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

sbi5ar · 5 Nov 2015 at 16:54

Change the locks at your own expense. Keep all keys. If anyone ever wants access to the property then they will have to go through you. If you have been given the okay by the Letting agent or Landlord in writing then don't even tell them, just take that as a green light and get on with it.

Alternatively do what I did. Set up a motion detection camera that emails you when motion is detected. At least then you'll know who it is...

v0n · 5 Nov 2015 at 17:15

5UB said:
Someone has deadlocked my front door with a key. - As far as I am aware you cannot deadlock someones front door without a key. Unless you're some incredible pick-lock artist! Or you have a key and you have entered the house. I highly doubt someone with a key didn't enter and just decided to deadlock it.

The description of the event is unclear - I presume you mean you either:
- have two locks, you usually use one (the one with the handle) and someone locked the other one
- have one lock and never lock it by turning the barrel, just by shutting the door and someone locked the door by turning the barrel.

Does the lock in question have internal thumb turn knob?

You really don't have to be pick-lock artist to open most locks, 99% of locks on the market are susceptible to one of the easiest and oldest tricks in the book - look up "bumper key" on youtube. The only reliable defence is to change the lock to highly unpopular shape of key in this neck of the woods - like order an unusual flat or round key Gerda or something similar from German Ebay.

I presume you are so spooked because you are the only tenant/user of the key - if not then obviously there is a simpler answer.

xGBHxPegasus · 5 Nov 2015 at 17:19

5UB said:
The agency I am with is Martin and Co.

.

There is your problem.

Worst letting company there is, myself and gf (different places and different offices) had nothing but issues with them. Their whole company seems to be a joke.

I would take the hit and just change the lock yourself, for peace of mind anyway.

Uther · 5 Nov 2015 at 17:53

Order in a new range of OCuK elite tier locks. Take some home for a long term test.

D.P. · 5 Nov 2015 at 17:57

Just change the locks and send the letting agency and LL a set of new keys, job done and you don't have to worry about strangers with a key and you wont have broken any contractual rule.

Simon42 · 5 Nov 2015 at 18:09

If you choose a good quality Euro profile cylinder then getting extra keys cut after a change would require the original key number which could be handed over when you eventually vacate.

Craig321 · 5 Nov 2015 at 18:52

D.P. said:
Just change the locks and send the letting agency and LL a set of new keys, job done and you don't have to worry about strangers with a key and you wont have broken any contractual rule.

I wouldn't even bother with that. After what they've put him through, messing him about etc. they can request a key if they want one. I wouldn't offer it up.

dacads · 5 Nov 2015 at 19:12

sbi5ar said:
Alternatively do what I did. Set up a motion detection camera that emails you when motion is detected. At least then you'll know who it is...

Assuming they return of course, we don't know if it's an isolated incident but new locks would make sure of it.

jaybee · 5 Nov 2015 at 19:12

Craig321 said:
I wouldn't even bother with that. After what they've put him through, messing him about etc. they can request a key if they want one. I wouldn't offer it up.

Agree. I wouldn't even ideally want either having a key if it could be avoided. I would just change the locks and always demand they call at a time when you are present. Since OP would always be in and open the door to LL or agent, then they can never prove he changed them. Put locks back when you move, job done.
If they ever try to accuse him of changing the locks, he can ask how they know they have been changed which obviously leads to them admitting they have tried to gain entry, which they won't. Plus, you can always change them back at anytime quite easily.

I should have done this in my old house but never did.

fiveub · 6 Nov 2015 at 10:26

Got confirmation that I can change the locks at my expense. Or they can change for free. They said the builder was going to call me back yesterday for the lock, and the damp.

No call back of course, no idea why I am still trusting Martin and Co...

Got a message from them on Twitter this morning. Fed up of them now.

With the lack of communication from them, I am going to just change the locks myself (now it has been confirmed that I can do this), and be done with it. I am not contacting Martin and Co any more. The damp is clearly getting worse too, I notified them 5 months ago, and this week. If they do not want to fix it, then I guess it is their problem.

Gilly · 6 Nov 2015 at 10:27

Perhaps an invoice for the cost of the locks with a supporting letter outlining your plan to fix the damp problem yourself due to their lack of action and that they should expect an invoice for that too?

Craig321 · 6 Nov 2015 at 10:29

5UB said:
With the lack of communication from them, I am going to just change the locks myself .

Got there in the end

Belly · 6 Nov 2015 at 10:30

bayo000 said:
This is why I think it should be a legal requirement for lock to be changed at start of each tenancy.

I agree

It is always for consideration that a previous occupant had an extra key cut for whatever reason and when he handed the property back held on to the extra key. Most likely against the occupancy licence but it could happen.

Scam · 6 Nov 2015 at 10:54

I would definitely change the locks. I don't trust letting agents or landlords as far as I could throw them.

When my girlfriend moved from her old flat round the corner (literally) into our first flat together, we'd gone round with the movers in the van so she'd left a few personal/important belongings in her old flat for a couple of hours. She came back to find the letting agent had let themselves into the property to carry out some sort of inventory/check! She was absolutely furious, and quite rightly so. Her tenancy hadn't even ended on that day. They make it up as they go along and have no regard for anyone. Scum.

Change the locks and either invoice them (point out they offered to do it FOC). Rather than given them a key (which I think you have to do), why don't you write them a letter or email (something in writing) and tell them the new key is available for collection. Then if they ever try to arrange collection from you, you can fob them off as much as you like

Nodiggidy123 · 6 Nov 2015 at 10:54

5UB.

it may be worth putting a official complaint to martin and co and possibly the property ombudsmen.

there is a code of practice and i imagine the agent has failed quite a few.

https://www.tpos.co.uk/

stufflol · 6 Nov 2015 at 10:57

Boobie trap the **** out of it - wait for complaint? Put a camera on the door and catch the perpetrator then claim against him.

PooKer · 6 Nov 2015 at 11:39

Do you find you have a lot of condensation on the windows? Or is it more as it rains it gets bigger?

If its the first one a short term solution for you would be a dehumidifier that'll take the moisture out of the air. However this is a cost up front and then the cost of running it.

If its caused by rain then it could be doing more damage that could be most costly if left. So why they've left it 5 months. Now the weather has turned...

How long left on the lease?

HugsHeal · 6 Nov 2015 at 12:20

Can you get environmental health involved with the damp? I had to do that a few years back after having serious damp/mould problems in a bedroom and being ignored by the letting agent.

My experience was very positive and it only took a letter and follow up call from the officer to get it sorted. Might be worth a shot?

Mark A · 6 Nov 2015 at 13:43

5UB said:
With the lack of communication from them, I am going to just change the locks myself (now it has been confirmed that I can do this), and be done with it. I am not contacting Martin and Co any more. The damp is clearly getting worse too, I notified them 5 months ago, and this week. If they do not want to fix it, then I guess it is their problem.

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18570017

Thread here in H&G if you need any advice on changing the lock.

subbytna · 6 Nov 2015 at 14:40

1nfamous said:
Letting agency/landlord do need permission and need to give you notice to the point of an exact day when they're wanting to access the property by either phone, letter, or email. If phone, I believe these are recorded for their sake (as stated in my previous contract with the agency I was using). At my previous place, the agency called once to let me know the landlord wanted to check on the house, I said that nobody would be there on the date he wanted to make a quick visit and to rearrange to another date, where I would be present. They don't have a choice.

Letting themselves in (if it is the agency or landlord) is a serious breach of trust and (and law) and as worrying as it sounds it's extremely rare that either an agency or landlord would be that stupid.

I would honestly enquire about lock change asap and pretty much demand it and set up a couple of ip cameras that can store to cloud.

The landlord/Agency need to give you 24 hours notice minimum unless there is an emergency and they have to inform you that they have been in the property.