Development manager wanting to charge me….

kizzy1926

I have checked the lease and I do not see anything in there that mentions being charged for such services. 

I would expect the engineers do have the standard FB  keys but I am willing to purchase the ones on the link above and simply hand it to the engineers to see if it will fit. 

It is a brand new development with a secure gate leading to this particular cupboard in question. Even the cupboards with the gas/electric meters in there we had to purchase our own FB1 key, maybe it is standard practice but I find it all quite bizarre not the fact that they are locked up but that we have to purchase our own key or pay them to attend to open the door.

I have just asked if they would allow me to collect and drop the key back off so will wait to hear back.

Only being able to contact them via email is also adding to the frustration, BT manager has hopefully emailed them by now so keeping my fingers crossed they get a response. 

Thanks

HampshireH

kizzy1926 said:

I have checked the lease and I do not see anything in there that mentions being charged for such services. 

I would expect the engineers do have the standard FB  keys but I am willing to purchase the ones on the link above and simply hand it to the engineers to see if it will fit. 

It is a brand new development with a secure gate leading to this particular cupboard in question. Even the cupboards with the gas/electric meters in there we had to purchase our own FB1 key, maybe it is standard practice but I find it all quite bizarre. 

Only being able to contact them via email is also adding to the frustration, BT manager has hopefully emailed them by now so keeping my fingers crossed they get a response. 

Thanks

I would suggest trying them to see if they fit before handing them over and wasting their time again if they dont..

silvercar

kizzy1926 said:

I have checked the lease and I do not see anything in there that mentions being charged for such services. 

I would expect the engineers do have the standard FB  keys but I am willing to purchase the ones on the link above and simply hand it to the engineers to see if it will fit. 

It is a brand new development with a secure gate leading to this particular cupboard in question. Even the cupboards with the gas/electric meters in there we had to purchase our own FB1 key, maybe it is standard practice but I find it all quite bizarre not the fact that they are locked up but that we have to purchase our own key or pay them to attend to open the door.

I have just asked if they would allow me to collect and drop the key back off so will wait to hear back.

Only being able to contact them via email is also adding to the frustration, BT manager has hopefully emailed them by now so keeping my fingers crossed they get a response. 

Thanks

I understood that legally you have to be given the ability to turn the gas off to your property in an emergency. My emergency off lever is by the meter, if yours is too then you can't be charged to obtain access to it.

DullGreyGuy

silvercar said:

kizzy1926 said:

I have checked the lease and I do not see anything in there that mentions being charged for such services. 

I would expect the engineers do have the standard FB  keys but I am willing to purchase the ones on the link above and simply hand it to the engineers to see if it will fit. 

It is a brand new development with a secure gate leading to this particular cupboard in question. Even the cupboards with the gas/electric meters in there we had to purchase our own FB1 key, maybe it is standard practice but I find it all quite bizarre not the fact that they are locked up but that we have to purchase our own key or pay them to attend to open the door.

I have just asked if they would allow me to collect and drop the key back off so will wait to hear back.

Only being able to contact them via email is also adding to the frustration, BT manager has hopefully emailed them by now so keeping my fingers crossed they get a response. 

Thanks

I understood that legally you have to be given the ability to turn the gas off to your property in an emergency. My emergency off lever is by the meter, if yours is too then you can't be charged to obtain access to it.

I think they are just being pragmatic... you can buy a FB key on amazon for under £2 inc P&P and so its going to be cheaper for you to do that yourself than pay the service company to buy one for you and then post it on. The clicker for our electronic gates on the other hand is £48 and has to be bought from the service company. 

As the OP appears to be the first leaseholder for the property its a little odd that one wasn't initially given but we are the 5th or so owners of our leasehold so who knows who lost the key (though for us its just the electric meters in that cupboard, gas are by our front door with the normal triangular meter box key. 

kizzy1926

Update: The keys did not work, I thought one of the keys with a curved edge would have magically opened the door. 

Locksmiths so far have said they would attend but I do not want them to resort to using a drill and then replacing it as I don’t want any issues/charges coming towards me. 

I have since emailed my solicitor who I used when I purchased the flat to see if she can advise me on anything but not holding my breath.