Window locks

[bergclimber34]

Anyone got any advice about a window locked without a key, rented place, a few different windows installed, main one is huge in lounge and I cannot find a key, am simply wanting to air the room and prevent condensation, no key anywhere and am doubtful landlord has any idea.

[PM3]

Not acceptable. Tell landlord ( or agent if using ) to get it sorted already.

[sherman]

Fire safety hazzard if nothing else.

[J6542]

If it’s a upvc window then it’s very easy to drill the lock with a 5mm drill. It is also an easy job to change the handle, but it’s not really required unless you wanted to lock it again.

[craigjm]

PM3 said:

Not acceptable. Tell landlord ( or agent if using ) to get it sorted already.

This, safety risk

[V8Animal]

Break the handle, sharp whack with your hand upwards will break the lock.
You will still be able to open/close the window but not lock it.
Replace later about £7

[craigjm]

V8Animal said:

Break the handle, sharp whack with your hand upwards will break the lock.
You will still be able to open/close the window but not lock it.
Replace later about £7

If he owned the house then yet but as a tenant why would you do that when you can just call Mr Landlord and say get it sorted

[Mr Obertshaw]

You can often open them with something thin like a credit card slid from the right angle. Once open its a 5 min job to replace and very cheap.

[LooneyTunes]

bergclimber34 said:

Anyone got any advice about a window locked without a key, rented place, a few different windows installed, main one is huge in lounge and I cannot find a key, am simply wanting to air the room and prevent condensation, no key anywhere and am doubtful landlord has any idea.

You (or the landlord) can buy sets of window lock keys to figure out which one it is before ordering replacements.

Not expensive, and probably available from Amazon/eBay.

Far simpler than breaking things…

[Jeremy-75qq8]

There is a general contradiction with security standards / insurance requiring windows locks and building regs requiring windows of a minimum size as an escape route.

Clearly leaving the key in the window lock just undermines the security aspect but is best for escape.

We have blockers on all sash windows and there are a few keys about but I likely ought to put more of them in the rooms.

As above. Landlords problem

[swanseaboydan]

As a landlord I would say that’s the landlord’s problem.
As a side question, I have never locked the windows at my house. Why do people do this ? Is it just to stop kids fiddling with the windows and climbing out?
Sorry to hijak thread !

[Sheepshanks]

swanseaboydan said:

As a landlord I would say that s the landlord s problem.
As a side question, I have never locked the windows at my house. Why do people do this ? Is it just to stop kids fiddling with the windows and climbing out?
Sorry to hijak thread !

I found changing our house contents value to £60K didn't increase the premium but inserted a term in the policy that all windows must be locked when out of the house. There's absolutely no way that's going to happen. Dropped it to £50K and the term went away. This was with LV=.

[bergclimber34]

To be clear I did not lock the window, how could I without a key, I presume in operating them somehow the barrel rotated which probably suggests it is knackered anyway. The LL has been round with a set of keys, none given were fitted but a solution is coming.

[Sheepshanks]

bergclimber34 said:

To be clear I did not lock the window, how could I without a key, I presume in operating them somehow the barrel rotated which probably suggests it is knackered anyway. The LL has been round with a set of keys, none given were fitted but a solution is coming.

That - window apparently randomly locking - happened at daughter's house. She doesn't have keys for any of the windows which are a mish-mash of types anyway.

In attempting to resolve the locked window her husband snapped the handle off. Then she called me to replace the handle. The one I fitted came with a cover to go over the keyhole so I fitted that and kept the key.