Common property door lock keeps getting changed by one of the unit owners

The problem is a common property balcony which can be used for BBQs etc which has a locked access door to prevent anyone other than the unit owners or renters from using it, having one of the unit owners keep getting the lock changed by a locksmith so that only he has a key and so is the only one that can use that area.

This must be a common problem. How to prevent one unit owner from getting a locksmith to lock everyone else out. Not feasible in a big city to notify all the locksmiths that they aren't allowed to change the lock without management permission.

The only thing I can think of is to have that notification engraved on the door so that any locksmith can see that but but even then there is nothing to stop the rogue unit owner from gluing a cover plate over that. Surely there must be an elegant solution to what must be a common problem.

Maybe a fancy electronic lock that needs to be unlocked using a phone, but it's a block of 60 units and it might well be a big ask to expect everyone to have a phone capable of unlocking it. And presumably the best locksmiths can just bypass that anyway.

Reply to
543dsa
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Would a lock with a four digit passcode be of any use?

Reply to
Dean Hoffman

Presumably the answer is a very high security mechanical lock which needs the master key before the lock can be changed. Then management is the only one with that master key that even a locksmith would need to change the lock. Is that possible, to have a lock that even a locksmith would need the master key to change the lock ?

Reply to
543dsa

Fill the lock with super glue everytime the lock gets changed.

Reply to
Ralph Mowery

Fraid not, he would just get his locksmith to change that.

Just been talking to my locksmith and he can't think of any way to do it.

Reply to
543dsa

That stops everyone from using it. Even just removing the lock so anyone, including non unit owners from using it wouldn't work because he would just get his locksmith to install another one.

Reply to
543dsa

The solution is to install a Primus lock. Each Primus lock series is regist ered to one locksmith. Only that locksmith can duplicate keys for a given l ock and only for the person registered as the owner. I don't know if anothe r locksmith could completely remove the lock and replace it with another bu t I doubt a legitimate locksmith would do so. Talk to a locksmith who handl es Primus locks.

Reply to
Ed60062

This sounds like it might work.

You've been billing his unit for all the costs of changing the locks?

Do you really have 60 households using the same balcony? It must be very big????

Is this a co-op or condo? With a board? Have you passed a rule against this and a fine? The fine for changing the lock should be something like 300 or 500 dollars plus 200 for each household which says it would have used the balcony but couldn't. So the first fine would be 700 or more, which you would bill to the malefactor and when he didn't pay, you'd put a lien on his property and foreclose, and evict him. If you don't already have a clause making him pay all the costs of foreclosure, you can pass one now as part of this rule for foreclosures pursuant to this rule. He may get a lawyer to fight all this but you probably have insurance already to pay your lawyer.

You've kept track of the times he's done this, and noted every incident, because if you end up in court his intransigence is a major point. How many times has he changed the locks? How much elapsed time has he had the only key? When do people want to use it, on the weekend? If so, how many weekends has he had the only key.

If this doesn't work, invite yourself over to his apartment for a meeting and break all his things. Or at least confiscate his grill. Put that in the rule too, that no person who changes the lock without permission can grill on the balcony for 8 weeks.

Enforce the rule in real time. I can't quite imagine the layout. The door to the balcony is from the hall? That everyone shares? It can't be from each appartment at the same time, that would take 60 doors.

Have oyu talked to a lawyer about this?

So when he uses the balcony does he lock it so no one can get on at the same time? Can you see that he's there from the ground? What floor is this? Even if not, you can tell when someone else tries to use it. When you see he's there, go up with your drill and drill out the cylinder and every one join him and his cookout. Turn off the gas on his grill. Give his meat to a dog. Pour water on his food. Tell his friends who are there what a rotten neighbor he is. Tell them not to trust him. Stick to the facts and your opinion** and it's not libel.

**Saying someone is rotten is an opinion.

Once collected, the fines should not be kept by the board so it makes a profit. Take out the out of pocket costs but at least the 200 per person should go to the people who wanted to use it that day. Then they won't be quite as angry. It's not good for people to be angry, even if the other party deserves it.

Reply to
micky

Why would a locksmith have to change it? If the miscreant forgets the passcode he/she/it would have to ask someone else for it

Then he is an idiot.

Reply to
Richard

Effective...

Reply to
The Natural Philosopher

I thiught he had already dine that.

So all YOU are doing is stopping HIM from using it, as well.

Reply to
The Natural Philosopher

So that the miscreant gets how own unique passcode.

If the miscreant forgets the

He is locking everyone out except himself.

Then you wont have any difficulty spelling out how the miscreant can be prevented from using his own locksmith from locking everyone out of the balcony except himself.

Reply to
543dsa

No, the other unit owners can't use that balcony at all.

Reply to
543dsa

Sounds more like a legal problem - take an injunction against the miscreant?

Reply to
Tim Watts

Yes, but he would keep doing that when management keeps getting their own locksmith to keep returning the lock to its original state where everyone has a key to that lock.

No, he gets to use the original key that everyone originally got, again.

Reply to
543dsa

Report the offending owner to the police for criminal damage.

If you don't know who that is, install CCTV.

Reply to
Robin

So you agree with me then, that as long as you only CA fill the changed lock, no one else is more inconvenienced they they would be anyway.

Reply to
The Natural Philosopher

Nope

never come across such a selfish act in a communal block (and I've seen some selfish acts)

tim

Reply to
tim...

Anyhow this

a) must be costing the guy a bomb to do

b) must be a know individual (the guy on the balcony tat no-on else can get to

So all that you have to do is get the management company to inform the guy that he has to desist in what is almost certainly a breach of his lease, and that if he doesn't the MC will have no choice but to seek forfeiture of the lease

tim

Reply to
tim...

It isn't criminal damage, the new lock works fine, just for him. The police will say that it is a civil matter and they are right about that.

It is known who it is. He claims it is his personal balcony.

Reply to
543dsa

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