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

QuantumSuccess

Fantastic advice Cissi, thanks

BornAtTheRightTime

QuantumSuccess wrote: »

Why doesn't it apply?

Presumably DVS means that your door is not the final exit/entrance door to the block of flats.

DVardysShadow

QuantumSuccess wrote: »

Why doesn't it apply?

Because your front door is not a final exit door. The final exit door is the communal door - the regulation will apply because it is not under the control of any one household. As such, everyone must be able to make an exit without being constrained by the locking up habits of others. For your own door, if you lock it while you are in, it is your own choice as to the strategy you adopt to avoid frying.

tortoise has made the mistake your LA has made, I believe. I know very little about the regs, so we would all benefit from finding out the actual regs which apply. But, to me, plainly tortoise's link does not apply here.

dodger1

anselld wrote: »

It is notice seeking possession for breach contract. However, it can only succeed on certain grounds described under the housing act. You cannot be evicted for changing the locks whatever the contract may say. None the less, keep all communications and respond only on writing.

The agent has said that they wont be renewing the tenancy agreement and nothing about eviction prior to the end of said agreement. I take it that is legal and no reason has to be given?

t0rt0ise

Of course it's a final exit door to the flat. Those rules apply to doors that aren't on the ground floor in which case it wouldn't apply to any. How many flats do you know where the communal exit door is a couple of floors up?

dodger1

QuantumSuccess wrote: »

I have been in my current flat for coming up 3 years. The lease is due to expire this August and each year previously the lease has just been renewed by the landlord. I am currently in my 3rd consecutive 12-month Assured Shorthold Tenancy. Today i received the following email from the letting agent:

"XX has been down to the property twice this weekend and it has been noticed that you have had an additional lock put on the front door. This is breaking the terms of your contract. If you do not respond to the email or contact the office within 5 days we will be instructing a locksmith to change the lock at your cost. We will also not be renewing your tenancy agreement."

Where do I stand legally? I did not change the locks. After a series of break-ins in my building I took advantage of a free security appraisal by the community police. They told me that the lock on my front door was "pathetic" and advised me to fit an additional five-lever lock. I had a locksmith fit such a lock for me and sent my letting agent an email informing them what I'd done and offering to send a key for the additional lock to the landlord. I did not hear back from them until now. Can anyone here simply tell me where I stand legally on this please?

I sympathise with you over the total over reaction by the agent. However, wouldn't it have been simpler to tell the agent and LL what the police advised before you added the lock. I have many "restrictions" in my tenancy agreement all saying don't do this or don't do that without prior consent which frankly seems reasonable to me.

My LL has never denied a request from me to change anything in the now three and half years I've been here. I always think lack of communication causes so many problems, talking to one another before doing anything really does work. Unfortunately I can't help with the legalities as I've never had to go down that route.

The only other advice I can give is keep it civil and definitely speak to your LL. You may need references to rent another property in the future and the better they are the better it is for you. Sorry, one more suggestion, you said the the agents are bullies, rude and aggressive, with agents like that leave at the first opportunity. There really are good agents and very good landlords out there. Good luck.

puddy

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. i lived in my own flat for years, in a block and had a 5 lever lock and could lock it, i have never heard of this?

in addition, i cant see that the OP has egged anyone on, the LA's behaviour is completely inappropriate and is another example of why this area needs legislation and monitoring, can you imagine this in any other area of business? down the GP surgery perhaps, or in a shop where you have paid for a service?

pimento

Please name these Letting Agents so we can all be agog at their professionalism.

GDB2222

QuantumSuccess wrote: »

Fantastic advice Cissi, thanks

Well, it's the advice you wanted to hear. I wish you luck, because you certainly are going to need it.

angrypirate

This is quite obviously the agent being an a&se and wanting to evict / get a new tenant in for a new wadge of cash realising if the OP stays put there is no new income for him.

Its a little suspect how the LA became aware of the new lock - why should he even be looking unless he was looking to gain entry? And even if he did just notice it in passing, why the abusive letters?

You would have thought the LA would have discussed it with the LL and if the LL wasnt happy about it on safety grounds then the LL would have instructed the LA to send a simple letter requesting for the lock to be removed with any damage made good.

There is no reason for threats of a section 8 and if the LL did want the tenant out then all that needs to be done is for the LA to serve a section 21 before the beginning of June (for tenant to vacate beginning of August).