Key broken in lock..who pays landlord or tennant?

Better_Days

Just to say keys do just break in locks
Happened to me and I have very little strength in my hands, and lock turns easily.

Luckily DH was able to get the broken bit out of the lock, I suspect there was a flaw in the metal.

G_M

The locksmith fee looks about right. Most of the cost, of course, is the call-out/time.

Changing a lock is easy - the problem is you will need the door open to do it! Can you open the door from the inside?

Werdnal

When you say it has barrels all the way up the door, I take it you mean there are sliding cylinder bolts up the open edge. As far as I know, this has no relevance to the barrel (point where the key goes in) and you can change this independently of the rest of the mechanism. You only need change the barrel, but as others have said, you need to get the door open first.

Have a look on You Tube, as there are various vids showing lock changing (and illegal ones showing how to get locks open - did I actually type that ).

If you can find the same lock type as you have, might help you get the door open and you can then check the make and model of the lock to see if you can source a new barrel yourself.

You don't even need special tools for some locks - hammer and flat screwdriver will do it. This is basically all the locksmith will do anyway:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jl5moO4u98&feature=related

Obviously, don't do this unless you can leave someone else looking after the house whilst you go and get the new lock! My brother is a locksmith, and he is appalled at how easy some UPVC so called "security locks" are to get into. It the barrel sticks out more than 4mm and you can break it with a hammer blow, anyone can get into your house. He actually approached a whole new housing development local to him, with flyers suggesting their locks were useless (fitted wrongly) and the local crime prevention officer told him he was scaremongering, until he offered to prove it - quick flick of the hammer and he was in!!!!

Fire_Fox

If you go the key cut and you thought it was dodgy I would say it's down to you, but take the broken key back where you got it and complain.

Notmyrealname

Flossy87 wrote: »

Thanks everyone, I think the key was a little dodgy, but it was one that I got cut myself.

Your problem then as you accept.

martyn05

Those prices sound about right.

BobQ

Prices seem about right and its your problem to effect the repair as you caused it. . If you can open the door, take out the barrel lock and replace it, otherwise its probably simpler to get it done by the locksmith. The landlord may be OK with the barrell being replaced by a lock of the same standard/specification provided you return not only the same number of keys issued but any others they hold.

If you can remove the barrell, you may be able to get the key out more easily. Can you push the key out by inserting a key from the inside?