Our tenant claims a first floor flat must have a Yale lock?

Our tenant claims a first floor flat must have a Yale lock?

8:56 AM, 8th September 2022, About 2 years ago 23

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Hi, Our tenant claims a first floor flat must have a Yale lock and not a more secure Chubb lock.

She has been told that ready access outwards is the priority in an emergency.

Has anyone else acted on this?

Thanks.

Hilary


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Reluctant Landlord

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9:14 AM, 8th September 2022, About 2 years ago

any external door that leads into a flat must have the ability to be opened from the inside of the flat without a key in the event of an emergency like a fire etc. Thumb turn locks are fitr for purpose and perfect for the job.

M K

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10:16 AM, 8th September 2022, About 2 years ago

Its a reasonable request from your tenant and I would advise accommodating this. In the event of a fire and smoke, they may not be able to find a key and will need to get out fast.

It's not going to cost a huge amount to replace and it is of course, tax deductible as its a replacement for a similar lock, not a capital improvement.

Mark Hunter

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10:23 AM, 8th September 2022, About 2 years ago

If there was a fire in the building, the tenant has to be able to exit the flat without looking for a key (i.e. a thumb lock). A standard Yale lock is not suitable because the door can slam shut and lock behind the tenant, stranding them on the landing. If the fire turned out to be in the stairwell, the tenant must be able to re-enter the flat without looking for a key. A "fire safe" lock can only be locked from the outside with a key.

Alan Bromley

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10:48 AM, 8th September 2022, About 2 years ago

All my flats have 'Yale' locks that require a key to close from the outside, and the turning of a knob on the inside to lock the door. This avoids the tenant locking themselves out.

Graham Bowcock

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11:20 AM, 8th September 2022, About 2 years ago

You and your tenant need to check your insurance requirements first of all to make sure your locks comply.

When you say Chubb lock, do you mean mortice lock (i.e. fully key operated)? If so, I know (but don't own any) flats with mortice locks only, but most now have Yale (or rim locks) these days.

As a responsible landlord you need to do a Fire Risk Assessment to make sure that the tenant can evacuate safely. If there are balconies, large windows, etc. then leaving through the front door may not be a big issue.

David Judd

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12:26 PM, 8th September 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Mohammed Kadir at 08/09/2022 - 10:16
Chubb locks dont have thumb turn locks. The current might

Seething Landlord

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12:47 PM, 8th September 2022, About 2 years ago

As far as I know, thumb turns are only available with euro cylinder locks which are possibly less secure than a key operated deadlock. Switching locks might compromise the fire rating of the door so professional guidance is advisable before making any changes.

DPT

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14:50 PM, 8th September 2022, About 2 years ago

I wonder if a full fire risk assessment is needed in the property if something so basic has been missed.

Graham Bowcock

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14:54 PM, 8th September 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by David at 08/09/2022 - 14:50
An FRA can be informal, as long as the owner has given some thought to it. We see a lot of flats, for example, that have small opening windows that you could not climb out of - quite obvious when you're looking for thing like that.

There's good information on line as to what an FRA requires.

Dennis Forrest

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18:38 PM, 8th September 2022, About 2 years ago

Why not have a mortise lock and a Yale type lock. One of my flats in an area where there have been several break-ins has both. Most of the time the tenants just use the Yale lock but if they are going away they have the extra security of being able to lock the door on the mortise lock as well.

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