Should the landlord replace the lock?

jmc160

HI folks, I'm hoping someone can shed some light on an issue my sister has. She's renting.

Yesterday evening she got home from work, unlocked her front door but then found she couldn't get the key out of the lock again. She ended up staying up all night as she lives alone (not entirely relevant really), and called me in the morning.

I stopped by on my way to work and was able to get the key out simply by turning it a little and pulling it as you would any other lock (I've no idea why this didn't work for her...) but I did notice the lock was very sticky and there is obviously something wrong with it.

She's phoned her landlord about this and they've told her that she needs to call a locksmith and deal with it herself. According to them, it's not their responsibility as "they didn't break it". Truth be told from the looks of it, it wasn't fitted properly in the first place. It was replaced some time ago shortly after she started rented as the previous one broke completely.

I would've thought this came under the general wear and tear bracket, which would usually be the landlord's responsibility.

Any thoughts on this? I don't think she would have broken the lock as she doesn't use the front door much and frankly, it's not like she doesn't know how to unlock a door...

Is it worth arguing with the landlord on this?

Many thanks in advance!

Thrugelmir

It was replaced some time ago shortly after she started rented as the previous one broke completely.

Hardly wear and tear then.

Have you tried oiling the lock?

G_M

Take the lock out (just a couple of screws), cover with WD40, re-assemble. Sorted.

Better still, use graphite. See here.

or

http://articles.mcall.com/2012-04-28/business/mc-sticky-lock-fix-20120429_1_graphite-door-locks-sticky-situation

or google 'sticky lock'

Oli.s

Sounds like it just needs oiling, open the door and on the edge, at the same level as the lock barrel you will see a screw, undo it, all the way out, turn the key a quarter turn and use it to pull the lock barrel out of the door leaving a lock shaped hole.

Spray some WD40 into the hole where the lock barrel was into the door mechanism then put the lock back in and put the screw back in the side of the door holding the lock barrel in place.

Spray some into the the lock where the key goes as well for good measure.

jmc160

Thanks for the advice guys, but it's not what I was looking for when I posted this. There is obviously something wrong with the lock, as the key hole/barrel itself is off-centre, it's stiff when putting the key in, unlocking the door or taking the key out and when the key is turned anti-clockwise, it doesn't unlock the door it just keeps turning. I know from the type of lock it is (at least I'm 90% sure) that this shouldn't be the case. There is obvious "friction" there, as you get when metal slides against metal.

The issue here is something is wrong with the lock and I'm looking to find out if she should be arguing with the landlord on this.

I don't see how she could have broken it, and I don't think it's fair that the landlord should claim it's not their fault as they didn't break it, but I'm not that clued up on what rights people have as tenants.

Blackpool_Saver

not arguing NO, stating the facts, calmly

jmc160

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Hardly wear and tear then.

The point was more along the lines of if my sister DIDN'T break the lock, then is it the LL's responsibility to fix it?

Also when I mentioned that, I was trying to make the point that I don't think the lock was fitted properly in the first place. I don't even think it was a new lock (this part is pure speculation of course, but from the looks of it, it's a fair assumption)

jmc160

Blackpool_Saver wrote: »

not arguing NO, stating the facts, calmly

Good point, apologies for my poor choice in wording

So are you saying it's worth following up with them to get it sorted (at their expense)?

Oli.s

Your best bet then is to discuss further with the landlord.

Just so you know, i replaced all three doors in my house with anti snap locks, all three had exactly the same symptoms you describe, and one in particulary was very very hard to turn and get the key out.

What i described above was all it needed, it took 15 mins to do all three and they are now silky smooth.

Worth a try.

Mr_Pitiful

What sort of lock is it? If it's a standard yale type lock they can be replaced for less than a tenner in both pounds and time.

In regards to the repairing obligations of the landlord, door furniture including locks and handles are not included under s11 Landlord and tenant act 1985. What does their tenancy agreement state about repairs?

jmc160

Mr_Pitiful wrote: »

What sort of lock is it? If it's a standard yale type lock they can be replaced for less than a tenner in both pounds and time.

In regards to the repairing obligations of the landlord, door furniture including locks and handles are not included under s11 Landlord and tenant act 1985. What does their tenancy agreement state about repairs?

I'll give her a call and get her to check the agreement as soon as she's finished work.

Thanks everyone for the advice and tips, if it comes to it I'll definitely have a look at oiling it etc.

Also please accept my apologies if I've come across as ungrateful for any of your advice, it's been a reeeeally long day..