Lock changes for landlords
If you own a holiday let property, you should be well aware of the new fire regulations that suddenly hit last summer. I know many of you have been spending all your profits to ensure your properties are up to scratch for the coming season.
But what about long term lets?
Well, if you read the fire risk assessment that has to be carried out by holiday let owners, it states “any property you pay to stay in.” If that doesn’t already mean long term lets, then it certainly will if the government of the day decides that the measures taking place with holiday lets are a success. After all, the more they make you spend, the more they get in tax.
If you own properties that you let out to tenants, then it might be an idea to get ahead of the curve. Locks are being changed all the time through abuse, lost keys, evicted tenants, etc. What better time than now to make sure that the new locks going in are keyless escape versions. In the event of a fire, your tenants can get out quickly without having to find keys in a panic situation?
AC Locksmiths Norfolk can change your locks for you, We will ensure that all replacements are kite marked products, so all insurances will be valid.
But while thumb turn (escape) locks are great for getting out easily, they can be a reduction in your security. There are tools that can go in through letterboxes and rotate the inner thumb turns, it is important to consider options to cancel this short fall. Letter catching cages are a great remedy to this, or mounting a post box outside your house, while disabling any door positioned letter plates is even better.
Changes are coming. I have spoken to several holiday let owners who have changed locks recently, only to have to change them again in light of the new legislation. It’s worth thinking about being ready for the inevitable.
Any questions regarding the above, please do not hesitate to contact me through any of my contact methods. https://www.ac-locksmiths-norfolk.co.uk/contact-us-here/
Thanks for reading.
Landlord lock law change:
I have just been reading through the Home Office Document: ‘A guide to making your small paying-guest-accommodation safe from fire.’ A guide to compliance with fire safety law for those responsible for safety in small paying-guest-accommodation’
You can find the document here
Note this says fire safety law and therefore is the legal requirement of all landlords, certainly for those with holiday lets. I would argue long term tenants are also paying guests as they have no right to remain when a landlord decides they want their property back for any reason.
Speaking to a letting agency recently, I have also discovered that it will be expected of all landlords to read the document and comply with all points mentioned. You won’t always get a risk assessor to check things for you. You, as the landlord are entirely responsible should a fire break out. It is quite heavy reading and most of it is obvious, but it is my job to point out relevant issues to my own line of work.
In section 6, there is this statement:
‘Exit doors, such as the front or back door, should always be easy to unlock and must not need a key to unlock them from the inside. A simple latch or thumb turn is usually good enough. However, you may need to consider whether all guests are able to open these doors. A simple single action turn handle or lever will often be more appropriate.’
This means you must have a lock with a thumb turn on the inside. Something like this:
On all upvc type doors, this is simply a matter of changing the cylinder. On doors with mortice (often called ‘Chubb’ type) locks, you will need to change the lock, handles and purchase a cylinder. And while thumb turns are great for fire escapes, they do pose a security risk as it is possible with certain tools to go in through the letterbox and rotate the thumb turn to gain access. Therefore any locks with thumb turns on a door with a letter plate, should also purchase a letter plate guard to alleviate this problem.
The point is repeated on the checklist included in the document: ‘Are frequent checks carried out to ensure exit routes are kept clear and fire exits remain easily openable?’
That is your prompt to make sure no one can lock a door, remove the key and then be unable to get out while panicking in a fire.
October the 1st is the current date for this to become law over advice.
If you have your work done through AC Locksmiths Norfolk, you can expect to pay £55 for a kite marked thumb turn euro cylinder. These can be brass/gold, chrome, polished chrome, dual finish, black or white. An average of £50 to replace your mortice lock with a mortice euro lock case. Handles start at £25 but average at £45. More ornate handles such as wrought iron up to £200. In all cases, a labour fee of £75 is payable. (All prices correct at time of writing, but please get binding quote at measuring stage). In almost all instances, a measuring visit will be required. This is free to all properties within a half hour drive of Holt, Norfolk.
Should you have any questions regarding the above information, please do not hesitate to contact me; 07846643176
Thanks for reading.
New laws implemented for holiday lets
Very soon, all holiday let properties are going to be required by law to be keyless exit in case of emergencies. For properties with UPVC or similar doors where the handle needs to be pushed up before locking, the lock changes are straight forward and the existing cylinder just needs to be changed for one that has a thumb turn on the inside rather than a key.
But if you have a wooden door with a mortice (Chubb type) lock, then you will need a complete conversion kit consisting of replacement lock case, thumb turn cylinder and Euro cylinder handles. Most of this is straight forward, but sourcing handles to match your existing ones can be a drain.
If you do not get this work done and your tenants have an emergency, there will be no cover from your insurance should the worst happen due to them not being able to escape.
Here at AC Locksmiths Norfolk, we are happy to work around your changeover days and with your management company to get the locks changed seamlessly without hassle for you or your customers.
Should you require any more information, please contact me for an informal chat.
It is well known that business properties, especially where the public has access, should have secure fire exit doors, which means that all locked doors should be able to be opened from the inside without a key.
But many people renting out properties for holidays do not realise that these fire exits should have easy escape capabilities. The logic behind this is that if the lock is key operated on the inside, the customers may well lock the door, put the key somewhere safe, and then should the worst happen and a fire break out, in their panic and being away from home, they could well forget where they have put the key and be caught in a tragic accident.
So if your wooden door has a nightlatch (often called a ‘Yale’ lock), and that lock has a British Standard Kite mark, you are fine.
If your wooden door has a mortice (often called a ‘Chubb’ lock), with key operation on both sides, there is a conversion that can be done to use a Euro Cylinder that has a thumb turn on the inside. This means changing the lock and handles but can use the existing space with minimal visible change.
If your door is UPVC or has any mechanism where the handles must be lifted before locking, it is a simple matter of swapping the existing Euro Cylinder for one with a thumb turn on the inside.
This is a key both sides Euro Cylinder: 
And this is a standard thumb turn Euro Cylinder:
There is a slight worry with installing these fire escape systems, though and that is I have a tool that can go in through letter boxes and turn the thumb turn allowing me access to the property. We have two solutions. Firstly, certain thumb turns on the very best cylinders are designed to be difficult for tools to turn. They might require a push while turning or just plain difficult for the tool to purchase.
Alternatively, you can buy specially designed sloped guards for your letterbox (although even these can be bypassed with ever more clever locksmith tools).
Or better yet a letter catching cage on the back of your door will stop all tools that I know of at time of writing.
If you own or run holiday lets, you might find your public liability insurance does not pay out if you have not taken the correct measures to ensure the safety of your guests.
I am noticing a lot of village halls are also suddenly finding out from fire inspections that they are not up to scratch. Please check the regulations specific to you if you run any property that is not a private home.
Click here for Government guidance on fire doors/fire safety
Should you have any questions regarding the above information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Thanks for reading.
Property Management for your second home
Do you have a second home in Norfolk? Are you thinking of buying a second home in Norfolk? A second home is a fantastic endeavour and isn’t it lovely to be able to get away from it all for a few days retreat in our lovely county? Let us help you with your property management for your second home.
In all the time I have been a locksmith, I have been meeting people with second homes. They seem to spend as much time running backwards and forwards dealing with this issue or that, meeting traders and contractors at times that only seem to be when annoyingly inconvenient. I get asked to fit a lock upgrade at very specific times because the client is fitting in so many other people in one go and they absolutely must dash back that evening for work. Or, the time that was supposed to be relaxing has suddenly turned into a frenzy of jobs that need doing so that hopefully next time the relaxing can happen.
What can we offer?
Imagine if all that hassle could be taken away from you; you arrive at your second home, find it nice and clean, with fresh sheets, food stocked and the heating on. Someone close by on call to check the alarm that is going off for no reason, or simply just check on the property after a storm. Someone who knew reputable traders so you don’t have to take a chance in an area you don’t know, someone who might be able to get things done a little more quickly. What if you could be guaranteed that bit more relaxation when you get to your second home – which is probably a large part of why you wanted it in the first place?
There are plenty of second home management companies out there. But many just add it to holiday letting businesses. I want to concentrate purely on second homes. Whether you want me to work for you on a pay as you go service, or have the peace of mind of an always on hand contract, I can make sure your second home is a hassle free endeavour.
You can tailor your service to any or all of the following:
- Contact with respected local traders for any works needed
- Manage those traders, meeting them on site
- Collect your shopping for you and stock up your kitchen using click and collect service or meeting a delivery
- Your property cleaned thoroughly on departure and spruced before arrival in cases of long absences.
- Sheets laundered and beds remade while you are gone.
- Unobtrusive cleaning at times to suit you during extended stays
- Property checks while you are away, especially at times of adverse weather.
- Utilities turned off while you are away to save on bills and turned back on before you return, with things like heating being set so property is warm when you arrive in winter.
- On call service for when the unexpected happens.
- Secure keeping of keys and recorded issuing of keys to traders and contractors who may need them.
- Meet and greet for those traders and contractors to ensure strict instructions
- A trusted to person to stay if necessary while works are carried out.
- Management of gardening
- And anything else you might think of
Remember, because I wish to work exclusively with second homes, I am not going to be over burdened with holiday lets that are given over to short bursts of cleaning between customers. A second home is still a home and I intend to look after your home like my own.
If you want to take the hassle out of owning a second home, I am here help. Meet me at your home at a time that is convenient to you. We can discuss your requirements with no obligations. From there, I will provide a quote and the rest will be up to you.
Proof of Public liability insurance and Police checks can be provided upon request. Please see our Customer Testimonials too.
