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One lost key = £120 for lock change.
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ThisIsWeird
Posts: 7,935 Forumite
Hi all.
Son home from uni, and LL of the house they were in - 4 of them - is claiming £120 as one key was not returned, which is true. They say they need to replace all the locks.
Is this fair and reasonable?
There can hardly be any greater security risk from this missing key than if all 4 had been returned - copies can be made for less than a fiver.
Thoughts?
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Comments
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I'd be making a copy unless there's some reason this can't be done. Our house keys have a code that needs to be provided to a particular locksmith shop and they can't be produced anywhere else. Still I think they were about £10 when we needed an extra one.I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Debt Free Wannabe, Old Style Money Saving and Pensions boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
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The risk with a missing key is that you've no idea where it is. Someone may have stolen it or found it outside and be able to access the property, so replacing the lock(s) the key is for and producing new keys is the safest thing to do. Many home insurance policies will cover new locks if a key is lost.Is £120 reasonable? It depends, on how many locks are affected and how many keys need cut. You can buy Yale lock inners for about £20 each, so assuming 2 locks, by the time you throw in an hour of locksmith time and 4 spare keys then £120 isn't unreasonable.
If you'd replaced the key before returning it, you may have got away with it but it's too late now.7 -
Cost of replacement lock depends entirely what kind of lock. Could be £10 for new barrel in a latch lock, or £50 for a new 3* rated cylinder lock.
Then there's extra keys. and importantly labour cost too - £50 per hour? £80?
You're right about the security. Personally I replace at least one of the locks evert time a new tenant moves in as who knows how may duplicates the last tenant, or their cleaner (!) had.
But locks I replace I keep and recycle......2 -
Reverse the situation, imagine your son is starting the tenancy and the landlord informs him and his co-tenants that one of the previous tenants failed to the return their key. So where is it, who has it? Whilst they're attending lectures, there is a possibility/probability someone can just walk into the house and steal your son's (and others') possessions.ThisIsWeird said:Hi all.Son home from uni, and LL of the house they were in - 4 of them - is claiming £120 as one key was not returned, which is true. They say they need to replace all the locks.Is this fair and reasonable?There can hardly be any greater security risk from this missing key than if all 4 had been returned - copies can be made for less than a fiver.Thoughts?
I'm sure you'd be much happier knowing the landlord had replaced the locksIf you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales6 -
Personally, I'd be asking the LL for a dated receipt before paying the £120. I'd maybe consider asking for the old locks and the 3 keys too.
Some people call me cynical...1 -
£30 each for a life lesson in renting a property.2
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A copy of the receipt would not be unreasonable, but expect to pay the postage and the landlord for their time to post the lock and keys back to you.MeteredOut said:Personally, I'd be asking the LL for a dated receipt before paying the £120. I'd maybe consider asking for the old locks and the 3 keys too.
Some people call me cynical...The comments I post are my personal opinion. While I try to check everything is correct before posting, I can and do make mistakes, so always try to check official information sources before relying on my posts.1 -
I didn't say I'd expect the LL to pay for postage. If not local and able to collect, then I'd expect the OP would have to pay for that.tacpot12 said:
A copy of the receipt would not be unreasonable, but expect to pay the postage and the landlord for their time to post the lock and keys back to you.MeteredOut said:Personally, I'd be asking the LL for a dated receipt before paying the £120. I'd maybe consider asking for the old locks and the 3 keys too.
Some people call me cynical...1 -
Surely the person who did not return the key should pay the cost.1
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Maybe too late now, but why didn't they get the forth key replaced for a fiver before moving out?ThisIsWeird said:Hi all.Son home from uni, and LL of the house they were in - 4 of them - is claiming £120 as one key was not returned, which is true. They say they need to replace all the locks.Is this fair and reasonable?There can hardly be any greater security risk from this missing key than if all 4 had been returned - copies can be made for less than a fiver.Thoughts?2
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