A "stranger" has a key to my house. Martin and Co don't care.

Thank you for calling, your call is important to us. We'll transfer you as soon as an operator is available. *Greensleves plays on a loop*
 
Called asking if I could speak to the manager I was dealing with, she is busy. I'm asking them directly if I am able to change the locks myself, and if they will pay me back.

Waiting for a call back again...

Feels like I am banging my head against a brick wall. Not had any proper response from them yet, or a resolution, or anything.
 
Thought: if you had changed the locks and didn't tell anyone - wouldn't that expose the intruder? Assuming:

1) The agency need to let you know when they are gaining access

2) The agency need to let you know when the landlord requires access

Who else needs to get in besides yourself?

BB x
 
I like that everyone believes that turning up with a guy that has some muscles immediately thinks everything will be smoothed out :D
 
Ubersonic said:
Because if it's rented accommodation you're not allowed to do it without the landlords permission...
Click to expand...

Craig321 said:
So you'd honestly be comfortable/happy living in a place where you know somebody has been in without permission until you get permission from the landlord to change the locks? :rolleyes:

Sometimes people follow the rules a bit too much.
Click to expand...

Disclaimer - I am not a solicitor..

Your lease may say you aren't allowed to change the locks without owners permission. Also changing the locks may open you up to a criminal damage charge should the landlord decide to try and take you to court for it.

As a tenant you still have the right to change the locks if there is sufficient reason. Unwanted visitors or persons unknown having access are generally accepted as sufficient reason. As is being unable to contact the landlord within a period of time and therefore being unable to seek permission. But this would be up to you to prove if it went to court.

Landlords and letting agents do not a legal right to new keys if you have changed them. They only have a right to have returned the keys they gave you at the end of the tenancy. They may well have a contractual right to new keys if they were bright enough to put it in the lease, or to charge you for replacement locks at the end of the tenancy.

With the above said, I would expect if you actually get hold of the landlord and have a 2 minute chat, their answer would be "sure, change the locks just make sure I get the keys when you leave."

Very similar to here
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=28438390&postcount=62
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=28438390&postcount=64
 
Back when I was renting I always changed the lock.
I would take that lock with me when ever I moved.

On the odd occasion the agent/landlord did enquire why I hanged the locks, I simply said the old lock stopped working.

Change the lock or at least the lock barrel
 
Change the locks... don't tell anyone and see if someone mentions to you that the locks look different.

I've done it in the past when we were having trouble with a landlord and his agent.

The comment came form the agent "I was walking by your house and noticed the lock looked different".

The door was far enough away from the street that she could not have been able to tell any difference from a distance, even with the eyesight of a hawk...

It didn't... she'd obviously tried to enter the property despite strict instructions not to do so.

They demanded an inspection and in the past we had been able to support them without much trouble but this day we couldn't work from home and she was adamant she would let herself in... with cats, one who likes shooting past peoples feet and that door leading onto a semi-busy through-road we had only recently lost her brother to on, we couldn't have that.

Combined with other problems with them at the same time, we just changed the internal of the lock.

It was really easy to do and only cost a few quid.

Changed them back before leaving...
 
3PM. No call back still. I've not had a single call back from the very first day I've contacted them.

The agency I am with is Martin and Co.

If anyone happens to know someone from Martin and Co, who knows how to dial a phone or at least resolve an issue. That would be handy! I feel like I am not getting anywhere.

All I have asked is about the situation, also asked them a simple question if I can change the locks. - They had to call me back for that too...
 
What a pain. I would call again and complain about the lack of service and demand to speak with someone. Then call back every 30 mins until you do.
 
5UB said:
3PM. No call back still. I've not had a single call back from the very first day I've contacted them.

The agency I am with is Martin and Co.

If anyone happens to know someone from Martin and Co, who knows how to dial a phone or at least resolve an issue. That would be handy! I feel like I am not getting anywhere.

All I have asked is about the situation, also asked them a simple question if I can change the locks. - They had to call me back for that too...
Click to expand...

Nothing constructive from me apart from I feel your pain :( Rented with Martin and Co for a few years and it was just absolute rubbish whenever I needed to contact them. Generally unhelpful staff that promise call backs without actually calling back.
 
Called them again, they are calling me back at 4PM... They are trying to get hold of the landlord, they cannot give me authorisation to change the locks until they have spoken to the landlord.

Not sure why I had to wait 6 hours for them to tell me that, and that I have to keep calling them!
 
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