It was a rather late hour, around 11:30 in the evening, when my phone rang. On the other end was a distressed young local Bradford woman who found herself locked out of her newly rented house. She had been facing issues with the locks since day one, and when she reached out to the agent, their response left much to be desired ‘the previous tenants had no problem; you’ll get used to the key.’
It was a particularly grim night; the day had seen heavy snowfall, and as evening set in, it was clear that freezing temperatures were on the way. Not the most inviting conditions to be out and about, but as a 24/7 locksmith, we are always on call, always ready to come to the rescue. So, without hesitation, I set out to help.
Minus Temperatures
The weather outside was far from welcoming as I made my way to the distressed tenant’s location. Snow-covered streets and an icy chill in the air set the scene for this late-night locksmith mission.
The Battle with a Faulty Lock
Upon arriving at the property, I encountered a front door lock, commonly known as a night latch or Yale lock. I tried using the key provided to the tenant, but it was abundantly clear that something was amiss—the lock simply wouldn’t cooperate. I employed a range of techniques in an attempt to unlock the door, but none seemed to do the trick.
Thankfully, there was an alternative entrance to the property located at the back. However, even this door refused to yield to the tenant’s key. This one, though, had a letterbox. With the help of a nifty tool designed for such occasions (almost like an extended hand), I managed to open this door.
A Closer Look at the Locks
Once inside, I took a moment to inspect both locks. It was evident that they were both faulty and far from being insurance-rated. I couldn’t help but wonder how they had managed to function for as long as they had. They were beyond a lock repair service, they needed to be fully replaced. When an estate agent takes on a new property, there are certain standards they must adhere to regarding electrical and gas compliance. Unfortunately, this doesn’t extend to locks. It’s a gap in regulation that often goes unnoticed. I shudder to think about what could have happened if a fire had broken out and the tenant had been trapped inside due to these faulty locks.Promoting Lock Standards
As someone who has been a landlord in the past, I understand the importance of ensuring that properties meet certain standards, not just in terms of gas and electricity but also in terms of lock quality and insurance compliance. It’s high time that guidelines are put in place to ensure that locks in rental properties are fit for purpose, meet insurance regulations, and, most importantly, guarantee the safety and security of tenants.
In this profession, every call is a reminder of the critical role we locksmiths play in ensuring the well-being of our clients. Late nights, cold weather, or challenging locks, we’re always ready to answer the call and provide peace of mind. If you ever find yourself in a similar situation or need expert lock assistance in Bradford, know that No Shut Sure Lock is just a call away, ready to come to your aid.
24 Hour Emergency Locksmiths Bradford
No Shut Sure Lock Bradford provides both residential and commercial customers with a fast and reliable 24-hour emergency locksmith service in Bradford. We are available 24 hours a day 7 days a week for any lock key or security issues you may be having. Any situation in which you need the services of an emergency locksmith is a stressful experience, whether you have lost your keys, locked out or locked in, broken your key, or been broken into. Our expert team of local locksmiths are on hand to help, call today!
Whatever your lock and key problem our team here at No Shut Sure Lock Bradford are on hand to solve the problem. So, if you find yourself locked out, broken into, moved home or just need to upgrade your locks to more secure locks then we have a solution for you. Our team is local to Bradford and home to reliable locksmiths who always provide a professional and reliable service to every customer, our top priority is to leave our customers feeling much more safe and secure in their property than when we arrived.