I NEED HELP: Keys to new house won't work and landlord is out of town...

[armyowalgreens]

My roommates picked up the keys yesterday. Apparently the rental agency made them in the office. The keys successfully opened the front door yesterday morning. But they haven't worked since. I'm thinking that the keys were made incorrectly.

One roommate called today and the landlord is in California. The office won't pick up the phone so I'm assuming they are closed for the weekend like normal.

I'm going to call the landlord right now.


How should I handle this? I've never rented a house before. I'm pretty pissed off, and I want them to fix it today or prorate us a days rent for every day that we can't get in.

Does that sound reasonable?



On Edit: Okay my stupid ass roommates and there poor communication skills have this made out to be worse than it seems. One roommates key works and is in the house right now. The other roommate apparently never had the mind to check to see if the other key worked. I'm going to go make a couple copies of his key. I'll bring the shitty key to the office tomorrow.

[ecstatic]

1. Try the keys again. If they worked yesterday, they should

still work today. Maybe twist the door knob in the opposite angle that you'd expect.

[armyowalgreens]

3. I spent 30 minutes trying to get the door open last night.

We got the security door open but couldn't get the actual front door open.

No success with the back door either.

My roommate tried again this morning and the same thing happened.

[myrna minx]

2. Do you have an emergency maintenance phone number?

Do they have a website with an emergency pager/phone number? Does you lease have any emergency numbers listed? Pro rating the rent is completely reasonable.

[armyowalgreens]

6. There is no emergency number on the site.

There is a maintenance email and the numbers for the office and landlord.

[grasswire]

4. sometimes.....

....a key will be just slightly off and you must tinker with it to make it work.

Try putting it in the lock without turning and then pull it back out just a tiny fraction. Then turn it. Sometimes that works.

The fact that it did work means it will work again if you just find the right spot to turn it.

[armyowalgreens]

7. I tried that for 30 minutes last night. No success.

[sendero]

17. That's my advice,,

.. they are "cut" keys that are slightly off register. Try pushing them in extra hard or more likely pull them out just a tiny bit.

If they ever worked they are the "correct" keys.

[Skipperoo]

5. Call a locksmith. Pay the bill. Deduct it from the rent next month..

[hlthe2b]

9. That's what I would do... (and get a letter from locksmith documenting)

the problem with the existing key.

[Hepburn]

19. +1....great advice. n/t

[Hepburn]

20. Delete...dupe.

[timeforpeace]

8. Call me crazy, but since the rental agency rented the house AND made the keys...

[jannyk]

10. Call a locksmith immediately...

they'll get you in in a couple of minutes. you may have to wait an hour or so for them to arrive on a Sunday.

Sorry though...

<<How should I handle this? I've never rented a house before. I'm pretty pissed off, and I want them to fix it today or prorate us a days rent for every day that we can't get in. Does that sound reasonable?>>

....not really if the following is true

<<The keys successfully opened the front door yesterday morning. But they haven't worked since.>>

Good Luck!

[rug]

11. Call the Cambridge Police Department.

[ecstatic]

12. LMAO!

[armyowalgreens]

13. I swear to god that's all I was thinking about last night as I fiddled with the lock...

I looked like I was trying to break in.

[ohheckyeah]

14. Is it a deadbolt lock?

If not the old credit card trick may work. Worked for me at a house I lived in.

[armyowalgreens]

15. There is a deadbolt and a conventional knob lock.

I don't think I'm getting in unless I break shit.

[ohheckyeah]

16. Well, that's a pain in the butt.

But it's actually good there is a deadbolt. I couldn't believe how easy it was to use a credit card to break into a knob lock. I thought that stuff just worked on t.v.

[MADem]

23. That was my first thought. Get Officer Crowley to help you with that door! nt

[blondeatlast]

25. Damn, y abeat me to it. nt

[havocmom]

28. LOL My first thought: Do NOT ask Skip Gates for help

unless you want to drink beer with the President after a whole lotta trouble.

[ThirdWorldJohn]

18. Spray the lock with WD 40 or graphite and try again. If that does not work then

get a fine file or finger nail file and lightly work it along the edges of the key.

[TheCowsCameHome]

21. Is there only one entrance?

[MissB]

22. Is it a compression lock?

We have those on our main doors. You could turn the key all day long, but if you don't pull the latch towards you at the end, it'll never open.

[MADem]

24. Make a bump key. Then call the landlord and complain.

That's only if you cannot afford a locksmith.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5177213949300140850

[liberalmuse]

26. I hate to ask this, but...

Are you sure the rental agency is legit?

[armyowalgreens]

27. Yeah it's legit. I checked around to make sure first.