Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this isn't good enough? Landlord

138 replies

MillyA · 09/12/2020 09:29

The barrel lock in my front door bas been getting progressively more shit for the past few months which culminated in it breaking completely last night and rendering the door (which is on a busy main road) unlockable.

I contacted my landlord as a matter of urgency as I have children in here and need to feel safe. Instead of sending an emergency locksmith which should be the first thing he did surely, he says he'll ask a painter and decorator bloke he knows to come and "have a look at fixing it"

If anything needs doing in here he always delegates it to this bloke, to save money on calling the professionals.

The bloke is notoriously unreliable and never turns up when he's supposed to, I've had work done in here by him before.

Decorator bloke gets back to him this morning and says he will "try" and get round here today, which translates as him not coming as he doesn't even turn up when he's actually scheduled to, having left me waiting in all day on at least 5 occasions before.

AIBU to think this isn't good enough? I'm now stuck in the house with three children, one disabled, and i can't lock the front door / go out / do anything.

OP posts:
Lou573 · 09/12/2020 09:31

That’s terrible. Tell your landlord you’re contacting a locksmith and deducting it from your rent?

Original poster
MillyA · 09/12/2020 09:33

I wish I had the money to pay a locksmith myself, if this had happened two weeks ago I would have done exactly that and deducted from the rent Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
MillyA · 09/12/2020 09:33

Why am I being unreasonable?! (Directed at those voting that I am)

OP posts:
Smallsteps88 · 09/12/2020 09:34

Not acceptable. Phone LL now and say he needs to send a locksmith urgently. A painter and decorator is not the correct person to fix a broken lock. Your insurance would be invalidated if your house was broken into. This is an emergency situation.

Original poster
MillyA · 09/12/2020 09:35

One of my children has autism and just the other month we had a scary incident where he got out of the house and ran down the busy main road. It's imperative I'm able to lock the door and the landlord knows that. He's a policeman so should know better than most.

OP posts:
Royalbloo · 09/12/2020 09:35

I'd give him until lunch time and then call someone myself and deduct from rent

80sColourfulChristmas · 09/12/2020 09:39

If no joy, call your local council housing office. They can & sometimes will speak to your landlord on your behalf to remind them of their legal responsibilities. I've had this done for me in the past.
It's also a good route to go down, as it means that if the landlord tries to do a 'revenge eviction' for complaining at him, there's an official record of your complaint to use as evidence. Revenge evictions are now illegal so you would have evidence. I realise I'm making a big presumption, but it's worth me pointing out as some landlords still try this bullshit despite it being illegal.

Original poster
MillyA · 09/12/2020 09:40

I don't get paid again until the 21st of the month so I don't have the spare funds to call a locksmith myself, he's going to drag his feet with this. I'm quite annoyed (and anxious about having another episode of DS getting out and being hurt)

OP posts:
Original poster
MillyA · 09/12/2020 09:41

I wasn't aware that I could contact the council as this is a private rent, thank you I'll do exactly that If I don't hear back by noon

OP posts:
Takethereigns · 09/12/2020 09:42

Call a locksmith and get them to invoice the landlord

Valkadin · 09/12/2020 09:43

I’m not suggesting you do it but anyone who can hold a screwdriver can replace the entire lock barrel in a door. It’s very easy and we did it when the barrel broke in our door. So the handyman will be able to do it it’s his unreliability that’s the issue. Ring Landlord back and insist someone comes today, remind him that insurance is invalidated and that includes his property not just your contents which are at risk.

dontdisturbmenow · 09/12/2020 09:43

It's been getting worse for months but didn't report it until it broke completely? If so, you are unreasonable as it could indeed have been repaired then.

As a LL, I would have got a locksmiths in the morning but if he'd reported that there was evidence of Wear and Tear and it could have been fixed before breaking, I might expect the tenant to pay half.

Somethingsnappy · 09/12/2020 09:44

If you can't afford to pay for it right now, temporarily, perhaps call a locksmith yourself but have them send the bill to your landlord? And tell your landlord that is what you are doing and why. Strangely enough, the same thing happened to me yesterday, but our letting agency sent someone round the same morning.

AlwaysCheddar · 09/12/2020 09:44

Email your landlord and say a locksmith costs £x during the day but if he has to come out of hours, then the charge to you is likely to be £x, and this needs to be fixed tonight.

DiesalFive · 09/12/2020 09:44

That's very shitty of him to not get it sorted, but be very wary of paying for something then 'deducting' it from your rent.

Can you speak to him, explain that this isn't good enough and politely request the repair is done within 24 hours as it's an emergency?

You could also phone Shelter for advice.

Original poster
MillyA · 09/12/2020 09:46

@dontdisturbmenow

It's been getting worse for months but didn't report it until it broke completely? If so, you are unreasonable as it could indeed have been repaired then.

As a LL, I would have got a locksmiths in the morning but if he'd reported that there was evidence of Wear and Tear and it could have been fixed before breaking, I might expect the tenant to pay half.

Oh he knew about the problems with the lock/door. This was the inevitable result of not nipping things in the bud.
OP posts:
AnyFucker · 09/12/2020 09:47

Yes, that is not good enough.

I am a landlord and this happened to us recently. A locksmith attended the same day, no questions asked, no charge to the lovely resident.

Smallsteps88 · 09/12/2020 09:47

@dontdisturbmenow

It's been getting worse for months but didn't report it until it broke completely? If so, you are unreasonable as it could indeed have been repaired then.

As a LL, I would have got a locksmiths in the morning but if he'd reported that there was evidence of Wear and Tear and it could have been fixed before breaking, I might expect the tenant to pay half.

Translation: I love a good opportunity to kick people when they’re down.
DiesalFive · 09/12/2020 09:49

@dontdisturbmenow

It's been getting worse for months but didn't report it until it broke completely? If so, you are unreasonable as it could indeed have been repaired then.

As a LL, I would have got a locksmiths in the morning but if he'd reported that there was evidence of Wear and Tear and it could have been fixed before breaking, I might expect the tenant to pay half.

Gee, how nice you are. Hmm
Original poster
MillyA · 09/12/2020 09:50

"With respect to (decorator bloke) my concern is him not turning up as has been the case on several occasions before. Given the incident we had with (autistic DS) the other month I'm not comfortable with the place being unsecured for much longer. If we don't hear from (decorator bloke) by lunch time then we need a locksmith ASAP"

I'll send the above in a mo.

OP posts:
PronkWine · 09/12/2020 09:51

I'm a LL and I would ensure this was fixed ASAP, especially if there were children in the house, we know what ours are like at escaping.

Have you called your LL again to explain you need a working lock?

dontdisturbmenow · 09/12/2020 09:51

Translation: I love a good opportunity to kick people when they’re down
Absolutely not. A tenant has the responsibity to report anything that requires fixing.

OP says she has, in which case it's fair enough, just odd not to mentioning in the first post.

In this instance, then yes, unreasonable not to send someone this morning.

teateateateateamoretea · 09/12/2020 09:51

I’m not suggesting you do it but anyone who can hold a screwdriver can replace the entire lock barrel in a door. It’s very easy and we did it when the barrel broke in our door

This, I've done it loads of times. About a tenner for the new barrel.

As a LL, I would have got a locksmiths in the morning but if he'd reported that there was evidence of Wear and Tear and it could have been fixed before breaking, I might expect the tenant to pay half

You're not allowed to charge tenants for wear and tear, and as a LL you should know that, so you could swing for it.

IntermittentParps · 09/12/2020 09:53

He's a policeman so should know better than most
Shock
He shouldn't have left you overnight without a locking door. Remind him that his as well as your insurance are invalid as long as there is an unsecured door at the property.

As a LL, I would have got a locksmiths in the morning You're a bad landlord then. See above re insurance.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 09/12/2020 09:55

It is an emergency of your own making! You should have reported it is as soon as you were aware of there being an issue, that's acting in a responsible manner. Only you knew there was an issue and now the lock has finally broken you want the landlord to act instantly! That will probably piss him off a bit!

Don't attempt to withhold any rent, that is not an approprate response and will cause you issues that you will not have a legal footing to defend!

Contact your landlord again and tell him it needs doing today and his contractor's lack of response is not enough, this is an emergency - he has left you in an insecure house, one of his absolute responsibilities, for too long after notification!

It probably won't need a locksmith, just a new barrrel/fitting and a screwdriver, so anyone can do it quickly with off the shelf parts, even the slipshod workman your LL prefers!