Updating post from Reddit.
Tenant has requested change to 5 lever mortice lock for insurance purposes - is this normal?
Currently don’t have one believe it’s a euro cylinder for the flat’s entrance, but the communal entrance has a mortice lock. The quote is £250 plus VAT which is quite a lot.
Some insurance companies insist on them, I think they make the insurance cheaper. A previous insurer of mine wouldn’t insure me once I’d moved as we only had euro cylinders. Another insurer was happy to
Most PVC doors are euro cylinder, but it's also a multipoint lock.
You don’t have to change the locks. It’s a strange request. If it was important to the tenant then they should have requested it as part of the offer conditions.
There is also nothing stopping the tenant do this themselves with their own money. At the end of the tenancy they either give you the new keys or they reinstall the original lock.
Doesn’t sound unreasonable to me (a landlord). Insurance companies do insist on 5 lever mortice locks (and sometimes window locks as well).
I've literally never had an insurance company insist on anything regarding locks. Do you live in a high crime area?
I’m not sure how to respond. You haven’t, I have. Judging from the other comments some have, some haven’t. It could well depend on area (I’m in London), insurance company or value of contents. In any case I don’t think it’s an unreasonable request by the tenant (or more specifically their insurance company). It’s a once off tax deductible expense. Amortised over 5 years its £40/year assuming lower tax bracket or £35/year on higher. I’m not sure how low the tenant’s rent would have to be for this to be an issue
this is a common lock for doors in new builds in my experience and its like the first question when you go to fill out an online insurance quote but IDK if it makes a huge difference on the costs of the insurance. I would go online and fill one out and see what the savings is for the tenant.
It’s your property. You decide.
Buy the lock and get a joiner vs a locksmith who print money.
Under £100.
or do it yourself its soooooo easy - £20 lock and 10 mins watching a youtube video
Yes.
Here's a better offer: let them do as they like, at their cost, but put back original and make good when they leave.
More than likely depends on the door? Upvc tend to have multi point locks driven by a euro cylinder, mortise locks tend to be in wooden doors and accompany a night latch.
Unclear from your OP, but would this lock be in addition to the current (and only?) lock in the door and/or would an upgrade of the euro cylinder to an equivalent standard (3*?) be acceptable to the tenant's insurance company, given the number of locking points wouldn't change as a result with a lock swap?
They could also look at different insurers who would take better account of the secure lobby door.
I'd tell him he's welcome, providing he's got £250 spare.
Often home insurance will have a condition that states locks of a certain standard must be fitted. Double check with them if that's the case as you can retrofit a euro cylinder that also meets that standard. I believe it's BS EN1303 2005.
I don't think it's unreasonable to ask for them to be fitted. You would also then 'future proof' the property against future similar asks. I would also suggest installing thumb turns with guards to improve fire safety.
Ninja edit: fit the locks yourself. It should be a simple retrofit that slots in exactly where the old locks were.
Very strange for the tenant.
To have insurance? Absurd, why would they do that?