Who has the legal right to change locks?
If done unlawfully, what can be done about this? What charges can be brought against that person and how are they enforced?
(I%26#039;m in the UK)
thanks!|||Usually just the Landlord or Homeowner. If the locks have been changed unlawfully eg. by a tenant then i don%26#039;t think the police will get involved (You would have to ask them) as i think you would have to get a court order.|||Hello again Alex.
The persons who can change the locks in this instance are -
(a) the person who has lawful control of the property
(b) the landlord if there has been a significant breach of the lease (such as not paying the rent).
With commercial property, the only criminal charges that might come to mind are criminal damage. That is why having a witness present when it is done is such a good idea.
On the civil front, there is a prospect of a claim by an occupier for what the lawyers call %26quot;derogation from grant%26quot;. That is not, however, possible when a landlord acts properly, as mentioned above.|||The owner, or person that has beneficial interest in the property. But legal advice is a must on this issue.
|||I think you need to clarify the context of the lock change. Is it a work place, your home or rented?
Also although you say your in the UK laws are different in England than Scotland, so you need to be a little more specific there too.
For example in Scotland it is illegal to wheel clamp as it is seen as a form of theft to deprive someone the use of their property. So this may also be true in your case, but in England wheel clamping is legal.
