Do I have any rights in this situation?

JellyBeanie

I live in a block of flats.

Yesterday, the buzzers and fobs were not working according to one of my neighbours. Today she thought it was fixed as the buzzers were working but the fobs still aren't.

I work unsocial hours and over the weekend usually finish between 1 and 2am.

Called the council (they are our landlord) who have said we'd need to wait until Monday and call back between 9am and 5pm.

I'm unsure, but it doesn't seem right that we could be denied access to our own homes during this time. Tomorrow night when I finish at 2am especially, there will be no one awake to let me in.

Do I actually have a right to access my own property?

G_M

I would call the housing dept back and ask them to meet you there and let you in.

phill99

Most secure access systems are also keyed for such situations. Does your front door key not also open the communual door as well?

JellyBeanie

G_M wrote: »

I would call the housing dept back and ask them to meet you there and let you in.

Well this is my problem. Emergency repairs say it needs to be dealt with by housing mon-fri 9-5.

Although she has agreed to run it past a manager when I asked where I'm supposed to sleep in the meantime.

phill99 wrote: »

Most secure access systems are also keyed for such situations. Does your front door key not also open the communual door as well?

There is no lock on the communal door that is opened by a key the same you use for a front door. It is a buzzer system for visitors and a fob key system for residents (where you swipe the fob over a certain area on the buzzer panel and it frees the door from its magnetic catch).

MamaMoo_2

Does your block have a concierge service? I know all of the council owned high rises near me are linked to a council office that's manned 24/7.
If not, is there any way the doors can be left on a latch or something in the meantime?

Summer-Sunshine_2

I know this isn't the point but maybe they could get u a hotel for the wkend? UNTIL they get this fixed, they won't to keep doing that for long I bet u

agrinnall

Does the fob have to be used to get out as well as in? If it does, than that's clearly a fire hazard which would need to be resolved immediately. If it doesn't (perhaps there's a door release switch inside) then the obvious solution would be to get someone who is already inside to release the door then block it open until the council are able to get there to fix the problem.

Mokka

This sounds like my council- you don't by any chance live in the notorious London Borough of Tower Hamlets?

There are serious penalties for landlords locking tenants out of their flats.

If you find yourself stuck outside and unable to get in, call the emergency out of hours service to let you in, and if that fails call the police. They have fireman's keys (which, by the way can be bought on Amazon) and will be able to let you in. Ask them to record this incident and get the reference number.