Renting- neighbours have key to our flat in case of fire?!

chris_m

libf wrote: »

If they're on the ground floor and you're on the first floor, how does this door work? They have a set of stairs that leads up to your property?

That's how I'd interpret it - the door leads to the bottom of the OPs stairs, but the OP doesn't have a secure door between the stairs and their flat because, until this change, the external door at the bottom of the stairs serves as that.

If this is to go ahead, I would insist that the work includes providing a secure door either at the top or bottom of the stairs and that the OP is compensated for the loss of the space that would then effectively become shared space as opposed to being solely theirs.

Norman_Castle

sammyba wrote: »

So we live in a 1st floor flat of which the downstairs has now been turned into flats too. One of the flats apparently needs a fire door exit to meet regulations

Thanks

Presumably the flat needing the fire escape is on the same floor or above.

DaftyDuck

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

From what OP said - these are ground floor flats anyway (ie they could just climb out the windows).

Bit difficult in a wheelchair.... or the elderly...

AndyBSG

So, if a burglar gains access to the communal area he doesn't even have to break into your flat to rob you blind, he can just use the handily provided key.

I'm sure your contents insurer will be over the moon at that arrangement as it'll basically make any insurance claim you attempt to make completely null and void!

sammyba

HI- thanks so much everyone for your responses so far. Yes we are the 1st floor flat and the door would be at the bottom of our stairs (there is no door separating the stairs from our flat- so they would be in our flat.There was originally a shop downstairs that has been converted) Whilst I would never want to put someone in danger, I have just found out I am pregnant and the safety aspect of it really worries me. I have spoken to the lettings agency about it invalidating our insurance who say that it would be a criminal offence if they were to use the door so it would be fine(?!!) However, our landlord has recently switched to this lettings agency and I am not convinced they really know what they are talking about!

I've just never known a situation like this so it's really difficult to know how to prove that this shouldn't be allowed or that he will have to put a door to separate our flat from the corridor.

fairy_lights

sammyba wrote: »

I have spoken to the lettings agency about it invalidating our insurance who say that it would be a criminal offence if they were to use the door so it would be fine(?!!)

Ahh, of course, any burglars will see the key to your front door but decide not to use it to break in because they wouldn't want to risk a fine :rotfl:

I still don't understand quite why they need this door, surely there are other exits from their flat?

kinger101

sammyba wrote: »

I have spoken to the lettings agency about it invalidating our insurance who say that it would be a criminal offence if they were to use the door so it would be fine(?!!)

I'm sure the most burglars don't particular care too much about whether using a key-operated fire door to gain entry is a criminal offence. Only your insurance company can tell you whether your insurance is valid. It's hard to envisage that they'd pay up if someone gained entry using a key located next to the door.

Don't speak to the agent about this. Agents are typically clueless about most things, and are acting on behalf of the landlord (or more usually, themselves).

sammyba

Well I'm glad I'm not the only one who think's it is ridiculous!! Time to ring the insurers and find out what they say about it..

libf

Can they make an additional hallway at the bottom of the stairs which is common to your entrance and the fire door, but with a door at one end which only goes to your flat and to which only you have the key?

Norman_Castle

sammyba wrote: »

I have spoken to the lettings agency about it invalidating our insurance who say that it would be a criminal offence if they were to use the door so it would be fine(?!!) .

Is the letting agent willing to compensate you for any losses your insurer refuses to cover due to this key?. Ask your insurer about insurance, not the letting agent.
Exactly who will have access to this key?.