Lock unchanged - who is liable?

Our Experts Answer:

I assume that you have the friend’s authority to act on their behalf. If your account is correct and the property manager admitted being 'a bit slack' by not having had the locks changed then the next question is whether it was agreed between you after the first burglary that the property manager should have the locks changed.

Your answers to those questions will give you an indicator as to whether the property manager was in breach of their duty as your (or your friend’s) agent. If you believe the agent was in breach of their duty then you may choose to make an application to the Disputes Tribunal to claim against the property manager in respect of any loss that could have been prevented by the changing of the locks after the first burglary.

You will note that I have used the words 'assume' and 'if' a few times. There is no clear-cut answer here... it depends on the facts of the case as they appear to the Tribunal.

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