For a single tenant on her own, but with family local who visit, would you provide a spare set of keys?
I have my own set. The water pressure has dropped a in the house and I am calling a plumber out. I asked the tenant if she’d let me let the plumber in, as she is out at work and she said a relative is at home for her anyway today, as she is having internet installed.
I may be dropping my key off at the plumber’s office as the tenant works Mon-Friday and is arriving tomorrow.
Thank you.
She has said someone can stay in tomorrow too!
Do other landlords of single tenants provide spare keys to them?
Absolutely not
Only the tenant gets a key
I would not even give the tenant a spare
Yes I do. Tenants are entitled to have guests stay too, and to give them a key so they have the flexibility to come & go whilst they stop for a few days, or to have the flexibility to ask a Neighbour to let a contractror in, or to give a key to someone who is ‘sitting’ for their children to be able to take them to the park etc
I’m not wanting to restrict how my tenants live their life
This is a one-bedroomed property.
It’s ultimately up to you, but if you decide that it’s okay for someone not specified in the tenancy agreement to possess virtually unlimited access to your property, don’t think twice and put it in writing.
It’s just safer for both you and the tenant.
We had a tenant who kept his keys and used it to come back to the house to steal from other tenants
It only takes one call at 3am in the morning for the police to tell you to change the locks not to do it again
I only have laser code external keys do the tenant cannot cut them
If they don’t return them they are charged for new locks
I’m not a landlord, but as a tenant, I experienced something similar.
3 weeks after a tenant moved out, we came home one day to find his friend, who let himself into the property using his spare key, sitting comfortably in the living room, drinking cola, saying he thought he’d wait for his friend to come back from work.
Just because there are the occasional dodgy experience, doesn’t mean all tenants should not be trusted or not be allowed flexibility to use their home as they wish. The above issues are easily resolved by a lock change on tenant change. I have a number of euro cylinder locks which I swap around.
That not only taking the p***, it’s leaving it as well !!
Every time I think I’ve seen it they surprise you with another trick
And this government thinks they don’t have rights ……..
when I fit new locks, I get the coded ones. T gets a key and I keep the spare for each lock. They cannot make copies without the code which I never give them. If they want a spare, they ask me and I get one made at their expense and get them to sign for the extra one as an addition to the inventory. When they leave, they account for the keys or get charged for a change of lock for every lock they cannot provide all keys for.
This way, i know no one else has spares when they leave.
I would rather the tenant didn’t ring me when he’s locked himself/ herself out.
I am happy to provide an extra set to the tenant.
Its not a problem really as the tenant can always have another set cut anyway.
I can’t see what the problem is providing an additional set of keys. As long as they sign for them and return two sets on departure, it’s really no problem.
If they really needed a second set for whatever reason, there’s nothing actually stopping them going to Timpson and getting another set cut.
Also, I personally think it’s in my favour that they have a second set with a relative because if they get locked out or there’s an issue whilst they are away, They can call the relative and not me.
I think yes definitely as long as you get the keys back. If you don’t they will go off and get them cut anyway and you might never get those keys back
I always give at least 2 full sets of Front & Back doors and as many window lock keys as previous tenants have returned keeping a set for myself. If they have children I will give a third set. I always change the cylinder part of the lock when a tenant vacates the property. I have 3 sets that I rotate.