My landlord won't provide front and back door keys after both doors changed to new doors?

strawb_shortcake

When we had our front door replaced, we were given a card that needs to be taken if getting keys cut  aa a security feature. We were also advised they'd be more expensive to be cut, but I forget the price suggested 

RHemmings

strawb_shortcake said:

When we had our front door replaced, we were given a card that needs to be taken if getting keys cut  aa a security feature. We were also advised they'd be more expensive to be cut, but I forget the price suggested 

For my bicycle locks, I can get new keys by ordering them online using a code I received with the lock. A few days later, they arrive in the post. However, for house keys, there is a slight security issue in having the key sent to my home through the post with my address on the package. 

General_Grant

RHemmings said:

strawb_shortcake said:

When we had our front door replaced, we were given a card that needs to be taken if getting keys cut  aa a security feature. We were also advised they'd be more expensive to be cut, but I forget the price suggested 

For my bicycle locks, I can get new keys by ordering them online using a code I received with the lock. A few days later, they arrive in the post. However, for house keys, there is a slight security issue in having the key sent to my home through the post with my address on the package. 

Could they not be sent to a trusted friend's address?

RHemmings

General_Grant said:

RHemmings said:

strawb_shortcake said:

When we had our front door replaced, we were given a card that needs to be taken if getting keys cut  aa a security feature. We were also advised they'd be more expensive to be cut, but I forget the price suggested 

For my bicycle locks, I can get new keys by ordering them online using a code I received with the lock. A few days later, they arrive in the post. However, for house keys, there is a slight security issue in having the key sent to my home through the post with my address on the package. 

Could they not be sent to a trusted friend's address?

I thought of having them sent to my work. But, also, a friend. Since I posted that, I see that Yale locks recommend the friend route.

Given that I'm posting again, I'll pop in this video. While it's mostly about how to change a eurocylinder lock, it also demonstrates the lack of security of a cheap lock. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdpmZJYPXF8

Going back on topic again, if the OP's landlord has been too cheap to provide a sufficient number of keys, I'm guessing that the locks themselves will be cheap and insecure. Perhaps the tenants could band together to change the locks and get more secure ones. 

propertyrental

OP - I may have missed it, but have you identified the type of lock? Can you post here?

user1977

Fancy locks are all very well, but bear in mind that the door (and frame) need to be similarly secure. Not much point worrying about key-copying ease if the lock can be "picked" with a size 10 boot...

saajan_12

oystercatcher said:

Isn't it a fire risk if residents don't have keys to all exit doors ? Or are these the type where the key is needed to get in but not out? 

No, keys are easily mislaid and hard enough to find in the urgency of a fire. You may not give a key to children or guests either. 

Fire exits should be keyless eg thumb turn locks. Anything else is a fire risk, regardless of who has keys. 

RHemmings

user1977 said:

Fancy locks are all very well, but bear in mind that the door (and frame) need to be similarly secure. Not much point worrying about key-copying ease if the lock can be "picked" with a size 10 boot...

I'm also concerned about entry by breaking the lock. As you say, there are many ways that a criminal will enter a house, but kicking in a door creates more noise and is visually more likely to attract attention than breaking the lock with a tool while standing in front of a door. 

There's also cost/benefit. It's going to cost me about £100 to upgrade all my external locks. Replacing all the doors too is something that I would like to do but it's going to take time to do everything I need to do for the house. I've also been concerned about not having thumbturns on internal doors, for escape during a fire. As you mention. And, I still haven't changed the locks after buying this house so who knows who has a key. And, even if I eventually have new doors, I think this is reasonable now. I don't know how long it will take before I have better, security, doors. I don't want to put cheap locks in, even if it's an interim measure. 

Edit: more on lock safety here too: https://www.locksmiths.co.uk/faq/upvc-door-security/

RHemmings

newsgroupmonkey_ said:

RHemmings said:

newsgroupmonkey_ said:

Bookworm105 said:

elsien said:

Same - about £5 but if its a good locksmith you can take it back for them to adjust if it doesn't work. 

rather depends if they are security keys 
even good locksmiths won't cut those if they are not supposed to 

This. I find it amazing that people are prepared to put cheap locks on their house.

You could easily find that your insurance doesn't cover this! We have 3 star locks, front and rear.

The problem with these locks is that whilst they did provide 5 keys, getting a new one is not cheap and we had to not only register the lock, but we have to create an account on their website to get another key cut.

Peace of mind though that if we lend the key to someone, they will struggle to get it cut.

Slightly off-topic, but can you link to the kind of locks that you have? 

https://www.trulypvc.com/locks-security/euro-cylinders/high-security/greenteq-orion-3-euro-cylinder

They're relatively cheap too compared with 3 star ones sold by B&Q and the like.

Just as a follow-up, I did replace all of my locks. All from that company. The two back door locks are Greenteq Orion as per your link. For the front door I decided to compare and put in a Yale lock. All 3 star, and with internal thumbturns. This thread is about someone else's problem of course, but it did prompt me into action concerning changing the locks. 

I changed the locks myself, and it is extremely easy to do so. Now I need to buy some proper dry lubricant for them.