Housemate refusing to return keys

convert

I had a housemate who offichally moved out of the house yesterday but is refusing to return their keys. The argument put forward is that they want to collect the rest of their things and so as to be able to collect their post for the next few weeks!! And that it is their right to retain the keys even though they don't actually live here anymore. This is despite the fact we need the keys for the new housemate who moves in tomorrow.

When they gave notice we asked the landlord if we could change the lock on the door as quite a few keys have been lost recently and the landlord is happy for us to do so.

So we changed it tonight as 1. We need keys for new housemate and 2. We don't like the idea that someone who no longer lives here has unsupervised access to the house.

We're happy to give the ex housemate access to collect the one remaining belonging and to collect the post, but not unlimited access to come and go as they please as if they were still a tenant.

Is this the best course of action to have taken or is there anything else we should have done/do?

Is it their right to retain the keys if they no longer pay rent of reside there?

doctor evil

The Post Office can hold people's letters, I can't imagine they have any right to hold onto the key.

Red_Marauder

It depends on when the last day of tenancy was.

Obviously when tenancy ends, the right to enter the house without permission ends. I think you did the right thing, but s/he should just have given the key back to start with.

thebouldwhacker

convert wrote: »

The argument put forward is that they want to collect the rest of their things and so as to be able to collect their post for the next few weeks!! And that it is their right to retain the keys even though they don't actually live here anymore.

LOL:D

You gotta pay to stay:rolleyes:

tenchi-fan

Simple, keep the deposit.

And if you didn't take a deposit or already returned it, you just learned a valuable lesson!

As for the mail, tell the idiot you are happy to forward it for the next while providing they promptly contact the organisations sending it to advise of their new address. Or even better, ask them to use http://www.myaddress.ie/ and http://www.anpost.ie/AnPost/MainContent/Personal+Customers/Managing+Mail/redirection.htm

If that's not acceptable to them just mark every letter received "no longer at this address" (or even better, "person is deceased") and throw it in a post box. Or bin.

subway

hmm, if they still have stuff in the house tell them to get it out now or call a skip!
after that they can have the post forwarded at their cost, or call round in the evening every now and then (without gaining access) to get the post of someone who is availble, just leave it in the hall for them and hand it out.

change the locks and alarm code

TwoShedsJackson

convert wrote: »

And that it is their right to retain the keys even though they don't actually live here anymore.

Eh that would be a no - you did the right thing changing the lock, this guy sounds like a chancer.

D3PO

what a chancer.

if they have moved out they have to return the keys provided their rental agreement has also ended. If they have moved out earlier but are paid up to a certain date they are entitled to keep the keys until that date.

As for still having belonging there. if they are outside of their rental period ring them and tell them that if they dont shift the stuff today your throwing it out.

iguana

If they had paid the rent up until the end of the month, for example, then they would have the right to have access until then. If they've only paid the rent up until yesterday then they have no right to access.

convert

Thanks for the replies (and support!).

Technically the housemate had only paid rent up until 31 May, but because they moved in on a Wednesday 7 years ago they argued that they shouldn't have to move out until Wednesday 3 June.

We sent an email informing them that the locks had been changed (apparently texts are bullying, but if we ring we get screamed at and then they hang up), but that we're more than happy to facilitate them in collecting their belongings. We haven't heard from them yet and are really dreading their reaction... Screaming, arguments that we had no right to change the locks, etc., etc.

irishguy

convert wrote: »

Thanks for the replies (and support!).

Technically the housemate had only paid rent up until 31 May, but because they moved in on a Wednesday 7 years ago they argued that they shouldn't have to move out until Wednesday 3 June.

We sent an email informing them that the locks had been changed (apparently texts are bullying, but if we ring we get screamed at and then they hang up), but that we're more than happy to facilitate them in collecting their belongings. We haven't heard from them yet and are really dreading their reaction... Screaming, arguments that we had no right to change the locks, etc., etc.

There contract is up on the 31st then they are out on the 31st. If they act like the way you are describing I would give them a designated time to collect the rest of the stuff, if they are not there just place it outside. Your a patient person to be living with them.

Firetrap

It also begs the question why this person is so determined they want to gain access to the house even though they're no longer a tenant I can't see how this person can argue that they should be able to keep the key. They're no longer paying rent and therefore have no right to have access to the service they were paying for (i.e. the roof over their head). A more reasonable person would have an arrangement left in place whereby they could collect anything they'd forgotten from one of you or call around some evening. Redirecting mail isn't rocket science. The landlord is also happy that you're changing the locks so I don't see how this person can argue.