haven’t they tried this.


how are they ‘charging’ you £200? 

If via deposit scheme - dispute via scheme. 

I handed my keys back. But because their master key doesn't work, they seem to think I've changed the lock and got a new key.

theartfullodger

When you moved in, who supplied keys , landlord, agent, old tenant...

elsien

Don’t master key systems usually have locks with identifying numbers on the lock? If that’s still there, would that not show you’ve not changed the lock? You’re not going to pay out for a one lock in a mastered system. If you’d replaced it, it would have been with a different type I would have thought? 

Norman_Castle

DanS1 said:

 I was once told the master key didn't work for my flat, and if I ever needed repairs, to be at home.

Any evidence such as old emails discussing or arranging this for a previous repair?

Does the master key fit the new flat? If so tell them to take it and you'll fit your own.

alibean121

Even if the lock is different to the others in the block, I’ll take the OP at their word that they didn’t touch the lock. It could have been a previous tenant, it’s not really your job to do any detective work on this. It’s for them to prove that it was you specifically.

Have you received your deposit back? If not, put in a claim with the relevant deposit protection scheme. If you have had it, honestly ignore them. I would send one email stating clearly that I didn’t touch the lock and returned all the keys I was given at the start of the tenancy then ignore.

user1977

elsien said:

Don’t master key systems usually have locks with identifying numbers on the lock? If that’s still there, would that not show you’ve not changed the lock?

I'm guessing it has been changed to a non-master key lock, but by somebody prior to the OP.

elsien

I was presuming it was the original lock but the key had worn.