Door Lock

iregretitall

Hello All,

I moved into a flat a few months back with my partner and after a couple of months the lock began to get quite hard to turn.

One day I went out and locked the door, lift the handle and turn the key. the key would turn to the right a bit and then it would be hard to turn past the initial lock part and then it would tracel the other 50% fine.

Then one morning I did it (as i knew the lock was quite stiff, i used the normal pressure to lock it) then the key gave way and snapped. I managed to remove the key that was stuck in the lock with a pair of pliers and then as we had a spare we continued to use the door (only way of entering and leaving the flat).

It then started to not lock at all unless you spent about 15 minutes wiggling the key about.

I called the landlord and he has said to us that its our fault as the key snapped it would have damamged the lock, this is not right as the lock was getting stuck before the kay snapped and we have to pay for a locksmith to come out to replace it. I feel this is a bit unfair as the lock got stiffer over time we have not mistreated the lock in anyway.

Its a PVC door so probably will not be cheap and we have only been there about 3 months.

W ehave mentioned to him about to ventilation fans, kitchen and bathroom not working that he replaced, we also told him about smoke alarm not

Any help would be appreciated.

F_T_Buyer

Try some WD40 in the lock first, that might help.

CloudCuckooLand

Put in writing the list of things that need fixing and suggest that if he has a problem finding the time you will arrange for completion and deduct from the rent...that should wake him up to his responsibilities.

(don't do that without, following the correct "deduction from rent" procedure which you can search/google for)

BitterAndTwisted

It might be quite straightforward to change the barrel of the lock yourself instead of having to call out a locksmith, depending on which manufacturer is it. Barrels can be bought from hardware shops or B&Q quite cheaply for about a fiver. All you need is a screwdriver and about five or ten minutes of your time. Try that before spending £50 to £100 on a locksmith.

iregretitall

I did read up on it online, and i removed the barrel by taking out one scren, the long barrel just slid out fine, there was somehting important though about measuring the length between each side and the middle part of the barrel to ensure it fits.

I'll try some WD-40 and see what that does, if not the ill do the deduction thing, what stops him from taking it out of our deposit though ??

DVardysShadow

iregretitall wrote: »

I did read up on it online, and i removed the barrel by taking out one scren, the long barrel just slid out fine, there was somehting important though about measuring the length between each side and the middle part of the barrel to ensure it fits.

I'll try some WD-40 and see what that does, if not the ill do the deduction thing, what stops him from taking it out of our deposit though ??

Personally, I would not recommend WD40 on a cylinder lock. In the long run, any fluid will tend to stick grime in place and wear the lock.

Get the lock or the cylinder replaced.

G_M

PVC door locks can vary a lot, and be more specilist.

Write to the LL. Deny you caused the damage. This is basic maintenance, though in your place I'd have reported the problem long before getting to the broken key stage. Tenants have to behave in a 'tenant-like' manner and that includes tell the LL when things need doing. If left (and LLs are not psychic!) they get worse!

He's fixed your fans, which is good. Not sure what you mean about the smoke alarm. Is it a HMO?

Shelter self-repair advice.

iregretitall

Im not at work now so can put it in more detail.

We had a few issues that have developed:

Door Lock

The lock would move round about half way freely and then would be a bit harder to turn past the locking section of about 4 or 5 degrees, then it would turn the rest of the way freely, like its catching on something even though the handle is pulled all the way up. It was then one day as we are so used to it getting a bit stuck there since we moved in we assumed it was normal that when I turned it the key must of developed a weak spot and it snapped. We called the LL and he said that whent he key snapped it must of caused damage to the lock so we are responsible for it. I dont see how when a key snaps it would cause damamge to the lock as it snapped right near the part you hold and the remaining part i removed with pliers and it came out very easy.

Toilet Leaking

I have mentioned this to him but nothing has come of it yet

Bathroom Fan (Getting Stuck)

This, he sent someone out to replace it they fitted it incorrrectly as it would not turn off when the light was turned offso he came back out (the handyman) "not electrician", and said he will have to get an electrician out to do it.

Again, this I have not heard anything about. . .

Leaking Boiler

(Randomly cuts out as there is a dripping leak and the pressure keeps dropping below 1 bar so we see a red light. A plumber came out and said that yes there is a slight water leak, the boiler is about 7 - 8 years old. i will let the landlord know about the leak and its upto him what action he takes. Still waiting to hear about this . .

The smoke alarm was a mains powered one and it kept bleeping, so he replaced it with a battery one.

chris_m

DVardysShadow wrote: »

Personally, I would not recommend WD40 on a cylinder lock. In the long run, any fluid will tend to stick grime in place and wear the lock.

Agreed - it's around 50% hexane, similar to kerosene and is actually mildly abrasive. It's not meant to be used as a lubricant - the WD stands for Water Displacement.

Far better for locks is powdered graphite - available in "puffer" bottles from ironmongers or you can make it yourself with a pencil and a sheet of sandpaper.

BitterAndTwisted

OP, stop "mentioning" things to your landlord and get WRITING. Describe all the things which need attention, ESPECIALLY THE LEAKING LAV and ask when you can expect them to be taken care of. Leaks cause consequential damage and if they're left quite a lot of it. You do not want to be accused later of not reporting it and then get blamed and charged for the damage caused.

tbs624

iregretitall wrote: »

Bathroom Fan (Getting Stuck)

This, he sent someone out to replace it they fitted it incorrrectly as it would not turn off when the light was turned offso he came back out (the handyman) "not electrician", and said he will have to get an electrician out to do it.

Again, this I have not heard anything about. . .

My bolding.

Is your bathroom an internal one without a window?

Building regs require that bathroom fans have a "run on" time for a period after the light switch has been turned off. You then just shut the bathroom door and leave the fan to do its work.