Ex-cleaner not giving my keys back

[easterholidays]

Help! I started using a cleaning agency a few weeks ago on the recommendation of a friend, and followed the online instructions to hand over a spare set of keys to the cleaner on her first visit so that she could let herself back in the next time.

Following her first visit I was really disappointed by the standard of cleaning, and after giving her the benefit of the doubt for a couple more weeks to see whether it improved I decided it wasn't working and cancelled the regular clean - you can only do this online via the agency website; you never get contact details for the individual cleaner.

I cancelled on July 14th and they said that I should get the keys back within a week or two, so when I hadn't heard anything by yesterday I got back in touch for an update, and it turns out they can't get hold of the cleaner, and don't know where she is or where my keys are!

Apart from learning the lesson not to hand my keys over to someone so freely next time, what should I do? I'm veering towards reporting it as theft, since she has my keys - and therefore access to my home - without my consent, but is that an OTT response? WWYD, wise MNers?

Get a quote for a lock ch age and send the invoice to the agency.

you can't get into the building without a fob which it's not possible to get a copy of without a signed form from the property owner being sent to the management agency, so I'm not so worried about that

I agree that it doesn't sound like the ex cleaner's a master criminal but on the above, not true. I had always thought the same until I went to check key fobs that had been handed back and the management company said one was a 'clone' and hadn't been issued by them or anyone authorised by them. Google fob and remote copying and you get lots of hits including
metrolocks.co.uk/fob-copying/

Thanks Enrique, that's worth knowing!

The agency have asked me to get quotes from some locksmiths and seem to be going to reimburse me for changing the locks (after I tweeted their CEO - until then they were still fobbing me off). So fingers crossed and thanks all. I'll update if the cleaner ever reappears!