Burgled house

[gooner442]

I have recently moved into a rented house with my girlfriend and yesterday came home to find that we had been burgled. It was not a forced entry and the back door was open, we are sure we had locked it but of course you cannot 100% sure.

The police have advised that we get the back door lock changed and also that a sensor light is put in the garden. Does anyone know if I can check whether this house has been burgled before and if I have rights to have any rights to have better security. I am presuming that changing the lock will not be a problem but who knows with this letting agent.

Thankyou!

[gooner442]

........just one more thing, does anyone know of any cheap but useful security devices??....

.....trip wire, trap door or similar kind of Indiana Jones type booby traps.........maybe not but anything that might stop these lowlifes coming back

[clangnuts]

http://www.jmldirect.com/products/productdetails.asp?Keywords=&prodID=501&catID=2&catname=Household%20Durables

JML Sonic Alert - cheap and useful!

Clangnuts

[gooner442]

just had a reply from the letting agency:



Dear Martin

I am sorry to hear of this. Having been burgled myself I am aware of how
distressing it can be. I hope they did not make too much mess.

To the best of our knowledge no other tenants have been burgled. Since there
is no fault with the lock the landlord is not required to change it,
particularly since you admit that the door may have been unlocked.

Should you wish to change the lock it would have to be at your expense and
we would have to be provided with a spare key. Similarly there is no
requirement for the landlord to install a security light.

The landlord loved there for many years before renting out the property and
we are not aware of any burglary during his time. I do not believe that your
moving recently has any connection with this burglary.

Regards


Lyndon

------------------------------------------------

I never said that we had left the back door unlocked, I said that we were sure we locked it but you cannot be 100% sure. Surely the letting agents need to secure the house by changing the lock?

[MrWoof]

When I buy a new property, I always change the locks, as far as I am aware, there is no requirement for a landlord to do this. You cannot change the locks without the landlord's permission and normally the landlord and agent if any would hold a set of keys. The cost of replacing door locks is minimal and is something I would not even charge the tenant for, I would certainly not refuse to let the locks be changed providing I had duplicate keys. It does seem that somebody has used a key to gain entry so to avoid asking the wrong person, why not ask the local police if there is any burglary history at the property. If you get a security light, again, check with the landlord first, you will need permission to drill holes into a wall, also, if you get one of the 500w lights it could annoy the neighbours.

[LMT]

I use something called a 'door guard' in addition to locks at my properties. It is a lot neater, stronger and easier to use than a door chain. I am a big fan of a hardware web site called Rogers Marketing who stock them, (also lots of locks etc if you do want to change the locks) for stupidly low prices. The website is www.romark.co.uk. You will find the door guard under 'Sundry Hardware' item code SH0065P.
Any landlord who keeps a stock of bits and pieces that frequently need changing at properties should take a look at the site - they cost pennies compared to B&Q!! And no, I don't work for them.
The door guards look quite smart when fitted so worth asking if your landlord objects to you upping the security. A light is a good idea but perhaps not quite so practical in a rented house. A 'Beware of the Dog' sign is a major put-off for burglars, and less expensive!