Neighbours in shared building won’t lock shared front door

martindow

I understand your wish for security, but if one person goes out and locks the front door does that mean that you need to use a key to get out in an emergency? That does not seem to be a good idea at all - you'll reduce the likelihood of a break in but increase your chances of being trapped inside in the case of fire.

Comms69

freckled24 wrote: »

I couldn’t find where to post this so hopefully this is the right area. New neighbours moved into the flat above my flat around 6 weeks ago. I found the shared building door unlocked a couple of times (upvc - needs to be locked otherwise not secure & insurance won’t pay out if broken into). - why on earth is a shared front door not self locking?! I chatted with them and let them know that it needs to be locked when going out/after coming in, and the reasons why (police had advised when there had been an incident a couple of years ago where we’d come home to find someone had tried to kick in the door). All was fine for a few days but in the weeks since, i’ve come home to find it unlocked at least another half dozen times. I’ve chatted to their landlord about it, as the door is directly on the street with no front garden like the other houses.

He understands but says he’s reminded them about the need to lock the front door, but that they’re not very receptive. It’s really worrying me because my flat’s the ground floor one and if the building’s main door’s not locked, all it takes is a decent shoulder push and the front door will open. - then ask your landlord / pay for yourself, a proper front door for your flat... I texted them a polite text about the door last weekend, asking them to please lock it etc - they just ignored me.

I’m getting past being polite and now feeling p’d off that they don’t seem to think a basic ask applies to them, and that there’s no come back. - there is no comeback. This isn't their problem. I feel powerless. I’m worried for my home (which i own) and that should anything happen, that my insurance company wouldn’t pay out because the main building door wasn’t secured. - So ask the freeholder to do the sensible thing. I mean this is clearly a fire risk if nothing else!

What can i do? I have a good relationship with the landlord as we were neighbours for 7 years before he moved - but he seems to feel powerless to enforce what is a basic request of any renters - he is powerless. , and i’m worried to go away for Christmas because i’ve no idea if these renters will leave the building in a secure state (there’s just the 2 flats in the converted house). Can anyone offer advice? If we change the current door for a stronger upvc one, they’ll still need to actually lock it each time otherwise we’re just in the same position. It’s a horrible feeling to have the security of your home & belongings in the hands of people who don’t care what happens

Quite obviously such a front door system is not suitable for this set up, whoever owns the freehold should replace and charge the leaseholders.

Comms69

martindow wrote: »

I understand your wish for security, but if one person goes out and locks the front door does that mean that you need to use a key to get out in an emergency? That does not seem to be a good idea at all - you'll reduce the likelihood of a break in but increase your chances of being trapped inside in the case of fire.

It's clearly against current fire safety regulations. It's a stupid system and the OP is blaming the wrong people for this problem