Locks
- This is a simple word with many pitfalls for the unwary. See also implications for TVs
- Windows - Security v convenience
- It is important to secure a window to prevent burglaries.
- First floor windows may be at risk if accessible from flat roofs.
- Porch roofs, garage extensions, front door canopies, can enable window access to burglars.
- During hot weather if you leave a window ajar be sure the handle is at least in the locked position (with or without key)before leaving a house unattended with an open window.
- Locks to bedroom doors Security v convenience
- There are two costs to consider:
- The cost in terms of safety and in terms of money.
- Should a fire fighter attend a house and discover a locked door then this is very likely to end up with a sledge hammer hole in it to determine whether there is anyone inside lying unconscious.
- On the one hand there is the cost of human life and on the other the cost of a new fire door. In 25 years there have been three fire related incidents in a student property (two minor and one more serious but non fatal).
- Tenants and Landlords view this topic in two ways:
- Tenants may be nervous about a house mate or guest: entering a room causing embarrassment or threat. Tenants could pay with their lives e.g. fire, due to locked doors preventing access
- Tenants generally secure a small discount form insurers by stating they have a room lock.
- In order to save a negligible reduction on a student's insurance premium landlords regularly pay hefty call out charges for each occasion a trades person is unable to access a house.
- Landlords face when providing door locks. 1. The cost of installing the lock 2. The cost of maintaining the lock and keys 3. The cost to attend when a tenant loses a key or locks it inside 4. The cost of abortive time for trades people unable to gain access to a locked room. 5.The cost of abortive time for trades people unable to gain access to the entrance door. 6.The cost of further damage e.g. flood or fire, due to locked doors preventing access. 7. The cost when trades people knock on a door and ring the bell repeatedly but the residents refuse to answer and ignore the trades people outside in the hope another house mate responds. This is a very regular occurrence. Likewise delivery of furniture and white goods are returned to manufacturers marked, "no one present at appointed time". 8. A possible prohibition against providing bedroom door locks by any mortgage lender.Bedroom doors and locks require some forethought. If the bedroom door is locked does this mean the room is empty, or is the occupant merely asleep or in the en suite shower and thus unable to hear the door knocking over the noise of the shower? Always lock your door when in the shower and cover yourself up before emerging into your room! Leave your key in the lock if you are inside but do not turn it. Just leave it loosely in the lock so it can be pushed through without the need to turn so it is obvious you are present to a fire fighter. Then if a key is available emergency access enables the lock to open quickly without breaking the door down.
- When entering a room the normal procedure we recommend:
- After knocking and calling out gingerly we open the bedroom door if a spare key is available, calling out, "coming in", with the door ajar, before fully opening the door following no response. Few trades people have access to bedroom keys and a locked door is likely to mean a further return trip before the problem can be resolved. Meantime tenant(s) remain unaware of any attempt to repair may continue to complain that the defect remains.Example email to tenants:
- The Heating engineer is attending on xxxxxxxxxxxxxx at an unspecified time to do a periodical inspection of your heating system.
- Should there be any problems with plumbing please advise prior to the visit and if you are present bring any such matters to the attention of the engineer.
- Please do leave your bedroom doors open during this inspection as all radiators will need to be accessible. Should you have a loft hatch in your first floor bedroom, access to the loft boiler will be necessary. Please ensure any area below the trap hatch is free of items which could be damaged by access. Please ensure your computer especially a lap top is closed with cables capable of being moved aside to enable loft or radiator access
- Locked doors add significantly to the cost of maintenance. We have wrestled with the solution to this expensive problem. It is now our policy where, having provided notice of a trades person attending, and where the trades person is then unable to access locked rooms and needs to make a return journey to charge groups for each abortive call out charge. This statement is designed to get your attention and to ensure you stick a post-it note to your door above your room lock saying do not lock on the day appointed for a trades person to attend!The current less attractive alternative is for us to disable all key locks. Lock provision is not mandatory. Many landlords do not provide locks and save themselves much more than the cost of the locks. E.g. when viewing a house it takes several times longer with keys than without; adding considerably to the time taken to view and let a house. For landlords room keys are a curse, help us by leaving doors open where requested.
- Occasionally a lock appears to need replacing - the summer vacation is usually ideal between tenancies unless the same group return with the old keys!
- In every instance lock replacement needs to be done with very careful planning to avoid lock outs. All tenants should have a key copied and provided prior to fitting. Spares are also provided to those depending on the key for emergency access.
- To other landlords reading this (unless you have a key alike system) the normal procedure I follow in this:
- Visit the house just to make sure the lock is defective WD40 cures sticking lock problems. A screwdriver cures most others.
- If you have to change the lock first measure the length of the existing lock say 4 ½ inches (if it protrudes too far already it is probably too long and as such is a security risk as could be easily snapped in half by a burglar - measure the door width and ask the locksmith for the optimum size.
- Establish the profile (oval, keyhole, etc)
- Visit the locksmith (in Canterbury this could be "ACME Locks and Keys" near the Sainsbury roundabout or ATP Howfield now in Wincheap Canterbury.
- If unavailable order the lock with spares ( we get say 20 keys including those supplied ).
- Upon returning to the locksmith to collect the lock and newly cut keys I check each key is cut properly and turns comfortably without the need to fiddle with the key.
- Fit new colour key tags and fobs with slight variation in colour to identify new keys as well as old keys still in circulation, old keys can re-appear causing confusion and distress to those locked out.
- Email the tenants advising them to expect a lock change in due course.
- Deliver the keys to the house prior to fitting with a date for fitting
- 10. Double check by email or visit each tenant confirming each person has a new key copy on their key rings (whilst retaining the old key meantime)
- 11. Fit the lock.
- 12. Provide a copy to: Electrician, Plumber, Builder for emergencies and any key safe for spares.
- 13. Insist all old keys are returned (so as to keep them out of circulation and not be confused as spare keys later by tenants or others)
- 14. In an ideal world the best time to fit replacement entrance door locks is when all tenants are present - new keys are exchanged for old keys. There may be times when access is necessary but not possible.
Published: 10 November 2013
Last Updated: 17 November 2021