Can I take a locksmith with me?

Can I take a locksmith with me?

10:43 AM, 10th August 2013, About 11 years ago 55

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I have purchased a property recently but have no keys for it. Can I take a locksmith with me?

The previous landlord says she cant find them.

I have tried to contact the tenant on several occasions but with no joy.

If I give her 24 hours notice in writing that I intend to visit the property to have the boiler checked for a Gas Safety Certificate am I entitled to force entry if i am refused?

I look forward to hearing from you

Regards

Tony


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Comments

Mary Latham

21:09 PM, 12th August 2013, About 11 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "tony salmon" at "12/08/2013 - 11:12":

Tony I am sorry if you feel that I misunderstood your intention. Whether you enter for a quick job/look/inspection it is "gaining access" that is the problem. A landlord cannot gain access without the consent of the tenant unless there is a real emergency and he can prove it.

You have been left in a very difficult situation and I would be going back to the Solicitor who dealt with the purchase and asking why you were not given a key - this is the symbol of Possession.

Follow me on Twitter@landlordtweets

My book, where I warn about the storm clouds that are gathering for landlords is here >>> http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1484855337

Mary Latham

21:15 PM, 12th August 2013, About 11 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Mick Roberts" at "12/08/2013 - 17:33":

Hahahaha Thank you Mick but, since I only drink tea and water, I can have a big drink. I didn't write this book to make money I wrote it to warn other landlords. Please let me know what you think and if you have time put a review on Amazon.

Follow me on Twitter@landlordtweets

My book, where I warn about the storm clouds that are gathering for landlords is here >>> http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1484855337

tony tony

23:17 PM, 12th August 2013, About 11 years ago

one last question people, i have a signed ast 6 months , but the original ast although was a periodic was a 12 month ast originaly from prevoius landlady , dose this matter or should i of issued a 12 month ast regards ts

Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118

23:27 PM, 12th August 2013, About 11 years ago

No problem with a new 6 month AST Tony 🙂
.

Joe Bloggs

9:18 AM, 13th August 2013, About 11 years ago

i too am in final throws of buying a tenanted property and neither solicitor has said a thing about notices or keys. i am now firing off an e-mail! this would have been overlooked by the conveyancers if it wasnt for this thread. why are conveyancers so useless? they are just glotified form fillers but they have trouble even doing that!

10:07 AM, 13th August 2013, About 11 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Howard Reuben" at "11/08/2013 - 11:02":

We learnt the hard way when we first started. We had a young couple end their tenancy on the prescribed day with no problem.They had been good tenants and paid on time etc.
They were checked out on the Saturday as arranged and we had new tenants moving in the following Saturday.
We had arranged for our maintenance chap to go in on the Wednesday to spruce the place up and gave him a set of keys.He went and rang me to say there was someone in the house.
I went straight over and the chap who answered the door was the tenant who we had moved out a few days before.
It turned out that the property they were moving to had a problem and was not available for another week and although they had returned 2 sets of keys had a spare set they had not told us about.
Being homeless and knowing the house was going to be empty for a week they took it on themselves to let themselves back in.
Fortunately we took a risk and on payment of an additional weeks rent (the deposit had not been returned at this point) allowed them to stay till the weekend.
They left and the locks were changed before they had got to the end of the road !!
A lesson learned that could have turned out very nasty.

We have also had a tenant who was an expert on manipulating the system and knew as much as us about regulations and cost us £650 but thats another story about "do your homework"

Mary Latham

10:45 AM, 13th August 2013, About 11 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "tony salmon" at "12/08/2013 - 23:17":

PLEASE remember to protect the deposit - even if the original landlord did not give it to you, now that you are the owner you will be held liable.

Being really nosey - had the tenant changed the locks or was it only that the previous owner has lost her copy?

Follow me on Twitter@landlordtweets

My book, where I warn about the storm clouds that are gathering for landlords is here >>> http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1484855337

tony tony

11:22 AM, 13th August 2013, About 11 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Mary Latham" at "13/08/2013 - 10:45":

Mary it was the previous landlady that had lost her keys thank you and p.s ive sent for your book on amazon and looking forward to the read regards t.s

Howard Reuben Cert CII (MP) CeRER

11:23 AM, 13th August 2013, About 11 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "JOHN HARPER" at "13/08/2013 - 10:07":

Thanks John. Locks already changed! Our (ex) tenant is trying to hide now. She has left her job, and we think she's done a runner with her soldier boyfriend to 'married quarters' barracks now. She's also now pregnant and there doesn't seem to be any more updates on her LinkedIn or Twitter accounts. She's laying low .... but no-one can remain invisible for too long. This is becoming fun! As above, it's not the money, it's the principle - I will find her, I will then either get my money back or create a ccj and the subsequent massive inconvenience for her - as she deserves.

I don't have money to waste or burn, but I consider the cost of this as an investment in justice!

There should not only be a Good Landlords section, but a Landlords Become Bounty Hunter section here too - I've already donned my hat and star shaped badge 🙂

Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118

12:54 PM, 13th August 2013, About 11 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Howard Reuben" at "13/08/2013 - 11:23":

Hi Howard

FCC Paragon charge for people tracing but there is another company which charge less and also on a no trace no fee basis, see >>> http://www.property118.com/first-steps-in-recovery-of-outstanding-tenant-debt/40251/

I suggest using these for the trace in the first instance on a no trace no fee basis, and then FCC Paragon for the no win no fee debt collection. You have nothing to lose!
.

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