One set of keys between two, can't be copied, letting agency being awkward

Sir Ophiuchus

Hey guys, was hoping for some advice on what we can do.

Friend and I rented an apartment together on a short-term lease through a letting agency. We were promised two sets of keys (but it's not explicitly listed in the lease), and told the second set would be dropped in within the first week (friend wasn't moving in until a week after me, so no problem). Didn't happen.

It's now a month later. One of the keys (access to the damn building) is the kind that can't be copied without the key card: the management agency won't give permission without the landlord's assent, and the letting agency claim the landlord is uncontactable for the past month.

They've either been ignoring or fobbing off all my calls and emails, but they did say they were trying to get us a second set. This is ridiculous; we have to plan everything around one another. My friend called into them, and they had a second key to the apartment's door cut (but still no copy of the key for the building's security doors, so that was fundamentally pointless).

Now they're asking us to give access so they can show the property (we knew they'd be doing that). This is seriously taking the piss. We've said they have our permission to show it, but we can't (and won't) promise to be there to let them in, so they'd better get a second set of keys for us to lend them (slightly paraphrased; obviously we were polite and professional in the actual email).

At this point our emails have upgraded to 'threatening' and we're on the verge of considering legal action, because we're just so angry now. I realise we don't have an absolute right to two sets of keys, but since the building can't actually be accessed without this uncopiable key surely they're in violation of something by not giving us reasonable access to the property: one shared key for the entire tenancy can't possibly be reasonable access.

Going to call Threshold this week. What else should we be doing?

spaceHopper

Can they or you contact the building management company. The apartment is your home and you are entitles to peaceful enjoyment of property https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/quiet_enjoyment

Tell them you will deal with the issue of access to show the apartment after they have sorted out the keys which they promised you. Don't say you won't give them access just you will deal with one thing at a time.

Also give them till Friday after that make a complaint to the IPAV http://www.ipav.ie/

When do you have to give it back?

Paulw

spaceHopper wrote: »

Can they or you contact the building management company. The apartment is your home and you are entitles to peaceful enjoyment of property

The OP has no contract with the management company. So, all the OP can do is to chase the agent, and the agent chase the landlord and then the landlord request a new access key. The management company does not have to issue a new key to anyone, unless the proper procedure is followed.

This is the problem with not getting what you were supposed to get at the time you moved in.

Atlantic Dawn

Another option is to purchase another lock to replace it and then refit the old when your moving out. The Eurocylinders are simple to change...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9A915L_mlk

Paulw

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Another option is to purchase another lock to replace it and then refit the old when your moving out. The Eurocylinders are simple to change...

The OP can't go changing the security lock for building access. The OP has two keys for their apartment door, but only one security key to enter the main building door.

foggy_lad

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Another option is to purchase another lock to replace it and then refit the old when your moving out. The Eurocylinders are simple to change...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9A915L_mlk

This would breach the terms of most leases, also it is not the apartment door which is the issue but the security key to the building for getting in the front door.

Atlantic Dawn

I misread OP, thought it was their apartment door, thanks.

testicle

spaceHopper wrote: »

Can they or you contact the building management company. The apartment is your home and you are entitles to peaceful enjoyment of property https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/quiet_enjoyment

Hello, welcome to Ireland. US law does not apply here. Thankfully!

Sir Ophiuchus

Thanks all. They've been in touch and are sorting things with the management company. They've apologised and promised us a second key by Friday.

They haven't explicitly confirmed it yet but we suspect the property is in receivership, as this would explain the shenanigans around contacting the landlord.

jd

Sir Ophiuchus wrote: »

Thanks all. They've been in touch and are sorting things with the management company. They've apologised and promised us a second key by Friday.

They haven't explicitly confirmed it yet but we suspect the property is in receivership, as this would explain the shenanigans around contacting the landlord.

Possibly arrears in service charges too, which would explain the letting agent's difficulty in dealing with the OMC

Victor

If they want a viewing, have a chat when they show up - in front of whoever is viewing it if necessary.

Obviously there are two sets of keys but they've given the other one to the agents to show people around. Dig in, refuse viewings, or accept them but be present and ask awkard questions... The second set will materialise then

Greenmachine

PM sent.