residential-lease british-columbia
Landlord never asked for key back, now saying he will deduct from damage deposit cost of changing locks
<p>I lived in a shared house but had my own individual lease. I moved out last month. The landlord knew when I was moving out and I sent him a message confirming I had moved out and provided my new address. He never replied but almost 3 weeks latter he contacts me asking for the key to the front door. I can’t recall what I did with it. I may still have it. I was under the impression we would meet to inspect the place to get my damage deposit back. Now he’s saying that he will deduct the cost of changing the locks if I don’t return the key by tomorrow.</p>

<p>This is ridiculous as clearly it hasn’t been an issue for two weeks and in theory I could have made a copy if I wanted to sneak back in anyway.</p>

<p>To my understanding where I live it’s the landlords responsibility to make time to do a move out inspection. I took pictures of the place to ensure I have evidence no damage was done. Also the landlord failed to do a written report on the move in inspection.
Does the landlord have anything on me? Can he charge me for not returning the key? What if I find it latter?</p>

<p>From <a href="https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/residential-tenancies/ending-a-tenancy/moving-out" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/residential-tenancies/ending-a-tenancy/moving-out</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>It’s the landlord’s responsibility to schedule the condition
  inspection (or “walk-through”)</p>
</blockquote>

<p>What should I reply to the landlord? </p>

<p>If the landlord gave you a key, and you can not give it back to him he has every right to charge you for correcting the oversight.</p>

<p>I put to you that if you can't provide it back to him, he can't be certain that it has not fallen into the wrong hands, and he would be prudent to change the lock - and indeed, he may not even have another copy of the key in which case he really does not have a lot of alternatives.</p>

<p>If you look at the section on "Claims for Damages or Loss" <a href="https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/housing-and-tenancy/residential-tenancies/policy-guidelines/gl16.pdf" rel="noreferrer">pdf</a> there is a section B - Damage which confirms that Loss includes less tangible impacts including "loss of a service or facility provided under the tenancy agreement"</p>

<p>Section C of the same document goes on to assert that <em>"The purpose of compensation is to put the person who suffered the damage or loss in the same position as if the damage or loss had not occurred</em>".   </p>

<p>There is arguably a question of the amount of loss suffered, and they can't sting you for punitive damages, but they can charge you a reasonable amount to get a new key cut (or possibly to replace the lock) - but that was not your question, and would probably arise if the amount he charges was unreasonable in the circumstance.    Depending on if he has already taken action - and if not, how much the bill would be - promptly remedying the breach by finding and returning the key or equivalent action might save you some money.</p>

<p>You've had 3 weeks to wrap the key in a sheet of paper with a note written on it and mail it to your ex-landlord, or to go around to his place of business and hand it to him.  </p>

<p>Saying or thinking that you haven't been given the chance to return it is untrue, and unhelpful to your situation.  </p>

<p>It is normal for the landlord to have the locks changed if he can't be assured of having keys returned, and this is your responsibility.  </p>
