Opening loft door/hatch

mrkenneth

Hi everyone, recently moved into a new rental flat and would like to take advantage of the loft space to keep all the rubbish thats cluttering the house! However we were not supplied with anything to open it with? Is this something I can buy and is it universal? Our inventory says they havent taken the loft into consideration as there is nothing to open it with?!

Sorry if this is a bit vague! Have tried google and looked on ebay but nothing is coming back with a concrete answer.

It appears to be a small round lock.

macman

If it's actually locked, then they have done that because they are storing stuff in there themselves, or it contains services that they do not want you to access (water tanks etc).
If not it just hinges open or lifts.
However, a flat will not have a loft unless it's on the top floor.
If it's rubbish, why store it?-Just get rid.

mrkenneth

Its is definitley a loft as its a house converted into two flats this being the top fllor. I must admit I hadnt thought that they were using it for storage themselves. Will check again when I get home but pretty sure it has been locked so you are probably right.

southcoastrgi

post up a pic of the offending lock

Ectophile

Is it actually locked?

Older ones are just a board you lift up and push to one side. The hinged ones I've seen have a knob that turns a quarter turn to unlock - in which case improvise with anything that fits in the slot, or just go up a step ladder and turn the knob by hand.

diable

A photo would help as its either one you push in to the loft or one were you need a pole to insert in to a hole to twist to release the lock, if it's this type then a screwdriver mat suffice, if you find a dead body then just shut the door and try to forget about it as it will screw your tenancy.

stef73

My loft hatch has a small round hole for the lock these are the keys for it http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-x-SECURITY-BOLT-STAR-KEY-For-RACK-DOOR-WINDOW-LOCKS-/310539752115?pt=UK_HaG_Lock_Safes_GL&hash=item484d9c92b3 if you can post a picture i could compare it with mine.

mrkenneth

Thankyou everyone will get a photo up in my lunch hour for everyone to have a peek at. It is worrying what may be up there!

martyn05

Some loft hatches have a meter box type lock on them, hopefully when we see the photo it will become clearer.

Miss_Havisham

mrkenneth wrote: »

Thankyou everyone will get a photo up in my lunch hour for everyone to have a peek at. It is worrying what may be up there!

oohh yes - any missing tenants that might not have paid their rent ? :snow_laug

Miss H

olias

If I was the landlord and had stored my private belonging in the loft and locked it, I would be mightily pi55ed off if I found my tenants had accessed it and snooped around in my stuff!

Do things properly! Ask your letting agents to confirm with the landlord whether you can access the loft for storage if you can get it open.

Olias