Tenant refusing to pay rent so Ive served her 28d notice. Now shes lost her keys.

My tenant is refusing to pay rent so I have served her 28 days notice.

She is a real trouble maker and has a friend living in the flat as well without my permission.

Anyhow got text last night to say she lost her key! I did not reply and turned off my phone.

She then went to all the neighbours at ten o clock at night looking for a ladder (they tell me she was also drunk).

Can she now get the lock changed without my permission and bill it to me? Am I obliged to get her into the flat again - when I get her massage on the phone.

She is meant to move out in early Dec but I think she will refuse so if I can get rid by making her pay for a locksmith to gain entry that would be great.

I am not even sure if I have a spare key to give her! So perhaps a locksmith will have to be called out and she will have to pay.

If she does decide to move out rather than pay the locksmith should I get her to sign something to say she is leaving immediately?

Thank you

If she lost her key, she should have to pay for you to get a copy of your spare key cut for her, not you. If you have a spare key, don't give it to her. You don't want her to be the only person with a key to the flat. If there is no spare key and a locksmith has to go out, arrange it yourself so that both of you are there when the lock is replaced, and you control who gets a key. Tell her she has to pay for it, but good luck getting her to do so. If she is not paying rent she'll probably tell you where to go.

Don't play hardball with the key. It is tempting to try to use the situation to your advantage, but it's not worth it. The last thing you want is for her to break a door or window to get into the flat and then report you to the PRTB for preventing her from getting into "her" home. Replacing the former, or paying the fines imposed by the latter would be a lot more expensive than replacing a key.

beffers said:

Don't play hardball with the key. It is tempting to try to use the situation to your advantage, but it's not worth it. The last thing you want is for her to break a door or window to get into the flat and then report you to the PRTB for preventing her from getting into "her" home. Replacing the former, or paying the fines imposed by the latter would be a lot more expensive than replacing a key.

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i agree, thats very sound advice.

thanks for the advice -fortunately or unfortunately (not sure which yet) she found the key!!!

Did you serve a 14 day rent notice first?

Also see here: 14 days arrears notice question?