Landlord only provided one set of keys, cheeky to ask to cover cost of two?

[Lefmry]

We have just moved in to our new home, it’s a 3 bed and it’s me, my partner and two children who live here. The landlord has only provided us with one front door key. Now at first I was a bit like meh, whatever. But after having been to get a new one cut today and it costing almost £30 I’m feeling a little miffed. Is it unreasonable to ask for the landlord to cover the cost? I just don’t get how it would have worked practically with one key when we are both in and out of the house at seperate times most days.

YANBU

And a full set x 2

£30? Where are you getting it cut?! Normally it's a few quid to get a key cut

30 quid!!!!! It's 3 for a tenner in B&Q!

Mines £80. It's one of those new type ones that you have to provide a code before they will cut the key.

YABU. You should have asked for spare keys originally. It's cheeky to get one cut and then present the landlord with the bill.

I get 3 sets of 3 cut for £50 at my local cobblers, where are you going?

I think key cutting is a normal part of renting expenditure tbh so YABU imo.

It’s too late now you should have asked before getting it done.

It is a very odd looking key I must admit 😂 I haven’t actually forwarded anything on to the landlord yet, I was absolutely willing to pay it myself but wondering what others thought first. I also wasn’t going to say ‘I have had a key cut here is the bill’ 🙄 I was just going to email the agents first and ask if I were to get one cut would they at all cover the bill but my partner took it with him today and has just gone and done it first. I’m reading online about it being usual to give a key for each named tenant on the agreement and myself and my partner are both down as tenants. I just start to wonder if somewhere down the line a previous tenant has probably lost a key and had part of their deposit taken from them for the cost of a replacement and then obviously no replacement has been made.

Personally I'd have changed the lock barrel to a new one, and kept the old one (and key) for when you move out. Not a dissimilar cost, and usually 2 or 3 sets of keys with the new one.

Who is to say the old tenants (or ones before that) haven't kept a key or given one to a dodgy friend?

It might be against the contract, and if you did change the locks you'd have to provide a copy to the landlord/agents in case of an emergency.
Frankly I'd have requested two sets at the start.

This is what concerns me 😩 I am worried if there is another key ‘lost’ somewhere, they should probably have had the locks changed altogether.

Why don’t you just ring the agent and ask them?

Ll should give you two sets. Those shocked re price...costs me £18 to cut my front door key as it's got a code on it and no cheap place cut it has to be a special order. However insurance of our house alot less due to these special keys..

You should have just asked for a second key not gone and got one cut - also shouldn't have been able to just go get one cut.

I would ask why there's only one key because it sounds to me that they only got one key back from the previous Tennant and therefore someone may have a key to your house! You need the locks changing not an extra key.

If you go to timpsons they charge a fortune, independent key cutters are a LOT cheaper.

This. When we’ve rented there’s always been a clause saying you are not allowed to get keys cut. I’d probably have asked the landlord before the key cutting.

This

Each time I have rented (once Private, then council and then I exchanged to where I am now) I have changed the locks regardless.
For the very reasons stated by You

Is it in your contract or anywhere else to say that the LL has to give you 2 sets of keys?

Have emailed and rang the estate agents several times all week long. Have had absolutely nothing back from them regarding a few other issues plus having the key cut. Sorry but I was being locked out with my kids for over an hour and vice versa with my partner, we needed another key.

It doesn’t say anything in the contract about how many keys to provide but also doesn’t say anything about not being allowed to get a key cut, phew.

I am a landlord and usually provide one key for each named tenant and a spare in case of emergency.
I also have the locks where a code is needed and I got 4 keys for £26 online a few weeks ago.

In which case I would say you need to pay for it

Which is absolutely fine! It’s been a few days now and the convenience of having the second key has outweighed the annoyance of paying for it! 😅

Always change the locks . Keep barrel and key for when you leave . Landlord doesn’t have a right to enter while you are a tenant. Police and fire brigade can break in an emergency.
Contracts have to be reasonable on law , foe security it’s reasonable . Landlord could have given keys to builders etc , cleaners etc - you don’t know who could have keys .

Can’t ask now you have done it but if you need one each and a spare for kids or outside Key box then I’d just ask landlord if he has a second key you can have and see what he says.