Window locks but no keys - how to ID?

Grey_Critic

Sorry but I replaced ALL my locking window handles and whilst they look the same one turned out to have a different key when I came to fit them.

You need to get onto the Letting Agent as it is their responsibility to ensure you are able to correctly insure **their** property.

maisie_cat

kazwookie said:

I would have thought this was the landlord's / agents problem, to get it fixed.

The OP should be looking at contents insurance only.

The contents insurance possibly won't pay out in the event of ingress through an unlocked window, unless the tenant has told the insurance company that the windows cannot be locked.

Peggy0628

Here are photos of the handles (3 photos per handle): https://imgur.com/a/Gl7cy4m 
The ones that look blacks is chrome in reality, the photo just made it look a lot darker for some reason.
I only want to get content insurance but because the house is in a high crime area, it's not cheap. Having windows with working locks makes the insurance cheaper. Letting agent is not interested in replacing the handles (there's no profit in it, I guess). At least one of the locks looks like it was forced open (or possibly forced locked) at some point. I don't really want to pay for replacing all the handles even if the landlord/letting agent were ok with it since I don't know how long I'm going to stay here. The house is an old Victorian terrace so all the houses in the street have different windows. 2 houses were burglarized in the past 4 months alone so I don't fee safe having windows that can't be locked (I live alone). I just want to get keys (they're couple of quid each on ebay) but no idea what type of key the locks need. 
Thanks!

plumb1_2

I would email the agent asking if it was ok the fit new lockable handles if you cover the cost.
At a fiver each and really only need to do ground floor, unless there’s easy access to first floor.

youth_leader

When I moved into my bungalow purchase the vendor said she'd never been given the keys to the windows,  I had to have every window handle changed so they would lock.  Do you think your landlord will agree to this?  

EssexExile

Peggy0628 said:

Hi,
is there a way to find out what key I need for locks on upvc windows? I'm trying to get a home insurance quote and one of the questions is if the downstairs windows are fitted with working locks. All window have locks (unlocked at the moment) but I haven't been given any keys by the letting agent. They told me they don't have any and they don't know what keys the locks need either. Is there a way to find out (the window handles are not the same, there appear to be 3 different types in the house)? There are no stamps/marks/engravings on any of the handles. The house is in a fairly run-down area with a lot of crime/anti-social behaviour so I'd really like to be able to lock the windows even if it makes no different to the insurance cost... Thanks in advance.

The windows are fitted with working locks, you just don't have the keys! Does it say anywhere that you have to lock them? Mine doesn't.

Personally I don't lock any windows. Window locks don't make it much harder to get in and, once in, I'd like it to be as easy as possible for the miscreants to get out.

plumb1_2

EssexExile said:

Personally I don't lock any windows. Window locks don't make it much harder to get in and, once in, I'd like it to be as easy as possible for the miscreants to get out.

Ya I don’t lock mine, can’t see the point, if some toerag is gonna get through the window, they’re gonna smash the glass anyway. Unless it has external beads.
Plus if you have a fire you don’t wannabe looking for keys to use a window as a escape route.