Changing Locks on Rented Property Question

theartfullodger

Bullying landlords & agents often think they've a right to just barge in.  The dwelling is the tenants property, not landlord's whilst there's a valid tenancy, even if rent not being paid.

Chum should go ahead.

subjecttocontract

We got around this problem by fitting an additional/extra lock on the entrance door. Only the tenant had a key for the extra lock. However these were wooden front doors not uPVC. 

cymruchris

I'd go down another route - I'd get a wireless intruder alarm fitted - one that could be easily removed on leaving, with next to no damage (possibly a screwhole to fill with filler) - and then arm it up overnight and while away from home. Anyone wandering through the door (and it's unlikely anyway) would trigger quite a noise. Of course for any authorised entry - the alarm would be disarmed. Something that connected to wifi and gave notifications would be even better.

There are many brands/price points available - but as an example this Yale kit is about £90 on Amazon.

https://amzn.eu/d/4y3LX7k

theartfullodger

Good idea, and nice and loud.  As well as change the locks.

chrisw

Have they actually asked the landlord or agent if they can change the locks? I've had some tenants change the locks and others not. I'm not really bothered either way as long as they give me a full working set of keys back at the end of the tenancy.

i get the emergency access issue but such an event is extremely unlikely and, if it's that important, forced entry would be the least of my worries.

RHemmings

bobster2 said:

RHemmings said:

bobster2 said:

RHemmings said:

Are there any other potential downsides to this strategy? 

Depends on how often.

If it's a traditional surface mounted night latch / rim lock - then repeatedly unscrewing the body of the lock and remounting it will widen/loosen the screw holes in the wood. So it will start wobbling.

Eventually will need bigger screws, or to pack the holes with something - or re-drill and move the lock.

On the plus-side - accessing the house in an emergency could be a doddle! Just give the door a push and the lock should fall off

Seriously though - how many times is too many? All depends on the wood (hard or soft). Commonly I've found that after I've taken a lock off and refitted more than about 3-4 times - then it starts to get loose so needs a fix.

They are standard looking PVC doors. No wood that I'm aware of. I don't know how many visits are happening, but I only heard of one inspection. When I changed the locks on my similar looking doors, it all seemed quite firm. But, I haven't done so repeatedly. 

I'll ask about frequency of visits once my friend is active on WhatsApp. Thanks for raising this; it's a good point. 

Ah ok - I'm only familiar with wooden ones. It might be possible to change lock cylinders on a uPVC door with no damage - e.g. if mountings are metal screws going into metal holes.

Thanks for everyone's replies. I wondered about wood for a bit, but then in my morning-befuddled state it finally occurred to me: people will assume 'normal' flat. With locked internal doors from a shared hallway. 

This flat is part of a conversion of an extended already generous semi. The original front door and stairs are for the excusive use of the upstairs flat. The entrance to my friend's flat is through a newly constructed enclosed porch to the living room, and then there is bedroom, and kitchen/bathroom at the back. It works well as my friend uses it like a studio flat but with one big extra room at the front. There is an internal (wood) lockable door between the porch and the living room, but my friend doesn't lock it. TL;DR: we're only thinking about changing the locks for internal doors. Note: I hope that people wont' ask 'does that mean that to get from Room A to Room B you have to walk through Room C?', as I think people won't like the answers. 

I'm told by WhatsApp that there have been two visits in eight months. One for the EA inspection. The other for a gas safety certificate inspection. 

I will summarise what has been said above when I meet in person. My friend has mental health issues. I haven't known them long - long enough to know I need to be careful and that they won't do everything that a more robust person would do. E.g. complaining about the EA letting themself in. But, I'll suggest. The EA visit might have been even worse as initially they said they were coming on <unilaterally decided date> and would let themselves in - I helped moderate that a bit and get a mutually agreed date. But, that's another discussion. 

chrisw said:

Have they actually asked the landlord or agent if they can change the locks? I've had some tenants change the locks and others not. I'm not really bothered either way as long as they give me a full working set of keys back at the end of the tenancy.

i get the emergency access issue but such an event is extremely unlikely and, if it's that important, forced entry would be the least of my worries.

This one I do know. No, and they don't want to ask. 

EssexHebridean

I would absolutely suggest that they should certainly say to the agent ahead of any future visit "By the way, please just ring the bell when you get here - you may have a key, but I would prefer for strangers not to be letting themselves in to my home" - that is reasonable, polite, and unarguable. Also non-confrontational which might be important to your friend.

If they did take the changing the locks route, then could they leave a spare with you or another local friend so that in the event of an emergency there would be a correct key close by? 

ThisIsWeird

RHemmings, what would the actual purpose of this potential lock change be?

Is it to prevent the LL or Agent accessing the property whilst your friend is out? Or to provide more control when they are at home - ie to prevent someone just letting themselves in without knocking?

If your friend has some mental health issues that complicate the situation, then I don't know what to suggest. But, for a typical situation where a tenant might have concerns about their privacy being compromised, either when they are at home or when out, there are some straight-forward solutions as mentioned by others - things like door chains, movement alarms, and even discrete CCTV cameras. Then assume the LL/Ag will behave in a respectful manner, always giving plenty of notice, and always knocking on the door, and hammer them if they don't.

RHemmings

ThisIsWeird said:

RHemmings, what would the actual purpose of this potential lock change be?

Is it to prevent the LL or Agent accessing the property whilst your friend is out? Or to provide more control when they are at home - ie to prevent someone just letting themselves in without knocking?

If your friend has some mental health issues that complicate the situation, then I don't know what to suggest. But, for a typical situation where a tenant might have concerns about their privacy being compromised, either when they are at home or when out, there are some straight-forward solutions as mentioned by others - things like door chains, movement alarms, and even discrete CCTV cameras. Then assume the LL/Ag will behave in a respectful manner, always giving plenty of notice, and always knocking on the door, and hammer them if they don't.

It's difficult for me to answer in this thread, as some things I need to ask and discuss. 

My impression of the purpose is that my friend wants some control over when others enter the flat, and to prevent people entering when they are not there. But, they do not want the confrontation of just openly changing the locks and not giving the EA/Landlord the key. 

Having myself been in situations where I would return home to a rented flat (when I was single) to find random people inside, I can understand that. It unsettled me and made me feel as if I was not being respected. This was in the early 1990s, and current laws may be different. 

Grumpy_chap

RHemmings said:

Thanks @Grumpy_chap

One thing I forgot to mention - when the EA visited for an agreed inspection, they opened the door with a key rather than knocking. So, if the same happened again, just changing the lock and not saying anything might be revealed on a visit. 

The locks would be changed back for all visits, including tradepeople. 

Frankly, that's rude and disrespectful.  I would be raising a complaint.

It gives all the more reason to change the locks.  Plus, the current T has no information about who else might have a key - past residents, other trades people, friends / relatives of past residents.