Consumer unit has 'shower' breaker?

[talksr]

There's probably no boiler yet, either.

AIUI, things which are desirable to thieves don't get fitted until the very last minute. A building site full of copper cylinders is a tempting target.

No no, there is a boiler.
I took a look yesterday. Literally, all lights left on, 5 in the evening, doors shut but unlocked with keys still in them, all windows open. No body on site. Half the street is now sold and people occupying the houses, otherside is my house and others in similar state!
They are clearly running very behind!

....if I had been a squatter...there is a whole half side of a street with keys in the locks and doors unlocked!

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Let's hope none of the local burglars are smart enough to get copies of the keys made.

 

[talksr]

Let's hope none of the local burglars are smart enough to get copies of the keys made.

That is EXACTLY what my brother said to me yesterday! I won't mention where this development is for obvious reasons!

 

[bernardgreen]

A friend ran a house cleaning company that specialised in cleaning new builds ready for the new owners to move in. She closed it down about five years ago after seeing too much mal practise and being told to shut up. Mention too much about shoddy workmanship and the retention would not be paid.

 

[flameport]

When you move in, get the lock cylinders replaced.
Regardless of whether criminal types have copied the keys, you still have no idea of who has additional keys or how many keys there are.

The above applies to moving into any new property whether new build or not.

 

[John D v2.0]

Yes we bought a previous rental, then changed the locks, then about 2 or 3 months later the old owner came by for some stuff left in the garage and said "here's my set of keys, you may as well have them." Despite having signed to say he would hand over all keys on completion.
Always change the locks on any new house to you, ideally even a rental if you don't trust the landlord.

 

[SUNRAY]

Always change the locks on any new house to you, ideally even a rental if you don't trust the landlord.

Surely you're not advocating that people should break the terms of their rental agreement are you John?
I'd be mortified if my tenants did that to me!

 

[John D v2.0]

Of course i am, statutory law overrides tenancy agreements anyway, so putting that term in has no effect.
You have pretty much the same right of entry to a house that you own that someone else's has possession as you do to any other random house on the street ( ie none without a court order or if it's an emergency, fire etc)
As a landlord it's your job to know the law.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

When you move in, get the lock cylinders replaced.
Regardless of whether criminal types have copied the keys, you still have no idea of who has additional keys or how many keys there are.

Or even what quality the cylinders are.

If (probably will be) it's a Euro cylinder type

then they are a POP to replace yourself - no locksmith needed, it takes literally just a few minutes to do.

 

[talksr]

Or even what quality the cylinders are.

If (probably will be) it's a Euro cylinder type

then they are a POP to replace yourself - no locksmith needed, it takes literally just a few minutes to do.

I bet proper locks must cost a fortune.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Technically that isn't a lock, it's a cylinder.¹

These are locks:

Probably difficult to change yours for something different (but easy to replace if when they fail - half an hour or so, including cutting to length).

The cylinders can be replaced with better ones (e.g. resisting bump attacks), and good ones don't cost a great deal more. Some have a type of key which locksmiths are not supposed to just copy if you turn up with one - you need documentation to prove you are the rightful owner.

¹ This matters when you go looking for things to buy.

 

[securespark]

ABS Avocet are good.

Straight swap for eurocyls but they are snap proof. Plus they cannot be copied without the code, even if you have a key.

Just need to pop out the cyl and measure the dims from the centre to each end of the lock.

 

[Lectrician]

I swapped all mine for keyed alike Yale euro cylinders. They keys cannot be copied with out the tag (code/bar code). So much easier having all the doors the with the same key, although not so if you have a "looser" in the family who regularly looses keys! Then it gets costly!

 

[SUNRAY]

Of course i am, statutory law overrides tenancy agreements anyway, so putting that term in has no effect.
You have pretty much the same right of entry to a house that you own that someone else's has possession as you do to any other random house on the street ( ie none without a court order or if it's an emergency, fire etc)
As a landlord it's your job to know the law.

As a landlord I try to keep up to date with relevant laws but I confess I do tend to rely on my managing agents monthly updates / newsletters which they all send me.
I would have thought it is obvious that any tenancy agreement has to be written within the law, otherwise it would be null and void, so theoretically not legally enforceable.
I have just double checked with one of my managing agents and my solicitor, written into my agreements are access at any reasonable times for inspection / repair (there are 3 lines of definition following this) or any time in an emergency (4 more lines). It seems I have more rights of access than the Police but of course not as much as Inland Revenue or Gas Board.
Any changes to lock arrangements are only permitted following 7 days of written consent from me and any new key must be issued to me before or at the time of fitting if I am present. I happily allow tenants to keep their own locks when they leave as long as the property is not left insecure and return my 3 copies of their key (all in the agreement). I do automatically change locks at times of tenant change, (keeping as stock for future changes).
Any costs incurred by me to gain legitimate access after unauthorised changes are chargeable and include an excess of £200, (A moot point whether this is enforceable if any debts exceed the deposit).
The agreement is purchased from an on line company for a fee which includes free updates when conditions change.
To date there has only been one authorised additional lock (on the inner porch door) and one unauthorised. I didn't need to worry about gaining access as their dealer did that for us and the tenants were escorted from the property by the bobbies.

 

[rsgaz]

Plus they cannot be copied without the code, even if you have a key.

They keys cannot be copied with out the tag (code/bar code)

Sadly, these guys claim to be able to copy Yale superior or Avocet ABS keys from just a photo of the key...

http://www.lockandkey.co.uk/news/ABS-Key-cutting-£4.95-Vs-£25-each-1027.aspx
http://www.lockandkey.co.uk/products/yale-superior-keys-cut-from-£4.75-inc-vat-online-fast-secure-delivery-replacement-keys-29169.aspx

It's true that your standard high street key cutting shop/kiosk won't be able to though, granted.



edit:
They do ask for the code to make Ultion keys though....

http://www.lockandkey.co.uk/products/replacement-keys-cut-to-suit-ultion-locks-£9.00-per-key-£9.00-each-104141.aspx