Do people leave builders in the house and give them a key?

[Lucyloo223]

I want to get some work done but it's going to take 2 weeks. I can't take 2 weeks off work. Do people just let builders have a key to come and go?

I moved out for three months and left keys with the builder. He came recommended though and there was no problem. I did put private stuff away just the same, like documents and bank stuff etc. But other than that there was no problem.

It was either that or live on a building site with utilities off for hours per day and so on.

We didn't feel comfortable doing that as had lots of trades coming and going so always made sure one of us was here.

Yes but we tend to use the same people. Completely trust them.

We did, but as we had various trades who had our keys at various points in time, we changed our locks when all the works were done.

We had builders working in our house for 4 months years ago so we had to give them keys and leave them to it at times.

No. My neighbour got burgled this way, they’d made a copy of the key. I also know someone else who did this and they caught the builder pissing in the sink on camera slightly different scenario but my parents had jewellery stolen by a removals company when they were moving house. I wouldn’t trust anyone I don’t know with my key, including the estate agent despite their insistance.

Yeah, I can't work from home at all

I can't believe everyone is saying Yes! The very thought freaks me out... 😱 But then, I wouldn't give my mother my keys... I think I'm just hyper-private and neurotic...

Mind you, I watched the neighbours' house getting painted while they were on holiday last year, and when the decorators left for the night, they left all the windows wide open to air the place!

what are non copy keys? * *

If I don't then I can't get the work done so I don't have a choice. I just wanted to see if it's something people do

Not trusting your mum to have a key is very unusual

Yes, we went away on holiday when they knocked through. We hired a reputable builder.

Yes. We had building work done and a new kitchen last year. I locked myself out a few times after it was finished because I'd got so used to just wandering off with no keys, safe in the knowledge that someone would be there when I got back 😅

We went away when we had our bathroom fitted too and the fitter fed the cat 🤣

Hide your valuables had some jewellery go missing once with builders we didn’t know well

Unless you've met my Mother... 😄

But sorry, I didn't mean to upset you - I see I'm in the minority. Maybe you could get a trusted neighbour to keep an eye though? Although I see you're going to be in work, not on holiday, so that's much different if you'll be there every night to check up on things yourself... Good luck with the building work!

Yes, we are having work done while we are away. I booked it for then intentionally. They will have keys to the back gate, garage and back door.

We had a ground floor extension and loft conversion done, the work took nearly 6 months and we were both working full time so of course the builders had the key. What else could we do? I was glad I was at work as I couldn’t have stood being in the house with them, all day, every day.

Yes I do.

So what, you take time off from work any time you have building work done or tradesmen in?

Yeah we do, although we tend to know anyone who does work for us through friends of friends.

One of our scaffolders fed our cat for us while we were away.

Yes, we've done this loads of times - long jobs and short jobs. Been on holiday and left a painter to it, and the same for a bathroom refit.

The only issue has been that it's useful to be there in case decisions need to be made quickly.

Yes.

Obviously they came highly recommended, but they were great and just wanted to get on with the work.

Like a PP, one of them fed our cats when we went away.

Keys that are very difficult to copy.

They have unusual features and non standard shapes which means you can't just take them into Timpsons and get duplicates cut.

If you want a copy you need to go to the original manufacturer of the lock and quote a long security code which normally comes with the locks on a piece of plastic. This is the only practical way to get a copy and means you can lend a key to whoever you want safe in the knowledge they cannot have it copied without the code.

There are three disadvantages. The first is the locks tend to be more expensive. The second is that if you lose the code you are screwed for making more copies. The third is that copies tend to be very expensive because the manufacturer has a monopoly. It tends to be a lot cheaper to make sure all the keys you need come with the lock rather than getting spares cut (I got 6x with mine which work on both the front and back doors, which are keyed alike).

My main concern would be that every time I have had tradesmen in, they leave the front door open for the whole day. Their argument is always "we are in and out all day" but I have seen them do it, go upstairs or even round the corner to the hardware shop for up to an hour leaving the front door open.

That might be fine in some areas but we are on a busy London street and often get parcels nicked etc and I just don't think it's safe.