For locks to stay effective, they need to be changed from time to time and regularly maintained. As a landlord, it is part of your role to maintain a tenant’s locks and upgrade them to ensure your property’s security and a tenant’s safety.
The best way to keep your tenants safe is by securing your property. Below are some tips for landlords who want to ensure their tenants feel safe and secure.
Enforce a No-Tolerance Policy
Make it clear that you will not tolerate any illegal activity on the property and will evict anyone who breaks the rules. You should also consider placing a clause in your lease that gives you the right to evict tenants who violate the law.
Keep Your Doors Locked
Ensure front doors are always locked, even if no tenants living in the house. This will help prevent unauthorised people from entering your property, including burglars looking for an easy target.
Keep Your Keys Safely Stored
Keep keys away from windows, doors and other parts of your home where intruders can easily access them. If you lose the key to one of your doors, it will take longer for burglars to get inside — giving you time to contact a locksmith or call the police for help.
Conduct regular security checks.
In your home, there are many different ways of securing it. You can use a combination lock to secure your front door or install a deadbolt and keep a key nearby. You can also install security cameras and alarm systems.
But sometimes, no matter how well you secure your home, it is easy for intruders to break in. Most burglaries occur during the day when people are at work or school.
Here are some tips to help keep your home safe:
1. Conduct regular security checks – This is the most important thing you can do to protect your home from intruders. Regular checks will help you identify any potential problems before they become serious.
2. Check all locks – Make sure all locks are in good condition and working properly before locking up for the night or going away for an extended period (such as on vacation). It’s also important to check that all windows and doors have functioning locks and that no loose or damaged ones could easily be forced open by an intruder.
Understand the material your doors are made of.
There are many different door lock types, and each has particular needs for the locks that will work best with them. Here are some of the common types of doors and how they work best with different locks:
Wooden Doors
These can be made from many different types of wood, but pine is one of the most common due to its affordability. Wooden doors tend to be quite heavy and unwieldy, so you’re better off choosing a lock that’s not too heavy for them. The traditional wooden door style doesn’t have any deadbolts, so you’ll need to look for something else if you want extra security.
Aluminium Doors
Aluminium is often used in commercial buildings because it’s incredibly strong and light enough to carry around easily when needed. Aluminium doors are usually fitted with deadbolts or deadlocks as standard. Still, they come with some drawbacks such as being unable to take large padlocks without reinforcement due to their weight and thickness.
Metal Doors
Metal doors can be difficult to secure because they don’t have any moving parts that can break over time. It is best to install an electronic lock which can be programmed with different codes and has a keypad on it so only certain people can open the door with their code.
Check the insurance
Landlords should check their insurance and know what is required for each property type.
Landlords are responsible for ensuring tenants have a safe and secure place to live in, but they also need to ensure that the property is well protected.
Doors and their locks
Timber doors should be fitted with mortice and/or night latch locks; UPVC and composite doors should be fitted with a cylinder lock and ideally an anti-snap cylinder if possible.
The door is the weakest entry point for an intruder to your home or business. You should consider whether you want a traditional key lock, a mortise lock or a cylinder lock.
A cylinder lock offers the best security, but it’s not always practical because it requires drilling into the door’s frame. A mortise lock can also be added to provide extra security if needed.
Timber doors must be fitted with a mortise and a night latch. This keeps them locked, even when you’re not at home.
Additional security measures landlords should consider
Landlords should take additional security measures to ensure that their tenants are safe. The following are some of the best ways to make sure your rental property is secure:
Door Chains: A door chain is a length that attaches to the door and allows it to open only partially. When using a door chain, it is important to remember that intruders can easily break through them, so they should be combined with other security measures.
Bolts: A bolt lock is designed to prevent intruders from breaking down your door by preventing them from reaching the doorknob. Installing a bolt lock will make it more difficult for criminals to enter your apartment, but they can still get in if they have enough time and determination.
Door Viewers: A peephole lets you see who is knocking on your door before opening it up. This helps protect you against criminals who may look like someone else entirely when they approach your door and prevents them from gaining access to your home quickly before you have time to react.
Keys for landlords
To help make life simpler, a professional locksmith can provide landlords with options for keys to their properties. These can range from patented, restricted, and single access keys.
In the past, landlords have been required to keep copies of every key for their properties in case a tenant loses theirs or needs to be let in when they are away. This is time-consuming and means there is a risk of someone stealing them.
However, it is possible to get new locks fitted so that only one key is needed to access all properties on the same site. This can simplify life for everyone involved as it will only take one staff member to look after all of the rented properties on site.
The only thing that you need to make sure of is that you use an experienced company that will be able to provide you with a variety of different types of keys for your needs.
Additional security for windows and patio doors
Additional security for windows and patio doors: Install top and bottom bolts (cylinder locks); Fit sash jammers on UPVC doors; Install concealed locking systems into UPVC windows; Check sash window bolts regularly and change where necessary.
Sash jammers are metal bars that fit inside the window frame, preventing the window from opening more than 5mm. They can be fitted to all sash windows, including PVC-U, timber and aluminium. They are easy to install and won’t damage your property or window frames.
Hinges on sash window and locks can be changed for ones you can only operate inside the home. This can be done by a DIY enthusiast with some basic carpentry skills or by a professional. You’ll need to install new hinges at either end of each sash so they lock when closed but can still be opened from the inside if required.
Concealed locking systems are designed specifically for UPVC windows and doors but can also be fitted to wooden windows and traditional glazing putty.
All landlords need to check with their insurance providers regarding security, what is covered as part of their policy, and what additional security measures they can carry out to bring their insurance premiums down.
You must also ensure that all locks are kitemarked and certified under British Standards. At Tyne Tees Locks, we offer a landlord discount and carry out security assessments, and British Standard locks, all matched with exceptional customer service.
Looking for an expert locksmith in Seaburn and surrounding areas? Contact Tyne Tees Locks today for a free no-obligation quote.
