Changing locks on a rented house

diddymus01

We are living in a rented property and recently had a police visit to inspect the locks of our rented house.

He was shocked to discover that we only have a 2 lever lock on the main front door to the house. The other locks on doors and windows are fine.

We have asked the landlord to replace this lock with a 5 lever mortice lock BS standard as the current lock invalidates our contents insurance!

He has so far ignored our request completely so we are still uncovered. Can we just replace the locks ourselves and deduct the cost off our next months rent?

jbainbridge

Just replace it yourselves. It will cost £20-30.

Pull the current one out and see if you can find a 5 lever one to match the dimensions. Put the old one back when you leave.

I don't think you could deduct it from the rent ... it's probably not classed as essential. Though I can understand why you are worried.

BonitaG

Hi,
check your rental agreement first. Tenants are usually not allowed to change the locks without prior written permission of the landlord or his agent.
If you rent through an agency contact them first. They are usually not to bothered but might ask for a key.
To speed up the progress I would send them /your landlord an email along the lines that if they do not reply saying no within x days, you assume their consent. Mention that your house is uninsurable due to this and has therefore deemed to be uninhabitable.
Again, check your rental agreement. You probably have to have insurance as a requirement in your rental agreement.
There is no chance of being paid for the new lock. Just make sure to take it with you when you move out.

poppysarah

Change the lock to a better one.
Put the old one back when you go.

moromir

BonitaG wrote:

To speed up the progress I would send them /your landlord an email along the lines that if they do not reply saying no within x days, you assume their consent. Mention that your house is uninsurable due to this and has therefore deemed to be uninhabitable.

If I recieved a letter with this attitude you'd swiftly recieve a section 21 by return - and this is coming from someone who has been a tenant for some years of her life! The tone is hysterical and very likely to rub your LL entirely the wrong way.

Forgive me if I missed it but I don't see the OP saying they couldn't obtain contents insurance anywhere in their post?

Some of the other posters have given good advice about the right way to go about getting the result you want - i.e. start a calm dialogue with your LL in writing and most are not unreasonable to such a request but expect to do it at your own cost.

anselld

BonitaG wrote: »

Hi,
check your rental agreement first. Tenants are usually not allowed to change the locks without prior written permission of the landlord or his agent.
If you rent through an agency contact them first. They are usually not to bothered but might ask for a key.
To speed up the progress I would send them /your landlord an email along the lines that if they do not reply saying no within x days, you assume their consent. Mention that your house is uninsurable due to this and has therefore deemed to be uninhabitable.
Again, check your rental agreement. You probably have to have insurance as a requirement in your rental agreement.
There is no chance of being paid for the new lock. Just make sure to take it with you when you move out.

T are entitled to change the locks regardless of what may be stated in the agreement provided this can be done without damage and the original is reinstated at end of tenancy.

BonitaG

Moromir
I didn't mention insurance certificate. ??
You might have missed the OP saying that the landlord ignors their request.
Have been in the situation of an uninsurable place and ended up having to move.
Have been a tennant as well as a landlord. There is nothing wrong with pointing out the urgency to your landlord. And in the end, as tennant you have to cover yourself in case you need to claim on your insurance but also against claims of breaking your rental agreement. If stating you assume consent after a reasonable period of time rubs you up the wrong way you shouldn't be a landlord.
Renting it is a business relation not friendship, so treat it as business!
Anyway, s21 for asking for permission to install a lock complying to minimum safety standards will never stand up in court.

Fire_Fox

Do not deduct anything off your rent, that puts you in arrears.

anselld

BonitaG wrote: »

Moromir
I didn't mention insurance certificate. ??
You might have missed the OP saying that the landlord ignors their request.
Have been in the situation of an uninsurable place and ended up having to move.
Have been a tennant as well as a landlord. There is nothing wrong with pointing out the urgency to your landlord. And in the end, as tennant you have to cover yourself in case you need to claim on your insurance but also against claims of breaking your rental agreement. If stating you assume consent after a reasonable period of time rubs you up the wrong way you shouldn't be a landlord.
Renting it is a business relation not friendship, so treat it as business!
Anyway, s21 for asking for permission to install a lock complying to minimum safety standards will never stand up in court.

More nonsense! S21 requires no reason to stand in court; it is no-fault notice.

BonitaG

anselld wrote: »

More nonsence! S21 requires no reason to stand in court; it is no-fault notice.

No need to be offensive or talk down on me! You could just point out my mistake in a factual manner instead of calling me an idiot. I'm trying to help to the best of my knowledge and according to my experience. And I try help people prevent making mistakes I or people I know made.
Neither mine nor your experiences are universally applicable, even if you seem to think you are the only one who knows anything.

picklepick

Anselld is right in saying that you may change the lock, OP. Providing you put the original back when you move. There is no need to inform your landlord or agent or give them a key!