Front door wont lock

emweaver

Last night my front door lock went suddenly , it wont lock and the handle now points down on a 45 degree angle so anyone walking by can see something is not right.

I rang the HA emergency repairs last night but he hung up on me then wouldn't answer so I had to leave my front door unlocked all night.

Today they sent a locksmith who cleaned the lock, said is wore away but nothing he can do and hes a locksmith!

Also he said my HA will not replace locks! If I lost my keys or was changing them due to kicking my parter out etc fair enough but as his words were "the lock has completely wore away" then surely the HA should repair this?

In the meantime I can't go out and have to leave the door unlocked yet another night.

Does anyone know where I stand with getting the HA to replace the locks?

Norman_Castle

Wait until tomorrow and speak to the housing association and not an emergency locksmith. As the lock is worn and not damaged by you they should replace it.

leveller2911

Its down to your HA to have the lock repaired/replaced. They have an obligation under the tenancy agreement to do so.

Remember also that any contents insurance you have will be void if they fit a replacement lock that does not comply with BS3621.

emweaver

I checked the HA website and it does say now as from Spring 2012 they will not be responsible for replacing locks, fixing broken glass or unblocking pipes. My tenancy agreement covers the locks but their newsletter which they did not send me advises this has changed.

mazza111

I think they put that in to cover people that have lost keys etc. Not for a lock that has worn away. That's what it's like for our council and a housing association I was with years ago. Give them a call in the morning.

leveller2911

emweaver wrote: »

I checked the HA website and it does say now as from Spring 2012 they will not be responsible for replacing locks, fixing broken glass or unblocking pipes. My tenancy agreement covers the locks but their newsletter which they did not send me advises this has changed.

Door locks and blocked pipes should not be your responsability.In your current tenancy agreement it should state what you/they are responsable for ie you for maintaining the internal decor and probably cutting the grass (if you have any) and theres will be to maintain the building.
I wouldn't have thought they can deny they are legally obliged to maintain the building so if the lock is "worn" they need to sort it out.Your tenancy agreement is legally binding to both parties.

I can understand why they don't cover broken glass as that is not maintenance. Stick to your guns and if they don't sort it tell then you want to make an official stage 1 complaint .

The locksmith should have carried a number of locks with him when he turned up and should not have left without securing the property .

The HA in question isn't Sanctuary Housing Association is it? If so I'm not surprised as they are a complete incompetant shower .

emweaver

leveller2911 wrote: »

Door locks and blocked pipes should not be your responsability.In your current tenancy agreement it should state what you/they are responsable for ie you for maintaining the internal decor and probably cutting the grass (if you have any) and theres will be to maintain the building.
I wouldn't have thought they can deny they are legally obliged to maintain the building so if the lock is "worn" they need to sort it out.Your tenancy agreement is legally binding to both parties.

I can understand why they don't cover broken glass as that is not maintenance. Stick to your guns and if they don't sort it tell then you want to make an official stage 1 complaint .

The locksmith should have carried a number of locks with him when he turned up and should not have left without securing the property .

The HA in question isn't Sanctuary Housing Association is it? If so I'm not surprised as they are a complete incompetant shower .

No it isn't them. I will ring them first thing and demand they repair it tomorrow as I really do not feel safe and Im due a baby in a few weeks so hoping I do not go into labour and have to leave my house unlocked.

cyclonebri1

I'm green here but I cannot understand how they could deny that not only do they have to provide a secure structure for you, but also (with no offence), have to protect the property that I/we/us, pay taxes to provide.:mad::mad:

OnTheRoad_3

What's your address and when are you out?

emweaver

OnTheRoad wrote: »

What's your address and when are you out?

I am not going out until the door can be locked , is usually a quiet neighbourhood but I have had my car vandalised so many times and now we have a dealer living down the bottom of the estate so always people going down there to his place and its obvious from looking at our door something isn't right.

Norman_Castle

I checked the HA website and it does say now as from Spring 2012 they will not be responsible for replacing locks, fixing broken glass or unblocking pipes.

They won't repair damage caused by tenants without charging them, but as the lock has failed due to wear, which has been confirmed by a locksmith, they should replace it, hopefully quickly, as your home is insecure and you are pregnant.