Tenant changed locks and not left property after end of tenancy?
3 years ago | 16 comments
Emergency lock change (faulty lock) – Is the tenant liable?
12:01 AM, 29th March 2023, 3 years ago
43
Hi, Last Sunday evening, our lock decided to fail (ERA night latch). All of a sudden, the key would not be able to turn the lock. My flatmates, who were inside, could not open the door either, the latch was simply stuck and would not turn despite countless attempts at it.
When it was clear it was not going to work, we sent multiple messages to our landlord explaining the situation (with videos) and tried to call him multiple times to no avail (and about an hour of waiting for a reply).
Given I was locked out of my flat, we called an emergency locksmith. Taking a look at the videos from inside and inspecting outside, he said the lock was faulty and the only option was a destructive opening using a drill. Having done that, he then replaced the lock with a similar one.
When all was done, he charged us £589 for the whole ordeal (emergency, Sunday evening hours, destructive open, new night latch installation). He again inspected the lock and confirmed it was faulty, and wrote this on the invoice too.
We sent over the invoice to our landlord as we assumed the cost for replacing a faulty lock should be his liability, given we hadn’t tempered with it in any way.
He wrote back saying it is the tenant’s liability and that we have no right to incur a cost at his expense.
Who should be paying the fee in this case? (There is no mention of locks in our tenancy agreement).
Thank you,
Quentin
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Member Since April 2022 - Comments: 31
7:47 PM, 29th March 2023, About 3 years ago
Last time I saw a locksmith was on a Saturday night due to the missus somehow managing to lock her keys in the house. I arrived just to see the locksmith kneel down to start drilling, grab the handle to steady himself and then fall through the unlocked door nearly. That was 80 quid just for the call out, the continued ribbing has been priceless.
Member Since December 2013 - Comments: 179
10:05 PM, 29th March 2023, About 3 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Judith Wordsworth at 29/03/2023 – 14:59
Normal price? You either having a laugh or just a person happy to pay rip off prices.
I wouldn’t be paying that size of bill for something that only need cost 1/3 of the price.
Question? If it was the tenants own property and they were paying the bill would they have been so quick to engage such a high priced service? Doubt it
Member Since December 2021 - Comments: 161
8:19 AM, 30th March 2023, About 3 years ago
And tenants complain about landlords ripping them off!
£589, outrageous amount. Probably find a squirt of WD40 would have fixed it!
I’d suggest the landlord gets a couple of local quotes and offers to contribute based on that.
As for not being available in one particular hour, even landlords have a life and as the Govt points out, we don’t “work” at being landlords, it’s just investment, so office hours only.
Member Since November 2022 - Comments: 41
9:59 AM, 30th March 2023, About 3 years ago
I just replaced a tenant’s front door lock (same kind). I arrived within 15 minutes of him calling and had the exact barrel he needed with 3 brand new keys
Cost me £8
Need I say any more?
I accept reasonable prices. But that’s beyond the pale. He charged for a week’s wage to do 15 minutes of work. And unskilled work at that! Forget it. Not a chance.
Member Since February 2016 - Comments: 1056
10:01 AM, 30th March 2023, About 3 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Smiffy at 30/03/2023 – 08:19
Obviously all tenants can be assumed to have a can of WD40 about them when they go out on a weekend evening!
Member Since February 2023 - Comments: 18
12:37 PM, 30th March 2023, About 3 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Old Mrs Landlord at 30/03/2023 – 10:01
I suppose if you are paying the ridiculous amount of rents in London you would expect a quick reply from the landlord. If an agent is used the forget that because they are useless.
Member Since April 2021 - Comments: 189
12:59 PM, 30th March 2023, About 3 years ago
It’s up to the landlord to challenge it but £600 is ludicrous
Member Since April 2022 - Comments: 31
8:44 PM, 30th March 2023, About 3 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Robert Sled at 30/03/2023 – 09:59
If you managed to drill through a lock or shear it and fit a new one in 15 min for £8 then you either have skills that are learned in nefarious ways and an old or cheap monkey metal lock or didn’t have to break in or both.
Member Since August 2016 - Comments: 508
9:57 PM, 30th March 2023, About 3 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Paul Power at 30/03/2023 – 20:44
Peter Man? Woof woof!!!
Member Since February 2023 - Comments: 18
9:00 AM, 31st March 2023, About 3 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Paul Power at 29/03/2023 – 19:47
Did you expect him to leave without payment?