Getting keys from previous owner

AMO

Hi all,

My friend has bought a flat through an estate agent. However, her previous owner has kept hold of one set of keys (of which one key is very important as its the key that opens the automatic door to the underground car park to her flat).

She has been chasing the keys for the last month without success.

If she needs to drag people to court, does she go after her solicitor or the estate agents? Who has the responsibility of ensuring that all keys were available to her?

Any good advice on best ways forward would be appreciated.

Thanx

AMO

Debt_Free_Chick

Even if she gets the keys back, she won't know if the previous owner (or anyone else!) has kept a copy.

Suggest she changes the locks then the old key will be useless.

poppyolivia

youre told to get the locks changed when you buy your home....she was probably told this! Its probably cheaper than dragging people through court.

Addy1

I imagine she wouldn't be able to change the key to the parking area?
We had this problem when my boyfriend rented a flat, there was only one fob available for 2 spaces and another one could not be cut as it was an electronic one.

MissEyre

If she tells her solicitor, they will get the seller's solicitor to contact them and then keep chasing it for you-I had a similar situation when I bought my place and the EA was useless, but the solicitor was great x

clutton_2

you can probably buy a parking fob from the managing agents

Addy1

clutton wrote: »

you can probably buy a parking fob from the managing agents

You probably can but they were £120 at our flats.

Scubabe

Addy1 wrote: »

You probably can but they were £120 at our flats.

Even at £120 surely it's cheaper than "dragging someone to court" as the OP suggested.

I agree, contact the solicitors and ask them to chase their client for the parking garage key, and then change the door locks (it's far safer) - you don't need to change everything, just the barrell where the key goes, a locksmith can do this if they're not particularly handy.

If the solicitor can't get the garage key back then I'd just bite the bullet and buy a new one from the building managers, cheaper easier faster and less stress than anything else...

Ness

real1314

Contact your solicitor, tell them it costs £120 for a fob, they'll tell the vendors solicitor that the vendor has not completed properly and that they need to supply the fob or £120 to replace it.

clutton_2

my security fob for an flat entry system cost £25 ... can u not find out from other tenants who the fob-maker is ?

AMO

Thanx for the replies. Got friend to chase solicitor again. Found out that solicitor is responsible for ensuring all keys are in posession before completing.

AMO