My landlord won't provide front and back door keys after both doors changed to new doors?

williewonder

Its a shared house with 4 tenants, the landlord has only provided 2 sets of keys, should they provide each tenant with a set of keys given we didnt ask for the front doors to be changed to new doors.

elsien

I would expect everyone to have their own set of keys. 

Are your support staff helping you to address this with your landlord?

williewonder

elsien said:

I would expect everyone to have their own set of keys. 

Are your support staff helping you to address this with your landlord?

I wrote to my manager and she wrote to landlord and he wrote back they will only supply 2 set of keys (for both doors) when there are 4 people who live here. I told her I think this is wrong.

elsien

Other option is just to get some more cut yourselves. It won’t cost much and will be a lot more convenient.

williewonder

elsien said:

Other option is just to get some more cut yourselves. It won’t cost much and will be a lot more convenient.

It's the principle, why should I have to pay £20 for key cutting for own set of keys when 2 other tenants got there's given them for free. The landlord is a nationwide supported housing company so its housing association. I think its unfair.

Grumpy_chap

williewonder said:

It's the principle, why should I have to pay £20 for key cutting for own set of keys when 2 other tenants got there's given them for free. The landlord is a nationwide supported housing company so its housing association. I think its unfair.

You may be wholly correct on your principal and the assessment that it is unfair.

From a practical perspective, what is the alternative?  You can argue the case, but then stuck in the property while it gets resolved.  £20 for instant freedom may be good value.  But still unfair

Alderbank

elsien said:

Other option is just to get some more cut yourselves. It won’t cost much and will be a lot more convenient.

Unlimited numbers of keys in circulation for a HMO, which this appears to be, is not necessarily a good thing. Some Housing Associations I have worked for will only supply a very limited number of restricted or 'Do not copy' keys in HMOs in order to improve safety and security for all tenants.

The owner may consider that a total of four keys for four residents is enough?

There is no requirement in housing law to provide any specific number of keys. In any case, many tenants swap out the barrel of the landlord's locks for their own instead (the landlord's lock goes back when the tenancy ends) and this practice is often encouraged here on MSE

elsien

Its not an HMO. It’s a supported living place.

williewonder

this is for front and back door which have recently been updated and fitted. Not individual rooms. And @elsien is correct this is a supported living complex.

RHemmings

The only thing is if the landlord starts skimping on other things they should be doing. The keys alone are a relatively minor issue in the scheme of things. But, will a landlord who won't fulfil their responsibilities to provide keys to everyone named on the rental agreement(s) then start not doing other things that they should really do. 

I would certainly keep copies of the request, correspondence, and any receipts for keys that are cut. As if there are more issues, then these could be packaged into a complaint. 

_Penny_Dreadful

Not ideal but whilst this gets sorted out as I believe 4 residents means 4 sets of keys should be provided could you each have a key so that two of you have a front door key each and the other two each have a back door key?