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

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

Yep. What you can do depends on the contract, which ideally has clauses for these unexpected situations. In an uninhibited world one might make only o ne side work so he gets locked out on the balcony, but I very much doubt th at would be legal IRL. Finding out who it is would enable you to at least b ill him for every replacement and possibly not provide replacement keys to him.

NT

Reply to
tabbypurr

Report the offending owner to the police for criminal damage.

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

Reply to
Robin

Police don't take kindly to that, they view it as the building manager's job to take care of such minor issues. Sensibly so.

Reply to
tabbypurr

Dangle the guilty party by his heels from said balcony until he sees the error of his ways?

Why is he being such an anti-social bellend in the first place?

Reply to
Halmyre

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...

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