Would you give a builder access to your house when you’re not there?

[DamsonGoldfinch]

We’ve had a plumbing issue which has meant repair work in a couple of rooms. Our insurance company has now started work on restoration on the rooms affected. It’s quite difficult for us to be here during the day because of our work which means a fair bit of juggling. I was on duty today but the builder didn’t turn up. Three different suppliers did though and I had to send them away as they needed someone to help physically.

This evening the company called me to apologise - the builder had a family crisis apparently (which is horrible obviously but it would have been good to have known what was happening).

The company has now found another builder and suggested I could hide a key for him.I went out last week for an hour leaving the other builder in the house because I had spent time chatting to him, had a good vibe and was happy to leave him. But AIBU to think that people aren’t wrong to feel uncomfortable about giving someone you’ve never met access to your home and keys?

We’re juggling work commitments so that one of us is always here. Is that weird?

I've had to in the past out of necessity. Long projection going and I'm a single parent with a full time job. I put obvious valuables out of sight. The bigger problem was work being done in a way I wasn't happy with but wasn't there to ask so things had to be left in a not preferred place or redone.

You’re invalidating your insurance by leaving a key for a stranger.

So no.

I have done this with tradespeople I've known a while and trust, but I absolutely would not do this with someone I didn't know, and it's even more dodgy that the company have actually suggested this.

Maybe my opinion is biased though - once when renting we had a tradesperson let in by the agency while we were at work and they rifled through my knicker drawer and broke items in my bedroom (a room they didn't need to be in to complete the work they were doing). They were from a well known "reputable" company.

Definately not.

I told my insurers I was having work on my house via the insurers and that I wouldn’t always be there. No builder who works via insurers would steal as they would never work again. It’s not worth the risk for them.

I always do, simply because I hate being there with them. In nearly 40 years of home ownership and renovations I've never regretted it. For big jobs I aim to go on holiday and leave them to it. Never had a problem because I wasn't there.

Who told you that? I wouldn't hide a key for them, but it's absolutely fine within your insurance to give keys to contractors.

A tenant of Peabody housing association caught a contractor doing the same thing Was on ITV News last year. She set up a camera in her home because she had been moved out while work was being done and work was barely progressing

Absolutely not. Tradespeople/strangers are only permitted in my home when someone from the family is present.

Yes, I've done this many times. It's never caused any problems.

I have done this with tradespeople I've known a while and trust, but I absolutely would not do this with someone I didn't know, and it's even more dodgy that the company have actually suggested this.

I agree with this.
I've done it many times over the decades, but that was with trades that I have known for years and years, so it isn't an issue.
I wouldn't leave my key for a stranger, no.

How long will the work take?

We had builders in for months so we did leave them once we knew some of them a bit. I’d have preferred not to, but the amount of time they were here for meany it wasn’t practical to always have one of us at home.

I've left all sorts of tradesmen with a key to my place and never had any issues at all.

Nope I’d always make sure I was at home

I do for my plumber and builder who I know and have done a lot of work for me.

I wouldn't for someone I had never met though

No way.

Same! I can’t stand brim in the house when any work is being done…
I visit my friend in Spain if any big jobs like new kitchen etc
and if anything taking a few hours I go out and ask them to ring me when they’ve nearly finished.

I have done this with tradespeople I've known a while and trust, but I absolutely would not do this with someone I didn't know, and it's even more dodgy that the company have actually suggested this.

Same here. I'd let my plumber have a key in a heartbeat, he's been my plumber for several years, and I know his parents, who live close by. I'd also trust a plasterer I've known for decades and was happy to give a key to the electricians who rewired my house, who were friends of friends.

I wouldn't feel the same about some random who cropped up on an internet search.

Yes. In fact I have done so.