QUESTION: A lease states that a landlord agrees to provide and maintain locks or other security devices necessary to keep the residential premises reasonably secure.
What does this mean? I have checked the address of a rental property with Allianz, GIO and NRMA and they say the house does not require extra locks to get insurance. Is being able to get insurance the test or is there another test? – Tiny, via Flat Chat Forum.
ANSWER: The key word here is ‘reasonable’ and that varies from place to place. An apartment on the 10th floor of a high security building probably doesn’t need double deadbolt locks. But a unit in a building that’s easily accessible from the street in a high crime area needs all the help it can get.
It sounds like your home is OK by the insurers’ standards and that will be enough for the landlord who may be reluctant to pay for additional locks without good reason.
But the other key issue is your peace of mind. Many police stations have crime prevention officers who conduct security audits on homes. Ask them what’s reasonable for this property. You can read the NSW Police Forces material on crime prevention HERE, their information on Crime Prevention officers HERE and download their checklist HERE. In Victoria, go HERE, in Queensland have a look HERE and in South Australia, check out THIS WEB PAGE.
You can always change the locks at your own expense provided you give the landlord a key. You can find out more about that HERE.