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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:
Smallsteps88 · 09/12/2020 14:22

This is ridiculous. Decorator won’t get there til this evening, by which time wickets etc will be closed so he won’t be able to fit a new lock until tomorrow at the very earliest. Totally unacceptable.

Your LL response to the risk of break in, coming from a policeman, who are supposed to advise people on home security, is just appalling. I don’t even know where to start with that. I’d be tempted to call his station and ask them to do a home security check on your house and when they come explain that your LL has refused to arrange a locksmith and suggested you’re at no risk from break in.

Original poster
MillyA · 09/12/2020 15:18

I've done it!

Neighbour leant me a decent screw driver so I managed to get the barrel out, went back to wickes and bought a replacement. I had it installed in 5 minutes Smile

Cost 15 as opposed to the 80 odd a locksmith would charge, I'll be sending the receipt so LL can reimburse me for the lock.

I half feel like charging him labour Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
MillyA · 09/12/2020 15:27

Landlord has transferred me the cost of the lock and £20 for my troubles.

All is well that ends well lol.

OP posts:
CuriousaboutSamphire · 09/12/2020 15:37

Maybe you could hire yourself out as his replacement fixer upper Smile

Congratulations 🎉

YoungScrappyHungry · 09/12/2020 15:38

Well done OP!

Still ridiculous that you had to do that though. I hope you can find somewhere else when money allows. Flowers

Mumdiva99 · 09/12/2020 16:27

Do pleased you are sorted. Well done.

Smallsteps88 · 09/12/2020 16:45

Excellent!! And you learned a new skill too Op! New career as a locksmith? Grin

Simplyunacceptable · 09/12/2020 16:50

When I rented a few years ago my LL was exactly the same. The boiler once broke in the middle of January, I had three DC under five including a small baby which he knew. It took him five days to get it fixed because his friend had to replace it, he wouldn’t pay anyone else who would charge more. It was absolutely freezing so we had to go stay with my Mum. He did it when the oven broke too, he bought a cheap one from B&Q and insisted on waiting for his friend to come fit it so I had no oven for a few days.

Some landlords are absolute cheapskates. They’ll gladly rip you off with excessive rent every month but never want to fix anything. I was glad when I was in a position to buy my own home.

tabulahrasa · 09/12/2020 17:05

@MillyA

Landlord has transferred me the cost of the lock and £20 for my troubles.

All is well that ends well lol.

OMG, cheeky git...

Him, not you obviously, lol

Glad you got it sorted though.

murbblurb · 09/12/2020 17:16

well done, OP!

while there are no rules, the acceptable standard is 'how long would it take for an owner/occupier to get this done?' So locksmith next day, boiler fixer in winter in a pandemic 2 weeks (whch is why ensuring the boiler is serviced is prudent), etc.

age of occupants is irrelevant to this timescale. Your landlord is shit so I'm really glad you sorted this. Hope you can move on before long, even in London there are non-shit landlords.

Smallsteps88 · 09/12/2020 17:28

while there are no rules, the acceptable standard is 'how long would it take for an owner/occupier to get this done?' So locksmith next day, boiler fixer in winter in a pandemic 2 weeks (whch is why ensuring the boiler is serviced is prudent), etc.

age of occupants is irrelevant to this timescale.

Totally disagree. A tenant is paying for a service. Not at all comparable to an owner occupier. Age of occupants is relevant. Children under 5 are more vulnerable to illness, in the same way an elderly person would be more vulnerable than a healthy adult.

It really is time people stopped considering tenants as “just people paying to live in my house” they are purchasing a service from their landlords and it should be fulfilled as quickly as possible. Regardless of how long the LL would take to do it if they lived in the house themselves.

LadyEloise · 09/12/2020 18:48

ThanksThanksThanksWell done MillyA

PhoebeSnow · 10/12/2020 22:23

Well done Milly

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