Flooring company withholding keys

[PraiseBee]

Is this legal in the UK? Company are withholding keys as there is a dispute over the work. Single woman in property.

Bump

What keys are they witholding? Your post isn't very clear

I would say that if they don't return the keys by the end of the week then you are going to change the locks and bill them for it

Hoping to find out if it is illegal for the flooring company to do this.

Keys to a private property in which they have installed flooring.

Are they holding on to your spare set so they can let themselves in at any time? And holding that threat over your head to get you to pay up instead of disputing the work?

The work is complete but not to a satisfactory standard. Final installment being withheld by property owner and flooring company not giving keys back as a result. Property owner cannot speak to a manager about complaint until tomorrow. Property owner cannot secure house from the inside.

What is the actual situation, are you having new flooring put in your house and for some reason the compnay wont give you the keys back, its not very clear what has happened,

Presume you gave them the keys in the first place? Your answers don't really give much info.

If you're worried just change the locks while you query the flooring issue, whatever it is

Are you inside the house, if so just change the locks, put chains up..

A flooring company has installed flooring into a private company but fucked it up. The owner of the property is going to complain and has said she won't pay the final installment due at this stage due to the damage they have done to the property. In return, the flooring company have said they will not return the keys they have for the property.

Correction private property not private company

Not looking for solutions. Want to know if it's legal for the flooring company to do this.

Is it your house, owned or rented. Can you get a locksmith out today and change the locks.

Why not call citizens advice, your house insurance or a solicitor. We are just trying to help.

Perhaps best to ask a lawyer or the police. Although they will probably just call it a civil dispute.

🤨 'Not looking for solutions'? You'd be better off paying for legal advice then!

Ring 101 and ask the police. If the answer is no, it’s not legal, then ask for their help in retrieving the keys.

Personally I’d be more concerned about securing my property than asking question about legality. Change the locks - you are absolutely in your rights to do that, regardless of your dispute.

Have suggested cab. Just trying to work out the legality side of things. It's cool if no one knows.
If not about locksmith or chain etc.

No it’s blackmail and a judge wouldn’t look kindly on it.

Its a civil issue, they need to be given the option to rectify the sun-standard work so they can be paid and may be claiming that’s why they’re holding the keys.

However, if they’ve been requested to return the keys, given a time frame and explained if they don’t the locks will be changed at their expense, then I’d go ahead.

Someone else is sorting out securing the house. I'm looking for any information online about the legal size of things as requested by the person involved.

Surely it’s theft, if the keys have been requested but not returned? Which isn’t a civil matter, even though the payment dispute is. Hence my suggesting the police.

Lol. Not looking for solutions to secure the house. That wasn't my question

Then, with great respect, I’d ask a lawyer or the police, rather than an anonymous advice forum which is notoriously bad for offering uninformed and frequently very wrong advice on legal, medical, and property matters 😁

Thank you. That's how I see it