[Haps]

I need to know what I can do, because last night the lock on my flat door in a shared house ceased up and locked itself. In doing so my keys, phone etc etc were all locked in. I didn't know what to do after trying and failing to unpick the lock, I had to resort to borrowing a hammer from a neighbour and knocking a hole into the door. I was then able to get in by undoing the lock from the inside.

http://www.wickes.co.uk/invt/188194 Lock is similar to this.

I need to replace the door can I get the landlord to sort this out??
Its the weekend and although the lock still sort of works I dont feel there is any security now. Should the landlord who is an agent open mon-fri pay for another door and lock?

Thanks

[Vohamanah]

If you used a letting agency surely they gave you an emergency contact number for just such a scenario? If they didn't or you lost it, wouldn't calling a locksmith have been a better idea than bashing a hole in the door with a hammer?

The letting agents may agree to replace the lock if it broke, but I doubt they will fund replacing the whole door, since it was damaged by you. If its a security issue and the door really needs replacing they may arrange for it to be replaced, but they'd surely take the cost out of your deposit at the end of your tenancy.

[Haps]

There was no emergency number, just a recorded msg saying we are closed. Not outside of hours contact number for the letting agency repairs etc neither.
There was no other way of getting in and now it is a security issue. The lock is defective and I did not have my mobile phone to contact lock smiths who I was told would charge a lot more than the door is worth to come out on a Friday evening. I will speak to letting agent on Mon and see if they'll sort it out. Feel as though I had no other option, but to break in.

[Vohamanah]

(Original post by Haps)
There was no emergency number, just a recorded msg saying we are closed. Not outside of hours contact number for the letting agency repairs etc neither.
There was no other way of getting in and now it is a security issue. The lock is defective and I did not have my mobile phone to contact lock smiths who I was told would charge a lot more than the door is worth to come out on a Friday evening. I will speak to letting agent on Mon and see if they'll sort it out. Feel as though I had no other option, but to break in.

Meh that's rather silly of the letting agents, not to give you an emergency contact. What if your flat floods or something.

The locksmiths would charge an arm and a leg, sure, but the letting agent would be more likely to reimburse you for that than for the cost of a new door, I think, since it was plainly the lock that was the problem.

Good luck with the letting agents, hope they agree to pay for the damage.