Home Insurance and Window Locks

Marty06

Hi - I am renewing my home insurance, and have a query about the phrase 'window-operated locks'. I rent a house with UPVC Double-Glazed windows, with small key-operated locks in the middle of each handle. A couple of the locks on the windows don't work. The landlord says that these are just child safety locked, and the main 'lock' is in the handle. Is this correct? Or does the small lock actually provide extra security and if they weren't working the insurance claim would be invalid? I incline to think the landlord is right, as this extra 'lock' seems so small and insignificant....but nothing in the insurance documentation I've read says anything about this

Thanks!

Thriftynifty_2

Hi Marty,
I'm not clear from your post whether it is still possible to lock these windows. You say that a couple of locks on the windows don't work. So is it not possible to lock these windows? Or have additional locks been fixed to these windows?
If it is not possible to lock the ground floor windows, then this may invalidate your policy if you stated that these windows could be locked when you took out the policy.
(Insurers usually ask whether ground floor windows, or windows that can be accessed from outside without the use of (e.g.) a ladder, can be locked.)

lisyloo

We have something similar.
The windows can be locked without the key - it just "snaps" into the locked position, but you need the key to unlock them.
Are you saying these are permanently locked and you can't open them?

If they are locked and can't be opened then that should be fine.
If they can't be locked then that's a problem.

Marty06

Well, my question is:

When the key is working, it stops you opening the window from the inside (i.e. it stops the handle from moving). The landlord says this is a child-safety lock, i.e. it stops someone pushing the handle and opening the window. My impression of the windows, though, is that the main 'locking' actually occurs when you pull the handle down into position. This is when all the big locks move from the window into a hole in the frame. Does that make sense?

On a couple of the windows, the little lock doesn't turn, so you can't prevent the window from being opened from the inside - but the window would seem to be fully 'locked' from the outisde - i.e. there is no possible way of opening it.

My question is - what difference does that small lock in the handle make? Is it really the thing that secures the window, or is it just an internal safety lock?

lisyloo

When the key is working, it stops you opening the window from the inside (i.e. it stops the handle from moving). The landlord says this is a child-safety lock, i.e. it stops someone pushing the handle and opening the window. My impression of the windows, though, is that the main 'locking' actually occurs when you pull the handle down into position. This is when all the big locks move from the window into a hole in the frame. Does that make sense?

Yes I know what you mean.
We have similar.
When you use the key you can press a button to open the window.
Without the key you can't press the button to open from the inside.

I would call your insurer.
I don't see how anyone can give you a definite answer from any particular company.

Marty06

Lisyloo - yes, I take your point that I will need to double check with specific Insurance cos. But at this stage I was hoping someone could tell me about the window itself - i.e. is the middle button lock actually a window lock or a safety lock? I was hoping with some advice from window-savvy people that I could ask the insurance company the question with a bit more knowledge - I can just imagine the person on the phone would not understand what I meant unless I could explain it clearly. Similarly, if I'm going to have to press the landlord to repair the locks, I'd like to know I'm on solid ground in saying that this is needed for the insurance.

Iit seems to me that the key simply stops the handle from moving. Given that there is no handle on the outside, my question is what difference does this make to the window's security from the outside?

Marty06

Selden wrote: »

Yes there is.

Burglars have a specialist tool for this - it's called a brick.

The insurer wants to know whether there is a working lock, not a mere catch.

Selden - my question, though, is whether the key actually operates a security 'lock' at all, or whether most modern Double Glazed UPVC windows 'lock' simply by closing them completely.

Tigsteroonie

Most windows don't have handles on the outside, otherwise they'd be doors! :rotfl:

Seriously though, I have exactly the same type of window, and the same problem - on a couple of them, that silly little key/lock doesn't secure the handle from being lifted.

So I shall wait to see if anybody more knowledgeable (a window fitter?) answers this thread.

Marty06

Selden wrote: »

After the application of the brick, the handle is effectively outside. The lock then makes it more difficult to open the window and gain full access. Handle locks do not provide a high level of security, but they are certainly better than nothing.

In any event, as some of your locks don't work, surely the answer is clearly "No" - you do not have key-operated locks on all windows?

Well - yes, but after the application of a brick your security is breached whatever way you look at it. I'm not sure those locks are really there to stop someone opening a window after they've put a brick through it, are they?! After all, they could reach in a get the key too!

You say that handle locks do not provide a high level of security - so what kind of lock should be on a UPVC double glazed window? I've only ever seen handle locks. Which comes back to my point - are they really security locks at all?

Marty06

For example, this website offers the following type of window handle (which is like mine), the description for which suggests it is the turning of the handle that locks the window (even though they also have keys in the handle itself).

"Replacement ESPAG WINDOW HANDLES for uPVC windows or windows with a multi-point locking system (turning the handle turns the locks down the side or the bottom of the window)"
http://www.handlestore.com/product_list.php?cat_id=6

dacouch

Where an Insurer is asking about window locks they generally want the window catch not to be able to be opened from the outside and the inside without the use of some kind of key. If the window is screwed (Or similar) shut they may accept this but you would need to check