Builder has kept key to my house

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dotcom

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Wasn't too sure where to post this so I hope it's in the right spot. I just wanted to check people's opinions on this. I'm in my new house about 7 months. The day I got the key the builder mentioned casually that there were 3 copies of the front door key and that he usually held onto one of them. I hesitated for a second and he said 'Oh it's ok, it's nothing to worry about. I have a copy of the key for all the other houses. It just means I can call by if there's any problems and you're not around to let me in'. Now I thought it was a little strange but I was so excited about finally getting the keys to my new house that I soon forgot about it. The builder is a really nice guy too so I wasn't bothered about it really.

It was fairly handy on one occasion that he had a key because something needed fixing in the house and he was able to call in and fix it one day while I was at work (after informing me he would call to the house). I don't really know most of my neighbours all that well so I'm not sure if he kept keys to everyone's houses but I do know he still has a key to my next-door neighbour's house.

He called me at work one day to ask if it would be ok to call by the house with a lady who was interested in one of the other houses in the development just to show her the finish etc. and I said ok. He has always been very helpful and accommodating towards me so I had no problem helping him out.

The problem arose when he rang me one day at work and asked if he could call by with a newly hired electrician to show him the location of sockets etc. I said fine thinking he would call by that afternoon while I was at work and it wouldn't affect me. Unfortunately he chose to call by the following Monday (my day off) so I was at home and not expecting visitors. Now he did ring my mobile and he also rang the doorbell. However, I was upstairs in the bathroom with the shower running and I didn't hear the doorbell or the phone ringing so he let himself in. I got a bit of a shock when I emerged from the bathroom to hear the front door opening and these 2 lads walking into my house!

Anyway, this is very long winded and the long and the short of it is that I will get my key back off him and hopefully that will be the end of the problems. I'm wondering though is this something that happens often i.e. builders keeping a key to your house 'just in case'?

Thanks for reading. Apologies for the big long essay!
 
It sounds weird to me. Your house is your house. Change the lock.
 
Did you inform your insurance company that someone else has keys to your house?

Change the lock

Sybil
 
From your story I see how it seemed reasonable enough at the time, but I too think you should change the locks. However I would be interested in whether he also has keys to the neighbours' houses - although if he does, why was it always your house he wanted to show people?
 
dotcom lock change and if he asks again tell him you changed lock as the key got broken in it. you seem a quite person by your post, if he asks for another one just tell him a white lie and put him off, he will get the message. the other option is to tell him you dont want anyone in your house
 
Why not just tell him that you want to avoid the risk of another shower scene. You could still offer him reasonable accommodation in the future subject to you being present to let him in.

Ask him for the key back and then perhaps change the lock for added peace of mind.
 
Definitely change the locks. If you're worried about what to say to him, tell him you lost a key and did it for peace of mind.

You should always supervise any such visits to your home. The story about bringing an electrician in to show him the position of sockets sounds very strange to me. If they're building multiples of the same house design/layout, they'll have that level of detail in specification docs.
Leo
 
Thanks everyone, I appreciate the advice. I contacted the builder and asked him to drop the key through the letterbox. I am also considering adding an additional lock onto the front door.
 
It's not enough to get the key back. Change the locks. When a property is being built, there are keys flying around everywhere. The builder could be legitimate but all it takes is one dodgy subcontractor to harvest keys and you're in a world of trouble. Just get a locksmith to change the locks. Peace of mind, relatively cheap and problem solved.
 
The builder will drop a copy of the key he has in through your door but there is a good chance he will still keep a copy. Just change your locks, back door and front door. As BazFitz says it is a realtively cheap and easy process.
 
Thanks everyone. Will look into changing the locks. Does anyone have any idea (roughly) of how much that would cost?
 
Cost depends on the type of lock and your location. On average a locksmith will charge roughly 75 -95 and extra for additional locks.

You could buy a euro cylinder lock less than 20 yoyos in Hombase or B AND Q.
 
In my honest opinion, once the contracts had been signed, snag list doneand you had moved in he should not have a copy of the key. I would have changed the locks immediately upon moving in. I can see how you might think it was ok for him to keep a copy initially.

however, he should not have access to your house whenever he likes. it should only be on your terms while you are there and when you let him in

I agree with all above. Change the locks back and front, whatever the cost
 
The locks for a 3 point locking system cost abour Euro 50.00 . YOu just need a screw driver to change the barrel. Put in the key & give it a 1/4 turn once the screw in the frame has been removed . Change barrel & put back the screw. 5 min .
 
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