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I’ve been staying with a friend, her husband and brother for a while, they just gave me a room rental agreement yesterday but I haven’t had a house key. They said the landlord doesn’t allow it but I’m surprised and that was a while ago. Am I able to ask for a key before I sign this? How should I ask politely?
2 d
Room rental with no house key?
Anonymous
(45 Plus) 
What Girls & Guys Said
Opinion
5Opinion
They are subletting and it is probably against their own rental agreement. It is the subletting that the landlord does not allow. The key may be marked "Do Not Duplicate". So no locksmith will duplicate it. The automatic machines may also be able to read that and refuse to make a key.
What are you signing? I thought these were supposed to be friends. Whatever you are signing may be illegal and non-binding.
How are you supposed to get in and out without a key? I would never do that. If you are a legal resident, then you should have a key.
It sounds to me like you are at their mercy. It sounds like they are not being good "friends".
"Am I able to ask for a key before I sign this? How should I ask politely? "
Of course you can and should ask. You shouldn't even need to ask. They should just give you a key. Just ask, and don't worry about being polite. It's a perfectly legitimate thing to ask and expect. If anyone is not being polite, it's them.
If you do sign anything, make a copy of it first. If they are trying to pull a fast one, and this doesn't work out for whatever reason, you can show the contract to the landlord, or the police. Maybe you are at their mercy, but you have a powerful took in your favor. But make sure you make a copy of it - ideally a copy with their signature.
You’re right. Sadly this is my only option to get on my feet. I Will move out. A because my last name is wrong I might just sign it any way and take picture of that and my room just in case. They gave me this paper after I asked for space when I lost my job for 20 days. Her and the husband were asking morning and at night. I was going through a lot as it… I will send her a text tomorrow morning and try to write it up tonight. I appreciate you guys helping me.
Something is fishy here & if truth be told I think the people you are living with are subletting & I guarantee the owner doesn’t know about it.
My question is who is writing the rental agreements? Is the landlord writing it or are your friends writing their own to weasel you out of money to pay their rent?
A lot of houses have combination locks nowadays so you might not get a key but a code instead & you aren’t going to get a code or key until something is in writing.
Word to the wise be careful what you sign.
He said the landlord did but it looks like they wrote it? They even spelled my last name wrong…. I have no other place to go and unfortunately have to sign it but I would feel more comfortable in the agreement if I had a key.
They’re definitely trying to just take my money also, the husband does make 6 figures and the brother supposedly pays $400 but doesn’t clean or anything else.
The ball is in your court & you can always call the landlord & if your friends don’t give you the number don’t sign anything & see if you could avoid signing an agreement & if you do sign the agreement don’t correct your misspelled last name because if you ever have to leave, just leave & you can always say that is not me & that is not how my last name is spelled.
If you sign do you get a key or a code?
There are two common errors on negotiation. One is being a entitled beach, but more often is asking less than what is fair.
Starting a negotiation by asking less just tells the other person you will accept any abuse, and you will get nothing out of it.
Giving you the key is a bare minimum, and you shall enforce it. Kindly but unapologetically:
"For renting this house I WOULD NEED to have the keys."
If they don't agree, use the two options technique:
"You have two options: either I have keys, or I'm not interested. Let me know your choice tomorrow."
And be willing to walk away.
Uh… I don’t have the choice to walk away…
I'd clarify this, especially since it sounds like a sublet, which usually has to be approved by the landlord.
There is something suspicious here. You should get a key. I also would not want the landlord having a key.
I wouldn't be living there without a key.