Landlord causing problems. Please help.

thesaint

Loretta wrote: »

You can change the barrel which is inside and it would not show by looking at it only by trying a key which does not fit

Eh? I have changed dozens of barrels, and they have to be visible from the outside how else do you put your key in?

Loretta wrote: »

So many problems with rented properties are caused by the landlords continuing to think that it is still HIS front door. During the time of the tenancy the tenant is paying the landlord rent to make it the tenant's front door

Anything I pay for or steal belongs to me.

Loretta wrote: »

I just hate these silly amateur landlords!!

I hate no one. :A

MissMoneypenny

thesaint wrote: »

I am a landlord, not a Police Officer.

That's why I asked you.

That wouldn't be a very good defence to a judge. The police have solicitors who advise them on the law, so why don't landlords get a solicitor to advise them?

As a landlord you have to know the law. Ignorance is no defence.

MissMoneypenny

guppy wrote: »

Provided the handyman has entered innocently, with no intent to harass the tenant on behalf of the landlord, then there is no crime, in my opinion.

It is the LL who has commited the crime. If the handyman has the key, then that is the LLs problem. If the handyman has entered the property without the LL asking and without giving at least 24 hours notice (unless in an emergency) then again, it is the LLs problem. The LL should know that he has to ask to enter the property.

guppy

MissMoneypenny wrote: »

It is the LL who has commited the crime. If the handyman has the key, then that is the LLs problem. If the handyman has entered the property without the LL asking and without giving at least 24 hours notice (unless in an emergency) then again, it is the LLs problem. The LL should know that he has to ask to enter the property.

I broadly agree, in that the LL doesn't have to be there himself to harass a tenant, but I don't think a one off incident would constitute harassment normally. If it happened once and the tenant complained and then it happened again, the LL might be guilty.

Of course if the tenant is worried about security, he should change the locks! But lets not go there again!

thesaint

MissMoneypenny wrote: »

That wouldn't be a very good defence to a judge. The police have solicitors who advise them on the law, so why don't landlords get a solicitor to advise them?

As a landlord you have to know the law. Ignorance is no defence.

We seem to be going around in circles, my response about not consulting a solicitor was made because why would I pay for a solicitor in order to answer someone on MSE?

If a tenant of mine accused me of harassment(Not happened in 6 years of being a landlord) I would then have cause to.

You can quote me all you want, I still maintain that the OP would not get a crime reference number for the above situation.

Good day.

franklee

thesaint wrote: »

Eh? I have changed dozens of barrels, and they have to be visible from the outside how else do you put your key in?

For the cylinder locks here the area around the keyhole is small, it would take sharp eyes to notice the difference unless the original was deliberately marked. A landlord could paint it bright orange I suppose .

The new locks I got didn't look any different to those already in place.

If the locks were really scratched or something I suppose they could be changed twice, once for new giving the landlord a key and then change again for new to look the same. Or just change the locks and accept it will eventually be discovered.

Although dealing through an agent it isn't an issue as I doubt they'd notice, sometimes they hardly remember anything about the house and as far as I know my actual landlord hadn't been near the place in ages. The precaution is needed to guard against old tenants, repair men who call at the agent's office and pick up the keys without it having been pre-arranged and for overzealous viewings and the start or end of the tenancy.

MissMoneypenny

thesaint wrote: »

We seem to be going around in circles, my response about not consulting a solicitor was made because why would I pay for a solicitor in order to answer someone on MSE?

If a tenant of mine accused me of harassment(Not happened in 6 years of being a landlord) I would then have cause to.

You can quote me all you want, I still maintain that the OP would not get a crime reference number for the above situation.

Good day.

I'm sorry, I thought I had mad made myself clear, but obviously not.

You are a landlord.
You are running a business.
You are required to know the law and not just on harresment, but all aspects of being a LL.
If you don't know the answers on MSE about what a LL is required to do or not do, then perhaps you should get advice from a solicitor, so you don't break the law with your own business?
The "I didn't know" or in your case "I'm not a policeman" won't work in court.

thesaint

MissMoneypenny wrote: »

I'm sorry, I thought I had mad made myself clear, but obviously not.

You are a landlord.
You are running a business.
You are required to know the law and not just on harresment, but all aspects of being a LL.
If you don't know the answers on MSE about what a LL is required to do or not do, then perhaps you should get advice from a solicitor, so you don't break the law with your own business?
The "I didn't know" or in your case "I'm not a policeman" won't work in court.

I'm not required to know the in's and out's of harassment laws as a landlord.

At most (If any) only a "working knowledge".

Good day

thesaint

franklee wrote: »

For the cylinder locks here the area around the keyhole is small, it would take sharp eyes to notice the difference unless the original was deliberately marked. A landlord could paint it bright orange I suppose .

Hi franklee,

It's not that important in the scheme of things, but the hole has to be at least the size of the cylinder in order to replace it, because it comes out of the hole forwards(Towards the street).

I think I use a 38mm( I'd have to check my toolbox) spade drill when fitting a 'Yale' type lock for the 1st time.

I can see how a 'Chubb' lock fits as you describe. :A

franklee

thesaint wrote: »

Hi franklee,

It's not that important in the scheme of things, but the hole has to be at least the size of the cylinder in order to replace it, because it comes out of the hole forwards(Towards the street).

I think I use a 38mm( I'd have to check my toolbox) spade drill when fitting a 'Yale' type lock for the 1st time.

I can see how a 'Chubb' lock fits as you describe. :A

I don't have Yale here although I've had them on previous properties.

I'm never quite sure the exact name for the type I mean but I call it a Euro Cylinder lock. Like this (with measurements 17mm diameter round the keyhole and a stalky bit below):

http://www.diydata.com/carpentry/euro_cylinder_lock_replacement/euro_cylinder_lock_replacement.php

It comes out of the hole either forwards (Towards the street) or backwards (Towards the house). The main thing being it does come out.