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?

I think you might be overthinking this - it costs about £4.50 to cut a new key I don't think he's holding you to ransom. If he wanted to steal something later (when the house is being lived in) he would just pay £4.50 to cut the key himself. Do you need a key to lock the door or can it be pulled shut?
He has more to loose if you don't pay him than the £4.50 for a new key.

I have paid as it seems it isn't unusual for tradesmen to kidnap keys and refuse to return them until you do. I started the thread as I didn't know this was normal, it seems a bit threatening to me. But this is my first big tradesman job where I've left them to it, so I don't really know what's usual. Hopefully he will return it, I suppose there's not much I can do if he doesn't. I don't really want to leave him a bad review if he has my door key! Just have to hope he's not as dodgy as he seems.

I can't really afford to change the locks, I'll be adding a doorbell camera next week so hopefully will feel a bit more secure. And there's nothing to nick until then anyway! I really don't imagine he's intending to keep my key forever and do some burgling in his spare time, it just seemed odd that he took it and then when I asked made it sound like it was intentional and that I'll get it back at his convenience. But thanks everybody, apparently this is entirely standard behaviour and I'll bear it in mind. Though I think I'll be a bit more cautious about handing keys out in the future, it has made me rather uneasy.

I never give out keys. Anyone could just get a copy. I’d be changing the locks pronto.

It’s easy to change a lock yourself. I’ve done it many times and I am hopeless at DIY.

Christ, you sound such hard work. You need to pay the man, he's finished the job and you are happy with the job. Why haven't you paid him already? Im sure you'll have no problem getting your key back.

When did he finish it, and why have you not paid directly as soon as it was complete if you’re happy with it? Sounds like he was pissed off with you.

Oh really? I thought it was hundreds to change the locks - or at least that's what my mum always said to warn me against losing the key! Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea then. Though like I say, I'm pretty sure he's not going to be letting himself in, it's more likely he just won't bother to bring back the key. I think I was just very uncomfortable at the idea of him keeping hold of it. What if I hadn't paid? Would he have come in and damaged my house? I obviously was happy to pay as the work was great, but what if it hadn't been? He could have done a terrible job and I wouldn't have felt safe to refuse payment. I think I'm uncomfortable as I realised what a silly position I put myself in, giving a total stranger full access to my home!

@MathsMum3 if a tradesman doesn’t return a key, you have to change the locks.

He finished yesterday lunchtime. So not even 24 hours. The last message was me saying it was great, and asking when he'd drop the key off. He said today or tomorrow. No mention of payment. So I assumed we were waiting until then. Then the text first thing this morning. I have no idea if he was pissed off with me - I'm pissed off with him. He has taken my key.

What a weirdly rude little post! Bad day?! I have paid. Maybe try reading the thread before insulting people...

Some very strange posts on here OP, implying that you’re in the wrong. The painter is 100% in the wrong for keeping your key. I assume you asked him to put it through the letter box when he’d finished? If he’d genuinely taken it by mistake, I’d expect him to say “oh sorry, I’ve taken your key by mistake, I’ll get it back to you”. His reply of “have you paid me” very clearly suggests he was planning to keep your key until you’d paid.

I’ve engaged countless tradespeople of the years, and the usual way of ensuring they get paid is by having a contract/agreement, and by doing the work to the agreed standard. Not once has a tradesperson picked up a possession of mine and said “Ok, I’ll give this back when you pay me”.

Anyway, I can see you’ve paid now, so I would go to his house to get your key back. And I would never use this man again.

Last resort I guess you could pop to his.

@ittakes2 if someone takes one of your keys you have to change the lock.

Just pay the man for goodness sake.

The completion of the job is the time to pay, not when he's returned something that he's had in his possession for several days and would've already misused if that was his intention.

Anyway, sounds like it's all sorted now.

@Flopsythebunny just read the OP’s posts for goodness sake 😂

@PhilosophicalCheeseSandwich completion of the job is the time to return the key.

What did you tell him to do with the key before he finished? It is normally cash on completion with this sort of thing. If you're stating it is is less than 24 hours since he finished as a reason to not have paid him yet, then it is hardly a long time for him to have had your key either.

'Stolen' your key. 🙄

The irony of having a go at someone for “insulting people” when you have created a thread online accusing someone of having “stolen” your key, when there is no indication of theft whatsoever and you had failed to pay him.

Maybe he should have created a thread calling you a scammer who failed to pay what you owed him.

Just pay him. Hopefully you'll get your key. I'd definitely be leaving him some feedback that he should ask for deposits from customers though rather than withholding property. You both are acting rather childish.

I imagine the scenario of custoners not paying a tradesman, happens hundreds of times more frequent than a tradesman ( who you know has a key) using it to burgle your house!
I thibk your title 'stole key' is very dramatic- what you meant was tradesman who hadnt finished job yesterday hasnt returned key yet!!

Thank you! Thought I was going a bit mad! It does seem to me like this is a bit odd - he has absolutely no reason to have taken my key once the work was done. Absolutely, he could have forgotten he had it - but when asked, you'd expect a response like "oh, sorry - I'll drop it back." His response to "Where did you leave the key?" was "No I've got the key." As far as I'm concerned, the completion of the job is when my walls are properly painted - AND I am in possession of all my belongings! Are people really happy with their tradesmen just taking stuff that doesn't belong to them?! I find myself a bit bewildered 😂

May have been said but you need the key back first in case you pay him and he says he’s lost it. Then you have to pay to change locks ( easy to do yourself actually ).
So get key, if he says he’s lost it, deduct a couple of hundred from his bill for new locks ( even if you change them yourself ).

Apparently you’ve paid but I stand by my advice.

BUT WHY DOES HE HAVE MY KEY! There is no reason for him to have my key, I don't care if it's 24 hours, 24 minutes or 24 seconds - I gave him the use of my key whilst he required access to the house. He completed the work, and then took my key. For absolutely no discernible reason. If he'd taken my tv instead, would you still consider that absolutely fine?! That if he was holding onto my telly with vague promises of returning it in day or two, it was 'hardly a long time' so I shouldn't complain? Are people really happy with painters just taking stuff without permission and holding onto them for as long as they see fit?! Who knew...

Wish you were here an hour ago 😂😂