Main door with glass panels

TripleH

FreeBear said:

TripleH said:

FreeBear said:

If it is a modern door with a sealed double glazed panel, they are not easy to break. With a uPVC door, much easier to cut through any plastic panels (a bread knife will do the job). Or snap the lock - Very quick and easy to do, and attracts a lot less attention than breaking glass.

YOu sound quite knowledgeable on this matter 😉
Sorry! I'm in a stranger mood thsn usual.

Had need to cut a hole in a uPVC door for a cat flap.

Ah, so it's me with a suspect mind!

@jake_jones99 if the other flats have similar doors it wouldn't put me off living there necessarily. I would make sure my flat didn't appear more attractive to uninvited guests. If the doors look reasonably old, then it might be that break-ins are not an issue.

Knowing when the flat will be empty over night would be a greater issue. I heard about someone who had their flat broken into twice, both times when on holiday. The building isn't easy to get into so on probability, someone with access is probably involved.

It's why, if you're going to plaster pictures of your holiday over aocial media, you do so after you come back rather than advertise an empty flat.

jake_jones99

I'm not sure I can do that. I am thinking of calling them before singing and asking if the landlord wants to change the lock on my expense..

AlexMac

If you're really worried, how about fitting a wireless burglar alarm system for a couple of hundred quid?  You might even be able to take it with you when you move?  

Not that this will actually stop an intruder; beefy locks on doors and windows are much more important. 

We had an alarm but still got burgled via a rear upstairs window a couple of weeks after moving in once; some silly booger had left an unlocked ladder in the next garden! the window locks looked OK, but were only on half inch screws in timber (now they are bombproof!).  The alarm did stop them moving around inside the house, however, so they scarpered back out of the window - regrettably with a few bits of jewellery.  

You could fit an external metal grille door as at a few flats local to us; but that will just make you look like a drug dealer!

Anyway; decent locks are the best solution irrespective of who fits or pays for 'em

EDIT-
"I am thinking of calling them before singing and asking if the landlord wants to change the lock on my expense.."
...don't sing to the landlord, however.  They might think you're weird

jake_jones99

The alarm system would work but then again, if someone breaks the glass I would probably wake. The agency said they will not change locks because they need locks that open quickly so they are "fire safe". That's a huge relief, being fire safe, isn't it.. 
The agency said they will speak to the landlord about adding a chain or something. We will see what comes out of it.

jake_jones99

AlexMac said:

If you're really worried, how about fitting a wireless burglar alarm system for a couple of hundred quid?  You might even be able to take it with you when you move?  

Not that this will actually stop an intruder; beefy locks on doors and windows are much more important. 

We had an alarm but still got burgled via a rear upstairs window a couple of weeks after moving in once; some silly booger had left an unlocked ladder in the next garden! the window locks looked OK, but were only on half inch screws in timber (now they are bombproof!).  The alarm did stop them moving around inside the house, however, so they scarpered back out of the window - regrettably with a few bits of jewellery.  

You could fit an external metal grille door as at a few flats local to us; but that will just make you look like a drug dealer!

Anyway; decent locks are the best solution irrespective of who fits or pays for 'em

EDIT-
"I am thinking of calling them before singing and asking if the landlord wants to change the lock on my expense.."
...don't sing to the landlord, however.  They might think you're weird

How would I make any sustainable safety improvements without talking to the landlord? The burglar alarm would not sort it out would just make everything louder. An external metal grill does indeed look strange. And why would showing the landlord concerns of safety make you weird? The apartment on the same floor replaced the glass panels, so I don't think I am exaggerated. 

jake_jones99

The landlord responded, they accept further locks, and informed there's another lock actually. But meanwhile, the agency emailed a random person who just happened to have a similar email to mine, and disclosed my future address name and financial details, asking that person to pay. The person started mocking them badly, but to me this is very sad actually. When I meet the landlord I will make them aware of this.

Alderbank

jake_jones99 said:

The landlord responded, they accept further locks, and informed there's another lock actually. 

Yes, there are plenty of good locks that are also fire safe.
Fire safe means that if the fire is in your flat and your hallway is filled with smoke you could still escape safely. Don't underestimate how hard it is to open a keyed lock if you are blinded by choking smoke.

Your door looks fairly old - even with a high security lock it might be vulnerable on the hinge side. Many older doors can be kicked in or levered quite easily on the hinge side. Give some thought to hinge-side locks as well.

FreeBear

jake_jones99 said:

The landlord responded, they accept further locks, and informed there's another lock actually. But meanwhile, the agency emailed a random person who just happened to have a similar email to mine, and disclosed my future address name and financial details, asking that person to pay. The person started mocking them badly, but to me this is very sad actually. When I meet the landlord I will make them aware of this.

Report the agency to the ICO - This is a clear breach of their data protection obligations, and if they have done it to you, how many other times have they done it.

AlexMac

jake_jones99 said:

...I am thinking of calling them before singing and asking if the landlord wants...

Apologies.  My joky Postscript suggestion was that you not call the landlord before SINGING; if my tenants warned me every time they had a sing-song I'd think they were weird? 

OK- nobody likes a pedant - sorry; it doesn't really bear repetition does it? 

jake_jones99

AlexMac said:

jake_jones99 said:

...I am thinking of calling them before singing and asking if the landlord wants...

Apologies.  My joky Postscript suggestion was that you not call the landlord before SINGING; if my tenants warned me every time they had a sing-song I'd think they were weird? 

OK- nobody likes a pedant - sorry; it doesn't really bear repetition does it? 

Oh it took me ages to realise what was going on lol. Yes I meant signing. Although if I call them and sing in a mesmerising way maybe they furnish my apartment and decrease the rent.