URGENT advice needed. Letting agent threatening to change locks on my door

pinkshoes

I've lived in two flats (purpose built), and both had a front door with a 5 lever lock (required a key to unlock, or could be left unlocked), as well as a latch lock (required key from outside, and thumb from inside). My front door was a "fire door" (i.e. it had a burn time of 30 minutes). I'm 99.99% sure that your lock is FINE.

The LA cannot change the lock. They have to force entry to do so, which infringes your right to quiet enjoyment of the property.

So long as you return the door to the original lock when you leave, then the LA can do nothing. I would also write to the LL, letting him know how rude the LA have been, and explaining that you put an additional lock on the door as advised by the police, and that you have already offered the LA a copy of the key.

jjlandlord

t0rt0ise wrote: »

and co-operate or pay the cost of them breaking in and changing the lock. If the lock does comply already then they have a right to inspect it.

They still haven't a right to break in I believe...

QuantumSuccess

t0rt0ise wrote: »

The rules about locks in blocks of flats are clear. The lock has to be able to be opened from the inside without a key and it also has to be of a sort whereby it won't automatically lock when you close it from the outside. This is because the door has to be self closing but shouldn't auto lock as it closes. This is for safety reasons. If someone has to go to get help for some reason, they don't want the door locking as they leave with maybe a baby or someone ill left inside that can't be reached.

So if the lock that the OP has put on the door does not cover these things, then the LL will have the right to forcibly change the lock so as it complies. So the choice is yours, either stop being an !!! and co-operate or pay the cost of them breaking in and changing the lock. If the lock does comply already then they have a right to inspect it.

Where are these rules written? What is the particular law that would give LA the right to "breaking in and changing the lock"?

QuantumSuccess

A letter detailing everything that's happened has gone off to the LL.

The LA had told me that I would receive a Section 8 notice last night - hand-delivered. Nothing arrived though.

sonastin

t0rt0ise wrote: »

So the choice is yours, either stop being an !!! and co-operate or pay the cost of them breaking in and changing the lock.

It is not the OP being an !!! - the LA isn't giving them the choice, just the requirement to pay the LA's costs...

QuantumSuccess wrote: »

I emailed the LA asking him to specify exactly what is wrong with the lock. I asked him to tell what sort of lock IS suitable so that I could consider paying my locksmith to put that sort of lock on the door. Here is his reply:

"I will say again, you have damaged a fire door and the lock is not compliant with fire safety regulations. This cost of attending to this will be passed onto you whether you are the resident or not. We will persue (his spelling, not mine) you for this cost which result in court action. I suggest you take some perspective quickly so we can all move on."

t0rt0ise

I'm not going to spend time searching but a quick google comes up with this..

http://www.home-security-action.co.uk/home-security-doors.html

"These regulations specify that exit from the front/final exit door is achieved by the operation of a single action release, with a handle or thumb turn."

or http://www.met.police.uk/crimeprevention/communal.htm

DVardysShadow

t0rt0ise wrote: »

I'm not going to spend time searching but a quick google comes up with this..

http://www.home-security-action.co.uk/home-security-doors.html

"These regulations specify that exit from the front/final exit door is achieved by the operation of a single action release, with a handle or thumb turn."

or http://www.met.police.uk/crimeprevention/communal.htm

If this is what the LA is relying on, it does not apply to OP's door.

IronWolf

OP, you need to get a professional to tell you whether the lock complies with fire safety standards. once you know this, and have it in WRITING, you can tell the LA where to go.

I would then issue a letter to the LA threatening legal proceedings against them for harassment if they do not cease all contact with you. If you hear so much as a peep out of them then I would sue them for harassment.

How they are behaving is completely unacceptable, and theres a good chance the LL isn't impressed by their actions either.

I have lived in flats with mortice locks before, so Im pretty sure they are completely legal, and the LA is just making up BS.

Cissi

If there really isn't a history of previous arguments here, then the LA's reaction does seem completely OTT in its aggressivity.

As I understand it, at this point OP is resigned to leaving at the end of her AST, and so the main concerns at this point are presumably

1) her own safety while still in the flat, both with regards to fire regulations and the LA's aggressive behaviour

2) minimising costs of whatever works may be necessary to put the front door right and getting her deposit back

3) obtaining a decent reference from the LL.

With regards to 1) I agree with previous advice to contact the fire prevention officer, carrying out their recommendations (if any!) and informing the LL that the door is compliant. After what's happened, I certainly would NOT give the LA a key before moving out! It seems highly likely that they tried to let themselves in without warning and got angry when this failed so for that reason alone I'd keep the locks changed until moving out.

2) is tricky but if the door is genuinely made to comply with fire regulations and a key is left at the end then I can't see how the LL could charge the tenant for this. In any case make sure to document everything that's happened in case you do get taken to court over it. BTW I assume the deposit has been duly protected etc?

3) again tricky! Make sure to remain courteous in all your communications with the LL and make it clear to him that you're not being deliberately obstructive but feel that you have to safeguard your privacy in light of the LA's aggressive attitude. Also let him know that OF COURSE you'll make good any damage etc at the end of your tenancy, as well as cooperating as much as you can to facilitate viewings (as has been suggested above, I'd offer a couple of reasonable slots every week). And then keep your fingers crossed that he's more reasonable than his agent...

Edited to add: from now on I would send ALL communications directly to the LL, and cc the LA. As has been said before, only communicate in writing, not by phone/email/text. Keep proof of postage of everything.

Good luck!

QuantumSuccess

DVardysShadow wrote: »

If this is what the LA is relying on, it does not apply to OP's door.

Why doesn't it apply?