6 months Assured Shorthold Tenancy - Changing locks....

35har1old

MultiFuelBurner said:

mrmagoo38 said:

MultiFuelBurner said:

If you only see this as a temporary 6 month let then yes change the locks. Doesn't matter if you fall out with the LL

If you want to stay longer just use bolts for when you are there no point having a situation where you have to explain you have changed the locks 

Dont bolts require drilling into the door?
Im not sure im allowed to do that...

That's why I said you will have to make them good. When you leave.

Making good a door could prove expensive

MultiFuelBurner

35har1old said:

MultiFuelBurner said:

mrmagoo38 said:

MultiFuelBurner said:

If you only see this as a temporary 6 month let then yes change the locks. Doesn't matter if you fall out with the LL

If you want to stay longer just use bolts for when you are there no point having a situation where you have to explain you have changed the locks 

Dont bolts require drilling into the door?
Im not sure im allowed to do that...

That's why I said you will have to make them good. When you leave.

Making good a door could prove expensive

Is filling 6 small holes for a bolt and a coat of lightly rollered white (probably gloss white if a new build on the inside expensive) £10 all in expensive.

Jonboy_1984

You should be able to just change the cylinder with something like this https://www.toolstation.com/yale-6-pin-euro-thumbturn-cylinder/p17979 . It is a single screw to change. 

The most difficult bit (it isn’t!) is measuring the current one, which is explained here https://www.masterkeysystems.co.uk/knowledge-hub/euro-cylinder-locks-explained/ along with everything else you could ever want to know.

I would recommend one with a thumb lock inside as it makes exit quick in a emergency, or for delivery’s etc.

BungalowBel

Change the barrel (others have described how to).

Then keep that barrel, with its keys and refit it when you leave.  You can then keep the barrel you have bought and hopefully it will fit your new place.

We (as landlords) have changed the barrel every time  tenants leave, just kept alternating them.  The present tenants have been there three year (I have no idea whether they have replaced the barrel or not).

propertyrental

I think nowadays one can choose not to be stigmatised as being a 'person', and fighting is definitely taboo!

macman

As above. Barrel is about a tenner, five minutes to change it on a typical Yale-type rimlock. Even it not changing it were a condition of your AST, then it would not be enforceable. as long as you swap it back at end of the tenancy.
He is required to give you minimum 24 hours notice of entry, but that doesn't mean he can just turn up and enter after that period: you have to grant him reasonable entry, if convenient to yourself.

Ryan_Holden

Unpopular opinion: You have no good reason to change the locks. I doubt it says "you can't light a campfire in the living room" on your tenancy either, but you know you can't do that.

The only time you can change your locks if if there is what's called "good reason" to, such as a key has gone missing or indeed your landlord is continuously improperly accessing the property. The landlord hasn't done anything to warrant your reaction so you'd never establish good reason.

If you change them without telling them, and without good reason, they are well within their rights to dump you out because they can no longer satisfy their duty of care which includes gaining access in emergencies.

If you were my tenant and you changed the locks and didn't give me a key, I'd serve you notice and more importantly, I'd be suspicious of what was going on in my property.

theartfullodger

Indeed   Change locks, keep old ones to change back when you leave.

Peace of mind and safety.

No sensible landlord would object:  Sadly no requirement to be sensible to be a landlord in England.  Nor any qualifications, nor any training, nor criminal records check.  Think about it!

MultiFuelBurner

Ryan_Holden said:

Unpopular opinion: You have no good reason to change the locks. I doubt it says "you can't light a campfire in the living room" on your tenancy either, but you know you can't do that.

The only time you can change your locks if if there is what's called "good reason" to, such as a key has gone missing or indeed your landlord is continuously improperly accessing the property. The landlord hasn't done anything to warrant your reaction so you'd never establish good reason.

If you change them without telling them, and without good reason, they are well within their rights to dump you out because they can no longer satisfy their duty of care which includes gaining access in emergencies.

If you were my tenant and you changed the locks and didn't give me a key, I'd serve you notice and more importantly, I'd be suspicious of what was going on in my property.

That's why I said add some inner bolts not change the locks but you are right the change locks are loud and proud here.

CSI_Yorkshire

Ryan_Holden said:

Unpopular opinion: You have no good reason to change the locks. I doubt it says "you can't light a campfire in the living room" on your tenancy either, but you know you can't do that.

The only time you can change your locks if if there is what's called "good reason" to, such as a key has gone missing or indeed your landlord is continuously improperly accessing the property. The landlord hasn't done anything to warrant your reaction so you'd never establish good reason.

If you change them without telling them, and without good reason, they are well within their rights to dump you out because they can no longer satisfy their duty of care which includes gaining access in emergencies.

If you were my tenant and you changed the locks and didn't give me a key, I'd serve you notice and more importantly, I'd be suspicious of what was going on in my property.

Comparing it with lighting a fire in the living room is ridiculous and unnecessary.

"if my tenant changed the locks I'd serve them notice" - Another landlord that thinks they are god.