Landlords, deposits, and lost apartment keys - Germany

I recently moved out of my Munich apartment and turned in 2 of the 3 sets of keys I was originally given. I lost a set in Rome over a year ago. No one will trying to use it to get back into the apartment, this I am sure of. I tried to get a replacement set made, but was told I needed a special letter from the landlord to do this. In the interest of time, I decided just to let them charge me for a key replacement.

Unfortunately, they are claiming they "must" have the whole lock set replaced by a locksmith for 150 euros. Can they do this?

Not only is this an absolute waste of money, it just doesn't make sense. It takes a short trip to get the key replaced vs. taking time off work to meet the locksmith for a lock that is not better than the last.

Does anyone out there know if I can contest this? I know recently the whole painting requirements were changed. Any ideas on this type of charge?

Yes, tell him that you'll not be bullied, to stop trying to take the piss and deal with the situation like a respectable human being.

Granted for all he knows the Rome story may be bollocks and you've just pocketed the key with a view to coming back later and clearing the next tenant out. Ok, scratch what I said, if it was my house I'd take the cost of the new lock out of your deposit.

I'm pretty sure that since you lost the key, he can insist on changing all the locks - and this comes out of the Kaution. Check and see if your Hausrat- or Haftpflichtversicherung covers it (ok, first check and see if you have Haftpflicht- or Hausratversicherung).

According to the Mietverein:

If you lose a set of keys irretrievably ie in Rome and they do NOT indentify to which house they belong, you CANNOT be made to change all the locks!

Hi there, bit late to join this thread, but I have done the same thing.

So am interested in the outcome.
Cheers

I would assume that the prices charged to replace locks are based on the type of system used in your Bldg. If the Bldg. is on a master key system (Your key opens the Garbage/bike room,Garage,front Door,your Apt) then it's possible that each of these "Common" area locks also need to be Rekeyed or changed in addition to your Apt. Key.

Also in the Factor is the type of lock required, If the Bldg. uses some High Security type Lock Be prepaired to pay up to 200-300 PER LOCK..

Also even if you haven't lost your keys, you should always change the lock on your door when you move in. You never know who might have a copy... You can get a fairly good High Security lock for 120 Eur. just don't forget to switch the lock back when you move out...

A friend of mine lost her keys and they told her they'd have to change all the locks in the apartment block and whether she had akey insurance to cover it. Luckily the key was found a few days later... would have been a few thousand EUR!!!
Some of the Privat Haftpflichtversicherungen cover key loss though. Worth checking out.

If your Bldg. is on a Master key system and you loose your key, then the only locks that need to be changed/rekeyed are the ones that, that key opened, Not every lock in the Bldg.. This is just somebody pulling a con.. Tell'em to go F themselves..

Well my key opens the front door to the block, the entry door to the tiefgarage and kellar, and the waschkuecke as well as my apartment door. Thing is, that if they have to be replaced doesn't that mean that everyone else's keys have to be changed too???

I quite liked the bit about the Mietverein by grtho ! That as long as you didn't lose it with the address attached to the keyring...

Fritz is so full of sh1t.

Just waiting for my multi-dimensional, all portal-opening key to go missing next knees up. I'll be facing the same stupid issue.

Almost lost a key last November. God was that a song and dance.

Good luck and please tell us the upshot . ...

Well. Had another near-calamitous lost key episode.

Unsurprisingly beer was the culprit (not me).

Does any kindly soul know the definitive landlord/tenant law around losing a German "one opens all" key?

well how would they know if you really lost it in rome or not? anyone can keep a set of keys and say they lost them. but yea, it does suck that they would make you pay for chaning the locks int he whole building or whatever.. thats crazy.

Is it not covered implicity in the rental contract? talking to some german friends, the landlord can just claim damage and take it out of the kaution

P

@Naeluck

Not always.. This is what a Master key system is for.. Instead of replacing all key/locks, a lock is repinned to not work with YOUR old key. but will still work with everybody elses..

This is why master key systems cost Huge $$$

I wonder why people keep using the landlord supplied locks and keys at all, considering that he usually has the real "one opens all" key. Exchanging all the locks is the first thing to do when you move in somewhere.