Student renting a property query

Shicky

Shicky

Shicky

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Joined
13 Jan 2007
Posts
2,424
Location
Belfast,Northern Ireland
Long story short I just moved into a place with a few friends, as I was abroad they did all the legwork and everything seems grand. I was told by the agent that there were locks on the bedroom doors, upon visiting the property this appeared to be make believe.

No big deal however, I simply rang the agent and asked if they could pass through my query to the landlord, 'Can I fit a lock to my bedroom door? Keys will obviously be passed on when we leave the property.' They said the landlord never allows this as I am renting an HMO property and therefore if I attach a lock to my door, I create a fire hazard. The agent said if I decide to go ahead, I must pay up via my security deposit to have my lock removed and have it replaced with something similar to what is there currently. Has anybody heard of this before and know if there is a way around it?

I would really rather fit a lock to my door for the extra privacy and security. Anything I can say for them to let me do this, preferably without the extra cost?

Thanks all
 
I'm no legal eagle, but I had a lock on my door, in a rented student house in 2 different houses. In which all had a fire alarm system installed, and spring hinged doors. (that would kinda be the complete opposite to what he was suggesting)
 
I would get a small slide across lock and I mean small and attach it right to the top of the door. The landlord probably won't see it if he comes round for a nosey and when you leave you could probably remove it with little fuss or evidence that it was ever there.
 
On another note, what happen to trust at uni anyway, the people I chose to move in with where my friends, and never likely to steal off me, and if they did take anything it was inconsequential and they told me.
A lock shows contempt towards them.

Or is this because your worried about being broken into?
 
Strange, I had a lock in all 3 of the houses I was in at uni, from 4 bed up to 8 bed properties.

Surely fitting one yourself shouldn't be to much of an issue? Unless you want one you can lock from both sides..
 
I lived in two houses under HMO both of which had locks fitted. Both were brand new houses as well so defiantly were subject to all the latest HMO requirements. Either you're being told porkies about locks not being allowed, or the HMO req's vary from city to city?

I'd just buy a handle with a lock and fit it myself, then replace it with the original before leaving. If you know what you're doing then it shouldn't leave any trace. Stealth DIY!
 
My uni house and all my uni friends houses had locks on their doors. The agent is probably talking ********.
 
I would just replace the door mechanism with a 3 lever lock then filler and repaint as necessary when you move out.
 
The lock is mainly for extra security from break-ins as my university area is quite bad for them. A plus side is also having company around without fear of a walk in, im living with geeks this time instead of barmen so I suspect they are not used to having females that arent their mums in the house.

*I know my housemates wont take this as a sign of offence and frankly wouldnt care if they did, better safe than sorry.

I also lived in HMO properties before, again with locks attached. This is how like all of you, I know this is BS, however I cant really argue back as im clueless with all the regulations and frankly dont want to waste time looking it all up. About the only thing I can find in my defence was in the lease an article from saying something like, 'the landlord will not object to any non-unreasonable alterations, should he be consulted beforehand.'

Stealth DIY I would love to be an option but I imagine the door will look like a mangled corpse after fitting a new lock, taking it off and then sticking on the old lock. It is very unlikely to have similar dimensions to a normal, bog standard lock. The problem being I wouldnt be happy with just a latch option, I want to be able to lock it whenever I leave the house.
 
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