The law already provides that without the need to withold keys.
Renting and not giving keys to landlord
- Thread starter BlackDragon
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The law already provides that without the need to withold keys.
Soldato
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The OP is renting it, exactly. So whilst the OP is living there, it is their home and they have the right to feel secure. As long as he does not breach the contract and he leaves the property in the same condition he found it, the OP is doing nothing wrong.
He'll not get be given his two month notice unless the contract stipulates he cannot change the lock OR he's on a rolling contract and the landlord decides to kick him out. BUT, no sensible Landlord is going to kick someone out for changing the locks as long as they can still get reasonable access to the property and the tenant is otherwise sound.
In fact even if it does state he cannot change the locks, it won't be worth the landlord pursuing it whilst in contract period. It will cost him more than its worth to try get the tenant out, especially if that tenant is paying on time and maintaining the condition of the property.
Hell it costs more than its worth to get someone out full stop if they are actually paying rent. Its a big enough nightmare to remove someone who isn't paying rent.
Or just change the locks?
The law provides for protection from burglary, but I'll not be handing out my keys to would be burglars either.
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To then be hassled even more by the landlord? And create potential insurance risks? No thanks.
Have a google for unauthorised or unwanted access by landlords and you'll see why they do not want landlords or estate agents having keys.
It may be in breach of contract to change locks, but then the landlord has three options - suck it up, apply to the court for an injunction or evict under section 11. Or a fourth option of negotiating with the tenant and coming to an amicable agreement.
What you cannot do is prevent reasonable access to the property for the landlord or their agents for inspections or for emergency maintenance which would cause further damage to the property.
So if they ask for access with appropriate notice, or there is a water gushing through the ceiling, you can't really stop them gaining access.
I've just had this argument with my landlord and the letting agent who wants keys to do viewings etc without me there and with random persons wandering about my and my partners stuff etc. (We're moving out in just under 2 months)
What happens if something expensive goes walkabout? How would that stand from an insurance point of view? What if some numpty knocks something over and damages the carpet?
Totally agree sir, well said. Bring on the housing market crash.
To those saying they worked hard to buy their first house, it's just nonsense nowadays in the SE. At the rate house prices are rising, a lot of properties are 'earning' more than the average salaries for that area. So how exactly are you supposed to save (whilst paying 50%+ of your income on rent, btw), whilst house prices are rising even faster than you can earn your own money? It's nonsense and the whole market needs fixing. Bleh.
I get the whole unwanted visits, i am lucky to have never had a landlord or letting agency make visits without notice.
Fact of the matter is, they are the tenant. Yes they have a right to feel safe where they live. But it isn't their property.
It would be worth mentioning to both landlord and letting agency that the visits without notice are not acceptable and generally are in the contract as a requirement. So don't be the one to break the contract, point out that they are at fault.
Fact of the matter is, they are the tenant. Yes they have a right to feel safe where they live. But it isn't their property.
It would be worth mentioning to both landlord and letting agency that the visits without notice are not acceptable and generally are in the contract as a requirement. So don't be the one to break the contract, point out that they are at fault.
Soldato
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If you want the freedom to change the locks in the house you live in, then buy it.
If a tenant wanted to change locks and refuse me access I wouldn't hesitate in giving notice to them and their cannabis farm.
If a tenant wanted to change locks and refuse me access I wouldn't hesitate in giving notice to them and their cannabis farm.
The human need homes should be basic but well built. If you are doing well in life, you can give up your basic home back to the state and upgrade to a private home. No one will be homeless (unless they choose to be) no one will be stuck in the rent trap, no one will be profiting on the plebs basic need to life, they have to go back to profiting from luxuries.
You mean like council houses?
I also wouldn't consider renting a house out 'profiteering'.
Landlords don't buy up all the cheap homes and rent them out for the goodness of their hearts.
Agreed. They're profiting, not profiteering.
When I was renting, I changed the locks because the ones on the flat could be opened with a spoon; and at that point I told them I had expensive kit in the flat for work reason, and that I was required to be home and not allow unsupervised visits by my insurance policy.
And that went down very well, I told them I was getting the most expensive locks, showed them the number of keys I got on fitting, and told them they would get them all when/if I left.
And I stayed there 13 years, excellent relationship, and they were calling me to get in, and I was doing all I could to be there to fit whatever they wanted to do. They had a 6 monthly 'visit' of the flat to chat about stuff to be done (and probably check their flats aren't getting trashed) -- and all the whole they didnt get the key to the flat.
I think that if you are behaving as a good tenant and they trust you, you'll have no problems keeping the keys -- if you work with good people, being good leads to a good relationship -- and we left in excellent terms; in fact, I *still* have a set of keys to that flat, as the landlord liked us so much that he'd like us to be able to go there in an emergency as he lives oversea, and the agents might not be able to...
And that went down very well, I told them I was getting the most expensive locks, showed them the number of keys I got on fitting, and told them they would get them all when/if I left.
And I stayed there 13 years, excellent relationship, and they were calling me to get in, and I was doing all I could to be there to fit whatever they wanted to do. They had a 6 monthly 'visit' of the flat to chat about stuff to be done (and probably check their flats aren't getting trashed) -- and all the whole they didnt get the key to the flat.
I think that if you are behaving as a good tenant and they trust you, you'll have no problems keeping the keys -- if you work with good people, being good leads to a good relationship -- and we left in excellent terms; in fact, I *still* have a set of keys to that flat, as the landlord liked us so much that he'd like us to be able to go there in an emergency as he lives oversea, and the agents might not be able to...
So why didn't it? looks like you're just blaming others for your own financial mistakes?
My first job out of uni was craply paid, i wasn't happy, changed jobs, 'sucked it up' and moved back home till i had my '20%' then bought a house. My mortgage is lower than rent prices for similar houses. And at the end of it I'll have something to sell on should i wish to.
EDIT
Also bravo for working 'rape' into your argument!
Soldato
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You're an IT consultant... You profit off the lives of fellow IT professionals.
and also the people who cant use their computers in the first place, you know the lowest of the low!
People have been saying that for well over a decade now... I remember back in 2004 people were banging on about how the housing market is unsustainable and baying for a crash.
I do wonder what is expected of this crash - we had a what some people called a 'crash' back in 2007/2008 - did you snap up a home then? Or do you have some expectations of homes becoming dirt cheap - it isn't likely to happen, at least not in areas where people want to live. Realistically you're not likely to get much more than a bit of a dip down and then prices remaining steady for a while. It isn't a liquid market - you don't get the sort of panic selling you get in the stock market, most people need their properties to live in so aren't going to do anything if the prices of similar homes drop a bit.
yes, it is a fairly basic, natural concept that has been around for a few thousand years at least
you do something for someone, they do something for you etc.. you use a medium of exchange - the fisherman isn't going to pay the carpenter in fish every time it isn't practical
If there was a house price crash the last thing people would be doing (generally speaking) is hoovering up cheap houses. For a start, they aren't likely to be available to buy in the first place.
Bleh/refreshed - what dowie said.
Bleh/refreshed - what dowie said.