Landlord gave a copy of our keys to the neighbour

[JellyBellies]

And didn't tell us!

Is this legal?
Our new landlord changed all the locks before we moved into the property. He gave us 2 sets of keys and told us that the only other set will be with the agency.

Today we were going out and needed to leave our key with the neighbour ( who is very nice). We were going to just give her the key for the side door so she could let in the electrician who was due to come over. And then she tells us hay the landlord has already given her a full set!

I would ike to know please if this is legal and also would it void our contents insurance?

Thanks.

Hello. No this is not legal. You, however, are legally entitled to change the locks as long as you reinstate the original lock on leaving. This is on Scotland BTW.

The housing act states that as the paying tenant you are entitled sole an exclusive use of the property. This covers noone else having a set of keys. Our tenant wanted us to keep a set of key so we signed a key agreement. This states that this is mutually agreed and that we will not seek access without prior (24 hours) notice.

Oh, and that doesn't mean we can let ourselves in. It is YOUR HOME!

Thanks for replying! DH is very annoyed with the landlord as he made a big show of saying that no one other hand us and the landlord would have the keys!

Not sure what to do now though.

Sorry. I meant no one other than us and the agency would have the keys.

Are you sure that the neighbour doesn't have a set of the "old keys". It might be that the keys are from a previous tenancy.

Speak to your insurer re the insurance. There is a possibility that there might be an issue but only they can say.

This then gives an opener with the landlord. When push comes to shove you have the right to ask for every set of keys to be given to you.

If you do want your landlord/neighbour/agent to have a set then ask for a key agreement.

I was wondering if this could have been innocent and trying to be helpful. But then why make a big fuss of saying noone else has keys?

Whatever the reason, it's not allowed.

Really tired this occurred to me also as I think one of our neighbours might have returned a set to us when we moved into a rental flat.

I suppose OP would by when the landlord gave the neighbour the keys.

It was definitely the new keys that she had. We tried them and they fit.
It wasn't so much that he had given them to her but more that he didn't tell us and also insisted that no one but us and the agency had a copy.

It seems a bit underhand IYSWIM.