Cleaner has lost my key

[PrayForPlagues]

My lovely cleaner has texted me today to say she’s lost my house key somewhere since she was here on Thursday. We’ve had a good look outside to see if she’s dropped them between the door and her car - nothing.

Im not sure what to do next to be honest? If they don’t show up should I get the lock changed? It’s an expense I could do without this month. Should I contact the agency, would their insurance cover this?

Would she have had your address on the fob?

Personally I’d just get a key cut… but that’s assuming there is no label etc.

Did it have your address written on it?

What do your home insurance t&c say about lost keys?

I would be getting the agency to pay for a change in locks

Unless your address is on the key, I wouldn't do anything. If it is, the agency will pay for new locks.

She should have insurance and should use this to get your locks changed.

If you have regular UPVC doors, changing the lock is incredibly easy. You can buy a new cylinder lock from Screwfix or Amazon or wherever. Very easy to do yourself.

I'd just get her another key cut unless your address is on the key.

This is correct, you just need to unscrew the barrel from the side and make sure to buy the same length! About a tenner depending on level of security.

Why on earth would you need to change the locks? How would anyone know which door a key belonged to if they found it?
It’ll probably turn up tomorrow

Echoing others it’s a 5 minute job

If your address wasn't on the fob then I wouldn't worry too much about changing the lock, although to be fair we changed it a few months ago when DS lost his key.

Have you considered a key safe on the outside of your property if feasible?

I'd be really wary about assuming this. When I was younger I lived in a shared house with a friend. Admittedly, she had form for absent-mindedly leaving her key in the outside of the lock, so I suppose it's possible someone had already clocked that. But one day she lost her key, and she thought I was being really silly when I said I wanted the lock changing.

That night when she was out and I was asleep, someone climbed into the walled back garden (they'd moved the bins outside to climb over the wall), and they'd obviously tried to use the key to get in (couldn't, because I'd bolted the door from the inside). It was quite a scary thing to wake up to, besides the obvious fact they clearly did see whose key it was.

Obviously she needs to pay for a new key.

Because if shes multiple keys they would be labelled???? Hopefully as Sandra or Joe and not Sandra 1 tree street.

The agency needs to pay for your locks to be changed.

I let plenty of small things slide with cleaners and breakages even though technically the agency would cover them. I didn’t want the cleaner to get in trouble and they were always minor.

This is big enough I would want it covered. I have also tried to diy this before and if you have multiple doors of different types of locks with the same key, it is not as easy as people claim. I only use a locksmith now.

I don’t know what’s on the fob? I assume at least our name?

I didn’t even think about this… I’ll check

Because she has multiple clients so I assume has some sort of identifying info on the keyring?

If your thinking of buying a lock from Amazon or Screwfix for a tenner, you could save the money and leave your door unlocked, it will be just as effective.

Her insurance should cover it. Our dog walker lost ours and did say her insurance would cover it, but we said it was ok.

Have you not asked her what’s on the fob? If it’s got your name or address on it I’d want the locks changed sooner rather than later

Ask her what's on the key so you can decide what to do??

She’s going to phone me tomorrow so I’ll ask her then