Tenant facing eviction has reported break in and wants new front door key?

Tenant facing eviction has reported break in and wants new front door key?

7:14 AM, 10th April 2017, About 8 years ago 5

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My tenant is facing eviction due to rent arrears and has reported a break in. I’m seeking your advice to what may seem an obvious answer. She apparently was away on holiday and phoned the letting agents to advise that her ex boyfriend drove past the house and informed her that the house had been broken into. The front door had been boarded up in her absence as the police had been called out to secure the house by the next door neighbour.

I’ve been given a crime number and the police have stated that as the tenant is a vulnerable single mother the door needs replacing. There are 2 front doors, but only one is damaged. Anyway whilst I have no problem replacing the front door that’s damaged, I am concerned about giving her new keys as she’s facing eviction, with a court date of May. The other front door is perfectly accessible from the outside but doesn’t have the same 5 lever locking system and never has.

I intended to put new locks on the main door anyway once she vacated but don’t want to have to do it again when she goes. Am I legally obliged to provide her with keys to the new front door as its not as though she can’t access the house.

Had she not been facing eviction and the door needed replacing then yes of course I’d be happy to provide keys.

Any advice appreciated and many thanks in advance.

Yvonne


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Neil Patterson

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7:16 AM, 10th April 2017, About 8 years ago

Hi Yvonne,

It can be notoriously unpredictable to get a judge sympathetic to a landlord especially in a case like this. Therefore as she can gain access without the new key anyway I would give her one rather than risk it prejudicing your case in May unnecessarily.

Michael Barnes

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21:23 PM, 10th April 2017, About 8 years ago

Can you not fit the old lock to the new door?

Yvonne Mills

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22:15 PM, 10th April 2017, About 8 years ago

Thanks for your reply Neil. I now understand that the tenant could use this against me, which I do find puzzling. I'm just suspicious about the 'forced entry' which occrurred (whilst the tenant was out of the country) after been given a court date. She refused to respond to the managing agent regarding the arrears but managed to get in touch to report the break in and now claims £3,000 was stolen which is the arrears to date!
As you say she's got access anyway with or without new keys.

Michael that's a good suggestion about the old lock, hadn't thought of that. Thanks again to you both.

Gary Dully

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1:32 AM, 13th April 2017, About 8 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Yvonne Mills" at "10/04/2017 - 22:15":

Yvonne, the sooner this tenant is evicted the better.

I meet the drama tenants every day, it's probably a diversion to stop you getting upset with them.

I was told yesterday that a tenants friend had severed an artery and he couldn't pay his rent because he was looking after his friends dog.
He has an excuse each week...

I saw his friend at a garage buying petrol and my tenant received his marching orders with a section 21 notice this morning.

If £3000 was stolen, (fat chance), who knew about it?
Would you go abroad leaving £3000 of unpaid mortgage money in your biscuit tin?

It just doesn't wash.

And she was out of the country was she?

Spending your rent, coming back after losing her keys in Malaga and getting her boyfriend to kick in the door for her.

Or as an alternative to that, he kicked it in to get some money for his weed habit or to get his xBox back and then reported the break in to cover his tracks.

Isn't leaving longer than 7 days a breach of tenancy on your tenancy agreement?

As for the locks, I would go with Neil's advice.

eagle view

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10:01 AM, 16th April 2017, About 8 years ago

Hello Dear,

Your home you should be secure for the tenant until evicted so as a landlord you will still need to repair and replace the doors and provide new keys. Tenant will use all tactics to delay the eviction and they may use this against you so be wise landlord

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