Advice on how to proceed with landlord after a burglary?

Brodel

Hi,

I'm not sure if this is quite the right forum but it's the closest fit I think.

My friends apartment was burgled yesterday and they stole his and his girlfriends laptops, phone chargers, computer modem and an old ipod... strangely enough they left a brand new digital slr camera that was on top of one of the laptops, as well as expensive headphones etc etc.

Anyway, he is not insured but when the police came to take fingerprints (and found none) they mentioned something about the landlord not installing suitable locks on the property. Has anyone been down this path before or could maybe advise him on what to do next? I think the locks are those fairly basic door locks that you don't lock from the outside but flick a switch on the inside and shut it behind you. His apartment, other apartments in the same building and the front door of the building all have the same lock and there was no sign of a break in either, they even locked the door behind them.

any help is appreciated, thanks.

FlameCloud

I'm unsure what you are asking here? I take it that you want to try and blame the landlord for not fitting 'correct' door locks?

If so I think you are going to struggle. Has your friend brought this up with the landlord before hand?

Brodel

I'm asking if there is any advice in a situation like this. I'm not trying to blame anyone if they don't deserve it, I think my friend should have gotten insurance.
I was just wondering if anyone had a similar experience as the police mentioned it was something that may be worth looking into and he doesn't really know where to start.

Pretty sure he hasn't brought it up with them beforehand.

losgiganteskid

If your friend is renting the apartment as you suggest, in all probability the apartment has been rented out previously by the Landlord. If there is no sign of a break in, a previous tenant could have merely had his keys copied and paid a visit to clear your friend out (or perish the thought, even the Landlord !). Hindsight is a wonderful thing, so I suppose your friend should have a) got herself insured (but entry by forcible means would have been necessary to establish a valid claim and b) asked the Landlord to change the lock upon commencement of the Lease with either the tenant or Landlord footing the bill (or part equal share).

FlameCloud

Brodel wrote: »

I'm asking if there is any advice in a situation like this. I'm not trying to blame anyone if they don't deserve it, I think my friend should have gotten insurance.
I was just wondering if anyone had a similar experience as the police mentioned it was something that may be worth looking into and he doesn't really know where to start.

Pretty sure he hasn't brought it up with them beforehand.

The best advise would have been for them to have contents insurance. For them to have laptops, SLR cameras etc it was stupid of them not to have anything in place.

As to any possible claim against the landlord, your friends dont have a leg to stand on legally. The locks would probably have been the same in all the flats given that your friends havent said anything there would have been nothing the landlord could really do.

FlameCloud

losgiganteskid wrote: »

a) got herself insured (but entry by forcible means would have been necessary to establish a valid claim and

Unless the policy has some form of minimum security endorsement, very few home policies require forcable entry for a valid theft claim.

Iamthesmartestmanalive

Tbh its their own stupid fault

Why should a landlord be guilty for their idiocy, Id imagine insurance was covered in the agreement too

raskazz

FlameCloud wrote: »

Unless the policy has some form of minimum security endorsement, very few home policies require forcable entry for a valid theft claim.

Yes, I was under the impression that the 'forced entry' requirement was only for stolen cash, but for anything else is not a strict requirement.

takoo

Hi Brodel

An insurance policy for contents usually specified the standard of lock required. A 5-lever lock is I believe the minimum norm. If the flat's locks do not conform to the standard and your friend intends to seek insurance the landlord might be persuaded to bring the flat up to standard.

Good luck

Takoo

Brodel

Maybe there are some landlords here. Like I said, I agree they were stupid but it was something that the police actually suggested they look into, so I wanted to see what their options were if any. Thanks for the help, I'll pass the advice on to them.

Voyager2002

Your friends could certainly ask the landlord for charity, and to ask his insurers whether there is any cover for this kind of eventuality. But I suspect they are out of luck: anyone who decides not to take out insurance on their valuable can evidently afford to "self-insure".