Landlord won't provide key to mortice lock

hexadecagon

I've recently moved into a rented house that has both a night latch and a mortice lock, but have only been given a key for the night latch. The night latch appears to be a Eurospec E*S MP5, which doesn't bear a British Standard kite mark, and seems a bit flimsy. The mortice lock is kite marked (BS3621), so would be secure if I had a key for it.

I contacted my estate agent to ask for a key to the mortice lock, but the landlord refused, arguing that the house is secure on the night latch alone. It certainly doesn't feel secure, though - especially given that the night latch doesn't have a kite mark. Do I have any right to insist that they provide a key to the mortice lock?

theartfullodger

Buy an identical size lock, install that, keep old one for when you leave.

Don't tell landlord. (When he screams and shouts he can't get in when trying to, without notice, tell him a copy of they key is available for £50 as long as he signs stating he'll not copy it & confirming he will always give at least 24 notice, in writing, for any visit to be made only at reasonable times..)



re

hexadecagon wrote: »

.....It certainly doesn't feel secure, though - especially given that the night latch doesn't have a kite mark. .....

- point out his insurance is probably invalid therefore: Any any contents insurance you've got probably won't pay out.


He doesn't sound one of the better sorts of landlord: Bet he fiddles his tax & beats his wife...


Artful (Landlord..)

[Deleted User]

As above, change the locks but don't lose the landlords locks.

First thing I always did moving in somewhere was change the locks. Who knows which strange past tenant could have a key!

RMJ20

Oh my goodness, I'd never thought of it like that!!

Need_a_name

Another vote for change the locks

From memory you get asked about locks, patio doors etc. when sorting insurance

G_M

This is how to change the mortice lock:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIPyqtOmprE

Keep the one you take out and replace it when you leave.


Take your new one with you to use in your next home.....

Smodlet

Your LL sounds like scum. Yet another vote for changing the locks. You are paying rent; you deserve to be able to relax in your space.

ceredigion

You might find the LL is complying with fire regs.
You need to be abel to exit the door without a key in the event of fire.
Normally this is achieved with a thumb turn euro cylinder.

Smodlet

ceredigion wrote: »

You might find the LL is complying with fire regs.
You need to be abel to exit the door without a key in the event of fire.
Normally this is achieved with a thumb turn euro cylinder.

Is this true? News to me. What about people who don't rent who do need a key to open their doors? I will never understand how LLs think they have a right to retain a key to a rented property, let alone withhold one so they can get in without their tenants' permission. It may or may not be law; if it is, I don't agree with it.

ceredigion

Smodlet wrote: »

Is this true? News to me. What about people who don't rent who do need a key to open their doors? I will never understand how LLs think they have a right to retain a key to a rented property, let alone withhold one so they can get in without their tenants' permission. It may or may not be law; if it is, I don't agree with it.

It depends on the dwelling. HMO always insist on keyless exit. Self contained flats in a building, it depends if there is any other exits if windows open fully and height from ground. Individual house probably wont apply. But the LL has a duty of care and if it came up in the risk assessment the authority my insist on keyless exit. Righting this as a building contractor, who has to get properties through building regs, not as a land lord.

daivid

ceredigion wrote: »

You might find the LL is complying with fire regs.
You need to be abel to exit the door without a key in the event of fire.
Normally this is achieved with a thumb turn euro cylinder.

If the property is a HMO or various other kinds of shared accomodation then the final door in the escape route must open (from the inside) without a key. However if the property falls into such a category the mortice lock should not be fitted (unless it has a thumb turn on the inside). By the sounds of it the OP is not talking about a shared exit in a HMO and is free (as others have said) to replace the lock so that they feel secure in their home.