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Calling the fire department is a very easy way to find out the answer! It'll probably take less than a minute...
I doubt the fire dept will know the state landlord tenant laws, but there might be a real estate attorney moonlighting as a firefighter, so I guess it's worth a shot.
I doubt the fire dept will know the state landlord tenant laws, but there might be a real estate attorney moonlighting as a firefighter, so I guess it's worth a shot.
Our rental inspectors moonlight as firefighters and, like I mentioned, this type of lock is not allowed in rentals in our town. However, the OP needs to find out who regulates rentals in their area. We can respond based on our knowledge or experiences but that doesn't help the OP when they may have totally different regulations.
I doubt the fire dept will know the state landlord tenant laws, but there might be a real estate attorney moonlighting as a firefighter, so I guess it's worth a shot.
Where I live it's not a landlord/tenant issue - it's a building code or fire code issue. It applies to all homes. And yes, the fire department and the contractors and the handymen here, are all aware of it.
A quick Googling shows that there is no universal rule for the entire country - which is too bad.
Thanks for all of your advice. I will be getting a second key to ensure that I don't have problems with being locked in or out! I don't think it is stupid to be concerned about this kind of set up. It is completely non-sensical for a third floor unit with no balcony to have a lock the requires a key from the inside. It seems like a death trap.
I live in Denver and have seen no regulations banning such locks. I did find a local story of several people who were trapped in their house because of their deadbolts who suffered severe burns due the time to find the key! I will call the fire department and see if this violates some sort of code.
Thanks for all of your advice. I will be getting a second key to ensure that I don't have problems with being locked in or out! I don't think it is stupid to be concerned about this kind of set up. It is completely non-sensical for a third floor unit with no balcony to have a lock the requires a key from the inside. It seems like a death trap.
I live in Denver and have seen no regulations banning such locks. I did find a local story of several people who were trapped in their house because of their deadbolts who suffered severe burns due the time to find the key! I will call the fire department and see if this violates some sort of code.
Thanks again!
Nobody said you were stupid. I think you're overacting a bit, but I'm used to living with locks like this so to me this isn't a big deal.
Why don't you go and buy a new lock set, have it installed, and make sure you landlord gets a key? I doubt he'd have an issue with it if you're buying the lock set and having it installed.
Cost to modify the lock is $15 max... very simple since you are only exchanging the back side and not changing the key.
Just keep the part you remove so you can install it at the end of your lease.
Had a similar situation here...
The City has Neighborhood Watch and the police do free home security inspections and provide a checklist... one of the items recommended are double cylinder deadbolts...
Just about everyone on my street had them installed as recommended in writing by the Police Department.
A couple of years later... the Fire Department did fire safety inspections and recommended double cylinder front door locks without key capture be removed.
After much back and forth between fire and police it was decided the fire department could only force the non-compliant locks be removed on rentals... they had no authority over owner occupied homes. Some people switched back... I was not one of them.
Also double cylinder locks cost more than single cylinder locks.
So, if you have a Kwikset or clone, Schlage or similar... you could simply bypass the locksmith and buy a complete new identical single cylinder lock at Home Depot and swap out the one side...
I doubt the fire dept will know the state landlord tenant laws, but there might be a real estate attorney moonlighting as a firefighter, so I guess it's worth a shot.
The landlord tenant laws are not what are issues here. Local laws and codes which govern the design of buildings that are deemed safe for use are. And yes the fire marshall would have the answer. If the answer is that the lock does not pass muster then of course the landlord will pay fines until they resolve the issue.
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