Cleaner ghosting me - can't get my keys back!

[AllTrussdUp]

My cleaner has not been since Christmas. The problem is that she has stopped responding to texts, emails, calls, WhatsApp etc. OK - I gather she's 'fired me', that's fine - but I can't get my keys back from her! I've tried finding out if something has happened to her - but no luck. What else can I try?

AIBU to start putting messages on local FB groups asking? I know this could have an impact on her business, but I'm facing the need to change my locks if I can't get the keys back and I can barely afford it!

I would send her one last message saying if the keys are not returned by tomorrow evening then you are contacting the police and asking them to pay her a visit to get them back.

A cleaner who is more than likely a sole trader will not be registered on companies house.

change the locks and move on.

There are loads of videos on YouTube changing mortice locks. It's really not too difficult and cheaper if you cannot afford a locksmith.

Letter before action for cost of lock change.

I would DEFINITELY change the locks. £80 is a lot cheaper than a burglary.

She’s demonstrated that she is weird, rude and disrespectful. Change the lock.

Mine is the same kind of lock. You can still just replace the barrel. I did it myself. Cheap and really easy. I'm no DIYer, but it too me five minutes.

Is your back door the same kind of lock?

You could switch the two, prevents access to the front and generally people don't think to try the back door with their "front" door key.

Did this with my Yale locks when i lost a key, and my parents did it when they moved to save giving us all new keys!

How to change the barrel in a mortice lock

No point is asking for the keys back, it's a false sense of security, she could easily had a set cut if she wanted.

Change the lock.

You can change the code on a key safe

Honestly what is the difference? If she keeps the key or gives it back - how will you know she has not cut a spare? If you are concerned about security you will need to change the locks unfort

Its a 5 lever mortice lock so not something I can change myself I think.

You really can, it's not hard. I had very little DIY experience when I did it.

I had this with a previous cleaner who I let go. I asked them numerous times to return the keys and they just ignored me, presumably to be dicks about it. Eventually, I said just put them in the post and they did - albeit just in a normal paper envelope so it’s pure luck that I got them. I would probably just change the lock at this point though.

It's not difficult to change mortice locks or Yale type. In your situation I would absolutely do this because you've passed keys to a third party, who could have passed them on or had them taken from her by any of her family.

However unlikely it is that her scroaty son who's got a nice sideline in burglary/breaking and entering has snaffled your keys, you genuinely don't know who's got them or the opportunity to cut copies. If you are burgled by the aforementioned hypothetical scroaty son, loss adjusters/assessors will note that they simply unlocked a door (or your doors weren't locked per your minimum security conditions) and insurers will not pay out, it is as simple as that.

For your peace of mind and compliance with your insurance policy, you really need to change the locks as soon as you can. I wouldn't expect to get the keys back now and it's still a security risk even if you did, so forget them.

I would post on Facebook asking if anyone knows if she is OK because she has gone off with your keys and vanished, unless you did something to upset her in a big way and caused her to do so.

Change the lock and if you feel she was the one in the wrong, bill her and follow it up with small claims. If you did something to really piss her off, then don't do anything other than change the lock.

It might be that she didn't want to work for you any more, but she should have the decency to let you know, and return the keys (I would have changed the lock by now regardless).

Change the locks you may be able to just get the barrels changed which is a bit cheaper.

I did this recently with a 5 bar mortice. Take the lock side out of the door (the side you put the key in) and take it to a locksmith to get new barrel. Then it fits easily back in. Cost £30 in central London. I’m sure there’ll be videos on YouTube.

I wouldn’t post anything on Facebook about her having your keys.

Doing it your way leaves your door unlocked while you go to the locksmith!

It's just as easy to buy the barrel (you just need to measure the existing one to get the right size) and put it in yourself. Your house then remains secure throughout.

Doing it your way leaves your door unlocked while you go to the locksmith!

True, but there was someone in while I went to the locksmith.

Ah. Of course. That should have occurred to me. I'm so used to living alone that I stupidly assumed OP did!

Change the locks then message her one last time giving a deadline for return. After that feel free to report it, and broadcast on local FB so she can't do it to someone else

Not correct-for example my parents have a set of my keys (and me then)

However giving them to a person whose details you don't know may well invalidate if.

I was mocked for asking all my cleaners for copy of ID plus something with address on. If you don't have that how do you know who they are in case you have to report to the police? They can't track someone down from a mobile number.

Abs how can she either report this cleaner to the police or sue her for costs without any address? Maybe not even a full name either.

This happened to me! I sent one final message by text, WhatsApp and Facebook messenger. Said I didn’t know what happened and I was sorry she felt she couldn’t work for us but if she didn’t return the keys by X date I’d have to have the locks changed and would unfortunately have no choice but to bill her (my intention was to go small claims but I never checked if this was actually possible). keys we’re posted back through the letter box one evening but no further communication.