Tenant changing locks

Tenant changing locks

9:58 AM, 27th July 2015, About 9 years ago 16

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Can a Tenant change the locks without permission and without telling the Landlord? Tenant changing locks

I read my tenacy agreement from landlord association and it does not mention that tenants can’t change the locks.

Does anyone have any advice about this?

I am not that bothered really, but I am not sure they should do that.

I haven’t got any keys to the house now.

My husband went to do some work in there, because there was a water leak and found that the key didn’t work.

Thanks

Christine


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Comments

Paul Franklin

9:21 AM, 28th July 2015, About 9 years ago

As tenant has 'exclusive occupation', that is the right to exclude others. If you enterred the property after the tenant had specifically said they do not give you permission that could be considered harassment.

The answer is yes, the tenant CAN change the locks. But at the same time the tenant CAN also not pay rent, trash the property, assault you, build a cannabis factory etct etc...the question is what you can then do about it.

As said earlier, if all else fails, for s21 you don't even need to give a reason. However, in this situation I would echo what others have suggested and encourage you to first discuss the situation with the tenant and understand their reasoning. I would encourage you to communicate properly with your tenant just as you would like them to communicate with you.

There are a vaiety of reasonable, legitimate reasons why any person may want to change the locks to their home, whether rented or not.

Steve Masters

8:28 AM, 1st August 2015, About 9 years ago

Assure your tenant you wont enter the flat against their wishes. When the need arises a simple text message along the lines: "My plumber has had a cancellation and can do the job today around noon, is it OK if I let him in?" should make the tenant a lot more comfortable than coming home to find someone has been in their home without their knowledge, even if that leak has been fixed.

However, if the tenant still does not trust you with a key, why should you trust them with your property, issue the s21.

Ray Davison

9:10 AM, 1st August 2015, About 9 years ago

Yes, that is how we have always handled things and have not once in ten years had a tenant deny us entry. We have occasionally had a tenant who always wants to be home when access is made and we have no problem with that either.

Romain Garcin

13:34 PM, 1st August 2015, About 9 years ago

A landlord has a right of entry in specific circumstances and therefore the tenant is not entitled to refuse access in these circumstances.

Regarding keys and locks, if the tenancy agreement is silent on the matter the tenant may change the locks without providing a key.
However, it will then be down to him to arrange access for the landlord, his agent, and his contractors.

In any case, tenants should remember that landlords do not need any reason to evict.

Nick Pope

16:27 PM, 2nd August 2015, About 9 years ago

I have a clause in all my leases preventing changing of locks without prior consent unless in an emergency and requiring that a key is provided to me or the agent as quickly as reasonably possible.

If a tenant would like locks to be changed because of losing a key or partner moving out I will do that free of charge. I have a supply of various lock barrels with keys and I can do it in a few minutes. It means I always have peace of mind that I can get in if absolutely necessary.

In addition I usually change the locks at a change of tenancy as the new occupiers feel safer knowing there are no keys out there with a previous tenant.

Ray Davison

9:15 AM, 3rd August 2015, About 9 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Nick Pope" at "02/08/2015 - 16:27":

Nick, good tip that, we also keep spare lock barrels and change them at the start of a new tenancy. The locks are simply rotated around our properties randomly. You never know who a previous tenant has given keys to or who they may passed to at the end of a tenancy!

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