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.

True!

I couldn't find anything online hence jumping on here to see if anyone knew. Wasnt relying on MN but was interested.

Ok thanks for this

Theft involves intention to permanently deprive - and it's not that. I guess it's not illegal - they hold on to the keys until job completed to everyone's satisfaction. But what would i know???

so at the point when they said they had completed the job, did the homeowner meet with the installer to sign off the work? I have to wonder how this escalated to tit for tat disagreement?

Ok that's interesting. Seems an odd move by the flooring company. Much cheaper to change the locks than pay the final installment. And comes across a little threatening as single woman in the house.

Homeowner wasn't there. She is learning hard lessons the hard way I think.

Has she seen the work now and decided its poor quality

Yes. And she can't speak to a senior person in the company until tomorrow.

She needs to change the locks really, it might affect her insurance and obviously her security and safety if an unauthorised person has her keys and also take lots of photos, is she inside the property now.

That's all being taken care of

There is something in law called a lien.

One type allows a car mechanic to keep a car until payment for repairs is made.

Something similar may apply here. IANAL.