To think the agency should be doing more to get our key back?

[chicaguapa]

We use a cleaning agency and our cleaner left, so they sent a new one round to meet us, find out what we wanted doing etc. We gave her a key and arranged when she would be starting.

She didn’t turn up and we haven’t been able to make contact with her. We’ve asked for our key back but still heard nothing. We told the agency and they’ve apologised but haven’t been able to get the key back either. This was about 3 weeks ago.

We don’t know what to do now really. We’re unhappy that she’s got our key and we gave it to her on the basis that the agency had checked out all her references and that she was reliable. But she’s clearly not the latter!

And we want our key back!

I would change the locks and ask the agency to pay.

Yes, send them an estimate from a locksmith for the cost of the lock change.

Thanks for the replies. I had wondered about this but wasn't sure if it was OTT. The problem is that we're in a rented house so we'd have to give the LL a new key too and tell him we've given a key to a stranger. Though not sure what else we could have done if we want a cleaner.

What does your rental contract say about passing keys on to 3rd parties?

I would buy a new lock, make sure its the same quality as the original and bill the agency. And then give landlord a key.

Their insurance should cover lost keys/new locks. Mine does. Tell them you expect them to replace the locks.

I doubt that your landlord will care, so long as the locks are same type.

Thanks. I have spoken to them and they have offered to pay to replace our locks.