If I gave my keys to the people fitting my carpets?

[evelynn03]

I won't be home on the day ( only early morning to let them in) because I'm starting a new job.. Would it be okay if I just gave them a set of keys to let themselves out with and lock the door and then just put keys back through the letterbox when they're leaving?

It's my new house so it's empty so don't have to worry about my belongings, I would ask someone but I only moved here 1 month ago and haven't had a chance to meet anyone yet..

I doubt they would be willing to do that, it would open them up to being accountable for anything going wrong with the property during the period they had the keys?

I would ask the fitters themselves. I once had work done and the person doing it didn't want to be left with keys while I went out. I think they didn't want there to be any issues that I later complain about.

How do you know they are completely trustworthy? They could go and get a copy and come back anytime when your belongings are there

If that happened no insurance company would pay out

I think it's completely normal to leave the keys during the day. Especially in an empty house.

I don't know about the letting themselves in part though. That would mean they had the keys overnight so if the pipes burst or something overnight and someone else had a set of keys then that might bugger up your insurance.

Change the locks afterwards. It's good practice when you move anyway as you don't know who might have keys.

We gave keys when we were having renovations done carpet was the last thing to go in. The house was empty and there was nothing to steal. The fitters were OK.

Yes I've done this. Left the keys with concierge and flooring and various other fitters pick them up and give them back. House was under full renovation so there was nothing to take.

Is this not akin to a property agency/landlord holding a set of keys if you rent a property? We rented for years and would often agree to tradesmen collecting keys, doing work then dropping them back off to the agent afterwards while we were at work(pre-covid obvs). Difference being, I guess, the agency would have a policy for holding keys safe overnight but still, stranger in your house with possession of a set of keys for the day.

I would do this, I think it's fine. We've given builders a key a couple of times to use until the work was complete.

I would do this if they are ok with it.

I've had to do this at times when my flooring was being done, and I had to go stay elsewhere overnight in fact. I just put expensive things away, but everything was covered in dust sheets anyway, and I couldn't have been hanging around or anything so wasn't much choice.

I'd do this, esp if empty.

Then change the locks as it's good practice when you move anyway.