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Original poster

Can I charge landlord/agent for the spare sets of keys we had to have cut?

20 replies

ScarlettInSpace · 21/08/2017 19:40

Quick question really, when we moved in here we were given 1 set of keys & told to get more cut ourselves if we needed them.

We're leaving next month & have been told we have to drop all sets of keys off at the agents office when we do & not to retain any - I have no issue with that, we don't need them, but can we charge for them?

We don't have receipts as we moved in 8 years ago, but I don't see why we should just hand them over, they would charge us if it was the other way round?

It's £5 a key, sets of 3 and we've had 2 full sets cut. Not really about the money I guess just the principle that they would be charging us if we'd lost a set - we had to pay £45 for their admin fee when they put our rent up earlier this year!

OP posts:
PigletJohn · 21/08/2017 19:51

drop off the original set, with a note saying that all copies will be destroyed, but are available at £x each if they want them.

Since they were quite happy to only give you one key, I doubt they will care to pay for copies.

keys can be made unusable by cutting off the serrated part with bolt croppers or a hacksaw, or hammering them flat.

If they kick up a fuss, post them the smashed keys. They have no way of knowing how many copies you have, or how many all the previous tenants and previous agents have kept.

Original poster
ScarlettInSpace · 21/08/2017 20:14

Thanks yes that sounds like a plan.

It seems so daft just destroying 2 sets for someone else to have to pay to get more done anyway, but I suspect you are right that they couldn't care less either way Smile

OP posts:
mooneypie · 21/08/2017 20:15

Love the idea of returning them damaged/unusable if they don't pay! It is right you return them though, thinking of next tenant. I would hate someone having a spare keys to my house

orangesinpyjamas · 21/08/2017 20:17

To be honest I would just hand them over, at least it will help the next tenants who won't need to get more cut. A good gesture never did anyone any harm Smile

mooneypie · 21/08/2017 20:19

If they had to pay £45 to have their rent increased who knows what new tenants would be charged for a spare set of keys!

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 21/08/2017 20:20

It's seems a bit mean spirited of you quite honestly. You've been there 8 years! £45 over 8 years is nothing.

Original poster
ScarlettInSpace · 21/08/2017 20:37

Mean spirited that's really funny Grin, I have a long long list of things we have had to put up with over the years despite never missing a payment and basically maintaining the house at our own cost, the £45 was 1 teeny example.

If I thought the keys would be handed on without charge to the next tenants I wouldn't think twice, but there's zero chance of that!

Maybe I'll hide them in the house & hope the new tenants find them!

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Original poster
ScarlettInSpace · 21/08/2017 20:39

Oh I could leave them with the neighbour to drop in when someone new moves in! Or would that be out of order...

The neighbours are good friends so they are trustworthy.

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Allthebestnamesareused · 21/08/2017 20:43

As a landlord I would have paid for them/reimbursed you from the outset provided you had given me the receipt as they are tax deductible. In fact I'd have reimbursed you without receipt its such a low amount in the grand scheme of things.

Say you'll return the one set and offer the others for sale. Your idea of passing to the neighbour is a hood idea if they want to be stingy!

Allthebestnamesareused · 21/08/2017 20:44

Good idea!

5rivers7hills · 21/08/2017 21:43

I'd hand them over. It was £30 over a year ago!

PigletJohn · 21/08/2017 21:44

you could give the neighbour a "welcome to your new home" parcel to give to the next tenants. Tea bags, coffee, longlife milk, sugar cubes, mugs, teaspoons, loo roll, spare keys, matching paint for touch-ups, neighbourhood watch names of neighbours, note of bin days, other useful stuff.

I did that last time I moved, and a new lock in its box so they could change it.

Window keys are the things that get lost from rented homes.

twofloorsup · 21/08/2017 22:01

I always leave our (lots of) spares in the kitchen drawer so hopefully the next tenants benefit.

ScrubbyGarden · 23/08/2017 09:36

Giving them to the neighbours sounds good- along with instructions for what to do with any escaped post (even if you have a redirect done some always goes wrong...).
Bloody letting agents!!!

Pikmin · 23/08/2017 09:47

We got new keys cut at our expense for a short term let, the new front door keys lock up ok but take 5 minutes to get back in, the new back door key locks from inside but not outside, they can have the flipping things and good luck to them! Question is do I label each one or let them figure it out.

PigletJohn · 23/08/2017 10:16

Attach a label warning them not to use the same inaccurate key shop.

specialsubject · 23/08/2017 16:53

Generally it is two sets per property ( even if only one tenant) unless HMO when it is a set per tenant.

Give back what you were given. Landlord has no idea how many other sets there are anyway.

planetclom · 24/08/2017 02:21

Brilliant I had this dilemma shit landlord but I have lots of set of keys, hide 1 set in the house, handed back 2 sets we where only given on, but still own 2 sets.
Sometime I think the American system is good where they new owner/tenant changes the locks on occupation.

Ecureuil · 25/08/2017 09:24

I wouldn't have cared enough about this to even think about it

Original poster
ScarlettInSpace · 25/08/2017 09:28

Not sure why you cared enough to comment then Grin

I did say at the start it was a 'quick question' Wink

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