Tenant cant ger access to property as partner changed locks

Landlord Discussion Legal
1

Hi have a situation with a tenancy and would like to understand what are my options.

Shortly after the tenant had moved in it transpired that the tenants ex partner and small child had moved in with him. I had no issues as the rent was paid on time and the property was being looked after. There was wven talk of adding the partner to the tenancy. At the time of moving in he had mentioned he had split from his partner.

However, about 4 weeks ago i got a call fro the tenant saying that he went out with his mates and upon returning to the property police were present. He waited for thr police to go and then tried to access the property but the locls had been changed .

His partner is heavily pregnant and he mentioned the behaviour related to menopuase.
The rent has since been paid on time by the tenant…so i assumed the situation had been resolved. I then get a call the other day saying he had to go stay with his father in Spain and that he has not got access to the propety yet.
The police are unable to assist the tenant…even though they had assisted in getting the locks changed even tho his partner is not on the tenancy.

Cut a long story short he wants her out and wants access back to the property …he needs my assistancr but what are my options to assist.
Ive even tried to get in touch with the police but have had no respose back.

Any advice would be helpful as its a tricky situation getting involved in a domestic where there is a young child and potential new born arriving…who i have to evict ???

Regards,
Tony

2

Its for him to deal with, not you. You can do nothing. Assuming the Police didnt facilitate the lock change, he is entitled to call a locksmith to drill out and replace the lock and then exclude her from the property. I would suggest he finds out why the Police were there first.

1 Like
3

Thanks for replying.

So it appears she called the police and said her partner (my sole tenant) was emotionally abusing her and therefore he is on bail and been told cannot go anywhere within 100 meters of her.
Nothing has been proven and he states it’s all false allegations.

In the meantime it’s been 2 weeks since she has given birth and had the baby. At the time the police said it would only be until she gave birth.
There is no sign of her leaving.

She in my view is trespassing / squatting, while my tenant cannot get into the property.
Should the police have asked for permission before changing locks and given us a set of the keys?

Any further advice appreciated.

4

They changed locks because of this abuse allegation!!

5

The Police changed the locks?

6

The tenant was out at the time the police were called and when he returned he was unable to gain access to the property due to the locks being changed which he believes was done by the police.
He has ben given a sheet from the police imposing these conditions.

7

if the police feel that somone is in danger they can arrange locks to be changed

8

He needs to go back to the Police to sort it out. He could also ring Shelter/CAB for advice. Meanwhile he still owes the rent.