Burgled after Lanlord Agency did not change locks - what next?

Dgkallday

Hi everyone, i am writing with a fresh situation that has just happened in my shared flat.
As a bit of background i have been at the property for around a year and was burgled around 10 months ago, there was no sign of forced entry and items were taken. As a twist the agency had been running an airbnb in the floor below us and we found out that our keys could open each others doors after the fact which was disturbing in itself as it meant an untold number of people had the potential to get in to our flat at any time.
Fast forward to last week and we have had another burglary with frustrating circumstances surrounding it. The lay out to our building is four separate floors with a flat occupying each floor with a main hall way at ground level with the front door. For the past few weeks myself and my flat mates have repeatedly told the agency that the front door lock was faulty and barely hanging on, we also reported to them that the deadbolt lock on our flat door was broken so we were unable to double lock it and the agency employ a handyman for this very reason - nothing was done on either front.
Neither lock was changed and now we have been burgled; the front door was kicked in (easily i imagine), the downstairs flat was kicked in and our door.....No forced entry again.
We had repeatedly told them about these issues and nothing was done, not only resulting in the loss of personal belongings but also leaving the people i live with scared to leave in case things go missing and even worse scared to stay in case they come back. We are now on day 5 and our lock still has not been changed

Where does the responsibility lie with the agency to keep us safe and act on these reported issues and what can we do in terms of being compensated for having our safety jeopardised by their negligence?
I would appreciate your insight

Comms69

Dgkallday wrote: »

Hi everyone, i am writing with a fresh situation that has just happened in my shared flat.
As a bit of background i have been at the property for around a year and was burgled around 10 months ago, there was no sign of forced entry and items were taken. As a twist the agency had been running an airbnb in the floor below us and we found out that our keys could open each others doors after the fact which was disturbing in itself as it meant an untold number of people had the potential to get in to our flat at any time. - so you changed the lock there and then?
Fast forward to last week and we have had another burglary with frustrating circumstances surrounding it. The lay out to our building is four separate floors with a flat occupying each floor with a main hall way at ground level with the front door. For the past few weeks myself and my flat mates have repeatedly told the agency that the front door lock was faulty and barely hanging on, we also reported to them that the deadbolt lock on our flat door was broken so we were unable to double lock it and the agency employ a handyman for this very reason - nothing was done on either front.
Neither lock was changed and now we have been burgled; the front door was kicked in (easily i imagine), the downstairs flat was kicked in and our door.....No forced entry again.
We had repeatedly told them about these issues and nothing was done, not only resulting in the loss of personal belongings but also leaving the people i live with scared to leave in case things go missing and even worse scarred to stay in case they come back.

Where does the responsibility lie with the agency to keep us safe and act on these reported issues and what can we do in terms of being compensated for having our safety jeopardised by their negligence?
I would appreciate your insight

The front door - nothing.


Your door - should've changed the locks 10 months ago.


Honestly, whilst I sympathise, this has happened before and it seems you took no action.

Dgkallday

The locks on our flat door were changed at the time 10 months ago following the first burglary.
As mentioned the agency employ staff to maintain the building, including the locks - this was escalated to them directly multiple times in the weeks leading up to the break in by separate tenants but they took no action, leaving us vulnerable to the break in

Comms69

Dgkallday wrote: »

The locks on our flat door were changed at the time 10 months ago following the first burglary.
As mentioned the agency employ staff to maintain the building, including the locks - this was escalated to them directly multiple times in the weeks leading up to the break in by separate tenants but they took no action, leaving us vulnerable to the break in

So if the locks were changed; how could they gain access?

Dgkallday

That's the big mystery unless it was a hack job at replacing the locks but i am no locksmith i am afraid.
The big issue is also that with our deadbolt lock broken and not repaired we were left even more open as even if they used a card/ similar method to get through the first lock we would have had the second lock if the agency had acted in time - which they said they would

[Deleted User]

Youtube is wonderful

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9A915L_mlk

If you don't like that one, there are plenty of others.

Better than waiting months for an agency to replace it. You can buy the cylinders

online.

Once learned, you never forget, its a very useful skill.

HampshireH

So your neighbours door was kicked in but despite having the locks changed to your flat so only you, your house mates & the agency had one yours wasnt?

How much do you trust your housemates, agency or landlord?

Twice in 10 months is highly irregular especially to have no signs of forced entry to only your flat.

Dgkallday

Each of us has had stuff nicked and to be honest its a very professional house so i am probably on the lowest wage so i wouldn't suspect them.
With all the signs of negligence towards their duty of care for the tenant's (us) well-being it would not be too clever for the agency to then steal stuff, i am already considering our options to go for compensation against them as i feel their lack of action has directly resulted in our loss of personal items as well as piece of mind over the last few days...

anselld

Not excusing slow maintenance, but if the burglars kicked two doors in then they would also have kicked yours in if it provided any resistance.

There is nothing to indicate that prompt repair would have made any difference to the outcome.

Blame lies with the burglars. No chance of compo.

[Deleted User]

I'm afraid suspecting it led to your stuff being burgled and proving it (with no forced entry) could be a little difficult.

Personally, I would have replaced the locks pronto, particularly given you found out people downstairs had the same lock. I don't believe the world is a good place generally speaking lol. Being a pessimist has its uses.