Painter Stole Key

[roibustea]

I just had an empty property painted and gave the painter a spare key. The painter completed the job and it looks lovely, but he took the key when he went. He said he'd drop it back today or tomorrow first thing, which I said is fine. But he's text this morning to ask whether I've paid. I am not inclined to pay until I get my key back, as once I've paid he has no motivation to return it, and I do need it to give to other people coming next week. And I obviously also don't really want this man to have full access to my house! Is it normal for tradespeople to hold keys hostage until you've paid? This seems really dodgy to me, is he planning to go into my house and do something if I don't pay?! Am I unreasonable to text back telling him I'll pay when I get my key?

Tell him that you’ll pay him today or tomorrow, whenever he returns the key. I don’t see why this should be a problem for either of you.

Are you paying cash or transfer?

Say sure pop over i can pay you when you drop off the key?

He’s very accustomed to having keys so this wouldn’t be an unusual scenario. Does he have Google reviews and do you know other people he’s worked for? I’m sure there’s a certain level of trust there as you employed him in the first place but he will have suffered from non payment before. You say the property is empty so he’s nothing to gain and you can always change the locks. Pay him.

Em you know he just get a key cut if he fancied robbing your house? It’s why I never give tradespeople keys

Maybe he is not inclined to return it until you’ve paid, as once he has returned it you have “no motivation” to pay?

Transfer. I live about ten minutes away, I did tell him he could drop it at my house but he said he'd take it to the empty property. Which I won't be back to until tomorrow. I have no problem at all paying, the money's ready and he did a lovely job. I would just much rather my key was returned first. I don't even understand why he took it when he left, and was just trying to understand whether it's normal to hold people's keys hostage until they pay!

Well, my motivation is not being taken to court. But I'm hardly going to take him to court if he just chucks my key away.

I'm not worried about him robbing me, especially as the property is empty. I am worried that he just won't bother to return my key. I just can't fathom why he's taken it at all.

Is the empty property closer to him than your house? Is that why he wants to drop it off there?

Anyway, like PP, just pay it when he drops the key off. Really not seeing the problem here.

Moving to a new area so don't know anyone to recommend. Tried Facebook and got very few personal recommendations, of which he was one. He has good reviews, though not that many. He's done a lovely job, I have no reason to imagine he wants to hold onto my key for nefarious purposes, I just want to make sure I do get my key back.

Why don't you arrange to meet him at the property and exchange payment for the job with retrieving the key. Or doing the transfer on your phone in front of him.

He probably has no ill intent, but maybe he hasn't been paid before and now uses this as a little security measure. If you don't pay, why should you benefit from his hard work?

If you don't really know him and his intentions, then by the same token he doesn't really know you and your intentions.

I'm not sure. I don't have a problem with him dropping it there, and am very happy to pay when he does so. The only reason I mentioned it is because I won't be there until tomorrow so won't be able to check the keys returned until then. But he text this morning to ask whether his bank details were ok (so presumably asking where his money is) and I'm wondering what to reply. Do I just pay him and hope he does return it, or do I text back and tell him I'll pay once he's returned my key?

Just pay the man.I'm sure he will return your key.

That's what I'm wondering - has he taken it to hold hostage in case I don't pay? And what's he planning to do with my key if that were the case?! It seems very strange to me, but this is my first time dealing with tradespeople so don't know if it's normal.

Maybe I should just pay and hope he does return it. But it is making me uncomfortable.

Just arrange to meet him at the house and pay him.

Pay him, remind him about the key and then arrange to change the locks if you're worried.

If he did a good job then he's worth keeping sweet, tradespeople are very hard to find! However, if you think he's keeping the key hostage then he's not a good tradesman....

These threads always make me laugh.

Its common for tradesmen to forget keys, its not done intentionally, its normally in a pocket and forgotten when they are packing up.

Your happy with the work, so pay the tradesman, he doesn't want or need your key, but hes noticed you haven't paid him after he has completed work for you and is now worried you are not going to pay.

Im sure you not paying him, is also making him uncomfortable, its his livelihood.

This is a very simple transaction being made out like a mountain.

I think you're overthinking this. You are happy with the work, just pay the man.

Good tradespeople can be hard to find. If you pay promptly, he's more likely to work for you in the future.

What's the worst that can happen? If you pay and he never returns the key, you get a new one cut (£10 max??), and leave a review saying so. Unlikely he'd risk that.

Why haven’t you paid him. You have been to the house and are happy with his work, and you still haven’t paid.

Maybe if your only motivation to pay is to avoid him having to sue you, rather than because he has done the work and is owed the money, he would rather ensure you pay first rather than have to threaten or initiate court proceedings to get what he is owed?

While I don’t doubt that you intend to pay, I think you are having difficulty seeing this from his perspective - which is that he has done the work and you have not paid. Are you “keeping his money hostage”?

I do tend to overthink things! His messages just made me uneasy. He did a great job, he was very fast and much cheaper than any other quote. But I don't think I'd use him again as I very much disliked his attitude. Maybe that's why this seems more of an issue than it is; if my lovely handyman accidently took the key and said he'd drop it back, I wouldn't hesitate in paying him regardless.

If its a new house to you why are you not planning on rekeying all the locks by getting new cylinders?

Ask him to return the key then pay once you've made sure it is there. Since you say he has a bad attitude I wouldn't trust him to return the key.

He did the work a few days ago - it's not as though he has been waiting weeks for you to pay.

FFS just pay the man. He's done the work to a standard you are happy with.

You have trusted him with the key. You have no reason to think he won't return it.

Stop making a drama until there is one.

I would pay and change the locks.

He finished yesterday lunchtime!