I simply finished inspecting a one-bedroom apartment unit for the friend on the twenty-year old upscale property in the united states Club Plaza neighborhood of Kansas. This rentals are managed by one of the largest property managers in the united kingdom. I had been shocked with what I ran across.
As a result of premium rent, I expected to get the property in compliance with the minimum recommended precautionary features. On my earlier recommendation, my buddy had selected an incredibly visible second floor unit, becuase with the office, as it will be inherently safer to get a single woman living alone. I inspected the door locks and discovered only one in place. It had been a tired-looking deadbolt lock that have obviously been switched from another unit.
As a retired police officer and former locksmith in maidstone, I figured a fresh resident surely deserves a newly keyed lock, particularly when it’s the just one around the door?
In addition, the old lock had paint splashed about it making it easily distinguishable for the former users. No-one could say for sure how often this lock have been rotated between units and how many keys were out there.
Upon examining the lock strike-plate, I discovered two half-inch wood screws holding the strike plate onto a frail-looking part of dried-out doorjamb. It would only take one firm kick to achieve access in the unit and to my friend. I recommended that my pal order a Dual Function Door Brace from my web shop. This item enables her to secure the door internally, in fact it is extremely hard to just make a door by it in position.
I examined the free sliding glass doors and windows and found these with the most common aluminum latching hardware. Each one of these glass sliders were missing secondary track-blocking devices and anti-lift measures. I’m they are essential on all accessible sliding windows due to the possibility of the latches to fail instead of withstand minimal prying or lifting force. I recommended she attach the secondary blocking locks, she’ll pick-up these with the local home improvement store. When i installed three from the Mace Window Alerts about the windows that were accessible through the exterior using a short ladder. I felt the next floor windows were an unlikely reason for entry, because of the height, but the window alarms are cheap insurance.
I had been concerned how these safety measures were somehow overlooked when inspected at turnover by maintenance workers and by the leasing consultants who showed it. I discovered that rather than a detailed unit walk-through using the leasing consultant, my good friend was simply handed an application to fill out and return only if she noticed whatever was damaged inside the apartment. What number of new residents knows to determine the door locks, strike-plates, and window security? Can this practice predicament for your requirements?
Imagine how you would feel, if someone which team you thought about were brutally attacked inside her or his apartment unit. Imagine the method that you would feel should you learned that the assailant gained entry by either utilizing an old key or by easily kicking the doorway open. Wouldn’t you be upset? Wouldn’t you exactly what the apartment property manager punished because of not acting responsibly? This really is the reason lawsuits are filed.
Starting today, check out all of your apartment units to find out if they comply with these basic security rules:
- re-key or replace deadbolt locks at resident turnover
- use 3″ screws for strike plates on wooden doorjambs
- use secondary blocking devices for sliding doors and windows
- use anti-lift devices on sliding doors and windows
- replace window screens if missing or damaged
- use wide-angle 160-degree peepholes on entry doors
- use interior door braces on back and front doors.
- take part in and document a brand new resident walk-through
- respond quickly to resident lock-repair requests