Landlord holding set of keys query

[PDawn]

Hi all, I live in a property rented from a housing trust under a licence rather than a tenancy agreement. When I took on the tenancy about 7 years ago I was informed that the clerk to the trustees would hold a set of keys to my home and it would be stored in a locked safe. I have recently discovered that keys have been used to enter properties owned by the trust by workers employed by them without the tenant's permission or presence. One particular maintenance worker often calls unnanounced to carry out small jobs and has been asked on numerous occasions by various tenants to make an appointment but he refuses to do so. He often works until 8pm making this awkward for people coming home from work or with children to get meals etc. This person has entered a neighbour's home without her permission. He also entered another person's home without her permission and moved personal items which I assume was to enable him to carry out a repair job. He has also questioned me because my daughter has fitted a secondary lock to her door saying he's reported her to the trust clerk as he checked that she hasn't provided a spare key. My questions are:

 

a) has the clerk to the trustees got legal rights to hold a spare key

b) does the male maintenance worker have legal rights to use this key without permission of the tenant (all mainly female living alone)

c) can tenants have secondary locks fitted (leaving the original lock in place), without having to pass a key on to the clerk to the trustees as some of the tenants have been told.

 

As you probably gather most of the tenants are females living alone and are very nervous that the male maintenance worker rocks up at any time without an appointment and seems to be able to access keys to gain entrance when the tenant isn't present. Unfortunately any complaints to the trust clerk about this man seem to fall on deaf ears and he seems to be very highly thought of by the trustees. Any legal advice welcome with pointers towards legislation to quote if possible. Thanks in anticipation.

[BazzaS]

A tenancy gives the tenant exclusive possession.

The tenant can deny the landlord access (if not previously agreed), although the tenancy usually allows LL (or their agents) access in an emergency.

The T can change the locks and not give the LL keys (as long as the locks are changed back at end of tenancy)

 

For a licence, the licencee has far fewer rights. They don't have exclusive possession of the property, and if the licence gives the LL (or their agents) rights to enter at any time, they can.

If the licence says the locks can't be changed, or notes that LL must have a spare key, then a "secondary lock" may not be permitted unless LL is given a key. What does your licence say?

[PDawn]

My licence doesn't mention anything about keys or locks at all, the only reference to spare key was a verbal one. My daughter's licence is more detailed. I also understand that 24 hours notice of any visit should be given, unless its an emergency

[mariner51]

The Contractor can only act on Trustees' instructions.

Address your concerns, in writing, to the Trustees and ask for their grievance procedure/Policy.

[ericsbrother]

Change the locks and tell the HA that a key broke in the lock if they query it. You dont know if previous occupants still hold kays anyway, you could be burgled and then not have a leg to stand on becuse no force was used to gain entry