Tenancy Lost key

[jbsportstech]

Just a quick one but should a managing agent not retain a full set of keys.

It turns out our last house the gave us 15 keys and only a kept a back door key!


It had two front doors and we only had a 1 motrice key for the second which has been miss placed in the move to our own home.

Estate agents didnt have another key for this door so want me to pay for all new lock out of my deposit.

Can I argue they should of kept a key or just accept I lost the key and take the hit.

[FrankAbagnale]

They're suggesting a lock replacement because there is a key to the door of that house that is unaccounted for and could open that lock at any time.

From the agents point of view it is a security risk.

[robinessex]

So what were the other 13 keys for ?

[northwest monkey]

Sounds a bit harsh to me & I'm a landlord. As a matter of course, I always change the locks with a change of tenancy even if all the keys come back - after all I don't know if they've ever had a replacement cut...

I imagine it's something the agency will charge for but never actually do.

[jbsportstech]

no they are asking as they as they issued me the only key and its missing. They have not raised security as its actually two keys missing but this is the only they are worried about as unless the landlord has one in bath no one has a key for this lock. As we only got one and there were two doors with 3 locks we only used the 1 lock per door.

I am a bit stuffed as they have £1125 deposit and we moved at two weeks notice(its a long story) but its was a nightmare and i forgot to cancel the dd so have paid them an extra months rent this week which I am trying to get back.

So they are sat on £1900 of my money!

Edited by jbsportstech on Wednesday 4th March 16:39

[Dromedary66]

You lost the only key to that door.

You should have to pay to get a new lock put in.

[randlemarcus]

Have you left yet? If not, hie thee to B&Q and replace the lock/barrel yourself. Much cheaperer.

If you have left, you are in the hands of the agent. poor thing.

[jbsportstech]

Dromedary66 said:

You lost the only key to that door.

You should have to pay to get a new lock put in.

A bit of history if they had a key i would pay to get one cut but they failed to keep a set of keys nto great is it.

There was a water leak on moving day and all the stuff in the utility got wet it was a nightmare. The key was in a fruit bowl packed by someone else and can't find were there plumber put it.

[jbsportstech]

randlemarcus said:

Have you left yet? If not, hie thee to B&Q and replace the lock/barrel yourself. Much cheaperer.

If you have left, you are in the hands of the agent. poor thing.

yes

[randlemarcus]

jbsportstech said:

yes

Ho hum, pay up then. You might want to offer to nip back round and change the lock yourself, or offer a reasonable amount for the job, i.e. a new five lever lock and thirty quid on top for the handyfeller, rather than letting the agent define what the job is.

[smac]

Id be suprised if two weeks notice was sufficient - did they agree this?

[pork911]

jbsportstech said:

Dromedary66 said:

You lost the only key to that door.

You should have to pay to get a new lock put in.

A bit of history if they had a key i would pay to get one cut but they failed to keep a set of keys nto great is it.

There was a water leak on moving day and all the stuff in the utility got wet it was a nightmare. The key was in a fruit bowl packed by someone else and can't find were there plumber put it.

even if they had another key, the lock would need to be changed if you failed to return the key you had for it


(-ideally all should be security keys, but losing one of them would cost you even more)

[jbsportstech]

smac said:

Id be suprised if two weeks notice was sufficient - did they agree this?

We were served two months notice however we would have had to have sales viewings and replacement roofing works etc so we choose to move out. We had two weeks remaining in feb and the option was move out in two or 6 weeks!

[Wings]

I have just charged a departing tenant for the replacement of ALL cylinders to entrance locks, due to the tenant being unable to hand back the two sets of entrance keys, that she received at the start of her tenancy. Although I have key cutting facilities, and could easily have replaced a set of keys, the security issue takes priority.

I charged the young female £35 for supply and fitting of a mortice deadlock, nightlatch cylinder and two euro cylinders, and as other PH landlords will tell the OP, another reason why you let from a private landlord.

If the OP is Bristol based, then an earlier posting might have saved him a few ££££s.

[bigandclever]

jbsportstech said:

unless the landlord has one in bath

When are they likely to confirm they have/n't?

[jbsportstech]

pork911 said:

even if they had another key, the lock would need to be changed if you failed to return the key you had for it


(-ideally all should be security keys, but losing one of them would cost you even more)

I appreciate that we lost the key but the agent was paid to manage the house and turns out all they retained was a back door key which explains why couldn't get in to inspect one day as my other half left a key in the back door.

not very good for an agent being paid to manage the letting.

We are both negligent I lost a key she failed to retain a set of keys just seems I am paying the hole bill!

I am tempted to say lets split the cost as you should of retained a key and lets split the cost but i doubt it will fly. She wants £72 now 60 plus vat,

[elanfan]

Could you still get access to the property on some pretext.?

If the door can be opened pop the lock out get down to a locksmith and they can cut a key.

Hey presto you found the key.

Alternatively buy a new lock for under £20 and fit it.

[jbsportstech]

bigandclever said:

When are they likely to confirm they have/n't?

she won't ask it the church and it will look bad she didn't keep a spare key.

she said her roofer will check tomorrow if the key is were in the utility room if not she will instruct her lock smith and return the rest of my deposit. She wants 5 working days to return over paid rent and deposit.

[jbsportstech]

elanfan said:

Could you still get access to the property on some pretext.?

If the door can be opened pop the lock out get down to a locksmith and they can cut a key.

Hey presto you found the key.

Alternatively buy a new lock for under £20 and fit it.

no roofer has started works today!

[Wings]

elanfan said:

Could you still get access to the property on some pretext.?

If the door can be opened pop the lock out get down to a locksmith and they can cut a key.

Hey presto you found the key.

Alternatively buy a new lock for under £20 and fit it.

Keys have markings, this and the newness of the cut, sharp edges will give the game away. If the OP buys a new lock, the agent needs to see the same in a secured package-security.