Locks on Doors

I just had the strangest call with the Estate agent..in fact I'm quite speechless!

I am buying a duplex off plans that will be ready early next year....I have emailed the girl in the builders office (she has been in contact with me before about the completion date) again about asking if there will be locks on the doors...I will be renting one of the rooms out and would prefer if I could lock the bedroom door but she has never replied.

I phoned the Estate agent re: the completion date and mentioned to her about the locks on the doors and she told me that there won't be locks on doors as they are not allowed..I asked why and she told me that if there was a fire and the door was locked etc. etc.

I find this ridiculous and a load of cock and bull...

What can / should I do?

I presume you mean no locks on internal doors but there will be locks on external doors!?

She's kinda right. The bedroom doors open onto an escape route (corridor) and only simple fastenings which can be opened without the use of a key should be used, for good reason. This is a building regulation, Para. 1.4.3.2, TGD Part B, 1997. If someone was accidentally locked into a bedroom and a fire broke out there would obviously be a problem!

ClubMan said:

I presume you mean no locks on internal doors but there will be locks on external doors!?

Click to expand...

Yes there will be locks on external doors...

Carpenter if this is the case then how come most people in their homes new or old have the capacity to have locks in their doors if they wish?

A friend of mine has bought an apartment (moving in next week) and she has locks for all the internal and external doors?

JJJ said:

Carpenter if this is the case then how come most people in their homes new or old have the capacity to have locks in their doors if they wish?

A friend of mine has bought an apartment (moving in next week) and she has locks for all the internal and external doors?

Click to expand...

They might have locks, but I suppose technically it's wrong. You can see the logic behind not fitting locks I'm sure? Just because this regulation/ guidance is ignored doesn't make it less valid or wrong. I 've got locks on all my doors but I've got all the keys hanging up in the box room, I've never had any need for them. But then I don't rent out rooms.

The builder will hand over the apartment as per the regulations and you can retrofit locks if you wish- but is this wise? What if there was a fire?

Carpenter said:

The builder will hand over the apartment as per the regulations and you can retrofit locks if you wish- but is this wise? What if there was a fire?

Click to expand...

But I'm not going to lock myself in the bedroom or indeed my poor lodger...I only want to be able to lock the doors when I'm out or away and the same for the lodger...I'm sure they would like to be able to lock their bedroom door when they go out or away..

will just have to get them done myself when the duplex is built...

Who's to say that someone won't get locked in accidentally? Sick, drunk whatever? In a fire situation with dense smoke an occupant may not be able to find the key to ope the lock? How about if there's a visitor/ guest who's not familar with the apartment?

Carpenter said:

Who's to say that someone won't get locked in accidentally? Sick, drunk whatever? In a fire situation with dense smoke an occupant may not be able to find the key to ope the lock? How about if there's a visitor/ guest who's not familar with the apartment?

Click to expand...

How would not been familar with a duplex mean locking yourself into a room? I'm an adult I'm not stupid and going to suddenly lock myself into a room if I have a few drinks...come on...I don't think there could be any legal (?) footing for someone hurt / killed in a fire because the builder put key holes on doors? I stand corrected if there is..

JJJ said:

But I'm not going to lock myself in the bedroom or indeed my poor lodger...I only want to be able to lock the doors when I'm out or away and the same for the lodger...I'm sure they would like to be able to lock their bedroom door when they go out or away..

will just have to get them done myself when the duplex is built...

Click to expand...

I would not advise locking the doors when you are away. I know of someone who was broken in to and had a bedroom door locked (for privacy) from parents, there was nothing valuable in the room but the thieves kicked in the door and wrecked it. Obviously they thought there was something worth stealing in the room.

If I were a lodger, I wouldn't rent the room if I could not lock the door.

JJJ .

i think you need to take your debate to the relevant authority who deals with fire and safetly regulations as whilst your argument about how could anyone lock themselves in a room in a fire situation may be fine for the vast proportion of the population i am sure that someone will provide statistics to prove otherwise.

just complete the sale stick your own locks on internal doors and get on with it.

JJ