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 February 2023 - Comments: 18
9:33 AM, 31st March 2023, About 3 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Old Mrs Landlord at 30/03/2023 – 10:01
Sounds like a typical tenants reply. Landlord should be at their beck and call.
Member Since January 2015 - Comments: 1450 - Articles: 1
7:49 AM, 1st April 2023, About 3 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Paul landlord at 29/03/2023 – 22:05
My friend who is an owner occupier had the night lactch drop and jam on a Sunday in Mitcham, South London.
Cost her £450 plus VAT
Member Since August 2015 - Comments: 40
10:18 AM, 1st April 2023, About 3 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Judith Wordsworth at 01/04/2023 – 07:49
Well if you lived in Mitcham you would need the lock doing immediately and a police guard whilst it was being done. Some people are just not capable of doing basic and simple DIY jobs.
Member Since June 2015 - Comments: 16 - Articles: 1
10:39 AM, 1st April 2023, About 3 years ago
Wow. How many responses on this? Why is there so much ambiguity? This is the reason us landlords get such a bad name because our own rules, policies and the law aren’t known.
The landlord may have insurance cover for such an event. Then what?
Member Since November 2020 - Comments: 69
10:59 AM, 1st April 2023, About 3 years ago
I”m sure not all of Mitcham is dodgy Harry. That’s a sweeping statement. Should Mitcham have zero private landlords then?
I have drilled locks out a number of times, and also recently replaced one with another Yale at £32. That bill should not have exceeded £240 including VAT absolute tops on a Sunday wherever, including the moon.
Member Since August 2015 - Comments: 40
11:11 AM, 1st April 2023, About 3 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Accommod8 at 01/04/2023 – 10:59
Tongue in cheek old boy. Worked there for 7 years. Best place of work I had.
Member Since November 2020 - Comments: 69
11:13 AM, 1st April 2023, About 3 years ago
Understood no sweat Harry.
Member Since March 2016 - Comments: 85
2:26 PM, 1st April 2023, About 3 years ago
Typical responses on here from Landlords in different parts of the country saying ‘I could get that done for one shilling’! Are some of you seriously saying a tenant should drill out a lock themselves (and have a spare night latch on them too, just in case?!)
If you self manage, you need to have your phone on 24 hours a day to provide a line for emergencies. Sorry but that’s the nature of the job.
I bet if they texted the landlord warning him (or her) they were about to pay £589 unless they heard back immediately, that would have elicited a swifter response!
The locksmith charge is high, but assuming this is London, with VAT, possibly by around £100 to £150. The landlord should pay the whole bill this time, learn a lesson themselves but also use the opportunity to explain to the tenants if anything similar happens in the future that getting two or three quotes would be required.
Member Since April 2021 - Comments: 189
2:49 PM, 1st April 2023, About 3 years ago
Getting more than one quote when locked out of your home in the pouring rain is not practical. This locksmith saw them coming unfortunately. As mentioned before the landlord should challenge the cost and if paid already then put a review on trustpilot or checkatrade
Member Since February 2023 - Comments: 18
3:26 PM, 1st April 2023, About 3 years ago
Reply to the comment left by AP at 01/04/2023 – 14:26
And if you don’t self manage. Are agents open to repairs requests 24/7?