Flat buying - fire escapes go into nextdoor flats (!)

System

Are you positive that these are fire escapes and not just something that previous occupiers have installed or an original feature for some unknown use?

alexanderalexander

cgk1 wrote: »

Out of interest - if it's not locked the one side (say neighbour forgets) - are they actually breaking and entering?

The double doors each have a Yale lock so you have to use your key on your side (I would keep it in or very near the lock in case of emergency!) and then just turn the Yale lock latch on the neighbour's side. So unless I lost my key to my side there would be no question of anything getting broken.

But putting my lawyer hat on, there is no such crime as "breaking and entering" -- there is a tort of trespass to land, and a crime of burglary under the Theft Act 1968 which does not require force to be used (but does require malevolent intention).

alexanderalexander

!!!!!! wrote: »

Are you positive that these are fire escapes and not just something that previous occupiers have installed or an original feature for some unknown use?

They go to flats on both sides so I think that they are likely to have been built into the block.

princeofpounds

So it's like those double-door twin hotel rooms, but with the locks turned around?

Can't understand what the point of the locks even being there is. The only thing you can do is lock yourself in, not lock anyone out!

I would not go for it unless I could seal up the escape. Whilst I do agree with previous posters that you could put an alarm on it etc. etc., the only problem is that by the time you find out someone is coming through you already have a serious problem.

belisha-beacon

My main concern would be, as others have said, insurance. We have a lodger and it was much more difficult (and expensive!) to get insurance than normal becauseof the risk caused by someone else having access to your property without having to break in.

At the very least, you'd have to declare it to your insurers and I'm fairly convinced that would add to your costs so if you decide to go ahead then I would recommend asking who the current owner insures with (so you know there is a provider who will do it), and then contacting the provider to get an indicative quotation. Then you will be able to make an informed choice about the costs you'll be taking on.

To be safe, I would also ask who provides their mortgage. I imagine that some mortgage providers would run a mile from lending money on a property without completely secure entrances - if someone came in and trashed it they'd be left with less of an asset than they thought they had!

alexanderalexander

princeofpounds wrote: »

So it's like those double-door twin hotel rooms, but with the locks turned around?

Can't understand what the point of the locks even being there is. The only thing you can do is lock yourself in, not lock anyone out!

Yes that's a good way of describing it and I agree re the locks being pointless -- the only real point to the locks being there that I can think of is that it will stop someone from opening the door accidentally (although equally if the key isn't left in or next-to the lock, it could equally stop someone from opening the door in a real emergency!).

I am keen on the property and I have gone a fair way in the purchase, so I think I'll take the following route:

(1) when the lease arrives, I'll check whether it says anything about these fire escape routes needing to be kept open;

(2) I'll get a professional fire safety assessment done, and specifically ask whether this type of fire escape is appropriate and/or useful according to modern standards.

If the the answer to both the above is "no", I will get the door blocked off (explaining it to the neighbours). If the answer to either is "yes", I will keep it and get hitched to an alarm.

Does that sound sensible?

DRP

alexanderalexander wrote: »

Yes that's a good way of describing it and I agree re the locks being pointless -- the only real point to the locks being there that I can think of is that it will stop someone from opening the door accidentally (although equally if the key isn't left in or next-to the lock, it could equally stop someone from opening the door in a real emergency!).

I am keen on the property and I have gone a fair way in the purchase, so I think I'll take the following route:

(1) when the lease arrives, I'll check whether it says anything about these fire escape routes needing to be kept open;

(2) I'll get a professional fire safety assessment done, and specifically ask whether this type of fire escape is appropriate and/or useful according to modern standards.

If the the answer to both the above is "no", I will get the door blocked off (explaining it to the neighbours). If the answer to either is "yes", I will keep it and get hitched to an alarm.

Does that sound sensible?

Surely a 'fire-escape' that can lock you in and is only 1m tall can simply not be classed as a fire escape... not to mention whether or not these are proper fire doors that are able to restrict heat/smoke (1m high!!!!?)

Sounds like a bodge or pure B.S. from the vendor to me.

AVOID.

thegirlintheattic

I wouldn't feel safe, even with an alarm. There are ways of getting around alarms plus, if someone really wants to do you harm the alarm will not stop them.

If you are comfortable, are you getting a decent discount for this?
Have you checked lenders and insurers?
Could you afford some CCTV on the door?

shegar

No it sounds like a complete C**k up, get out of it while you can ,theres plenty more "secure" flats for sale.........

zzzLazyDaisy

I agree, I would not consider a set up like this and I am astonished that a lender would agree to give a mortgage on it.