I am in the process of getting my former home rented out, and the agent I have preliminary selected insists I need to change my external entry door locks "to be updated to a latch ( definition and example attached for your reference ) unlock without a key from the inside/ open with a key from the outside." With this image used as the example: https://www.keelerhardware.com.au/assets/full/KABASBM2KIT51.…
My current external doors are (layman's language):
- generic metal screen door with double-cylinder (keyhole on each side) with handles on both sides, and a little finger lever to lock it on the inside; if locked with key either side it is deadlocked (must use key to open, lever won't disengage by hand). Similar type
- front door is double-cylinder tri-lock, handles on both sides, an additional privacy style push button on the inside to 'soft-lock' the external handle only (the actual bolt is still lose, e.g. card slit open). Using handle inside automatically pops the soft-lock. Locked with the key deadlocks it, must use key to open. Similar type
- a side door with a single cylinder lock, push button lock on the inside, and a secondary deadbolt lock above it (round double-cylinder either side). Similar type
- rear sliding door with the flick lever to latch it or not. Double-cylinder and if you lock it with the key a red tag appears on the inside indicating it's deadlocked, must use key. Similar type
The Vic minimum standards checklist document the agent included states:
External entry doors (other than screen doors) must have functional deadlocks or locks that people can unlock with a key from the outside. You must also be able to open the door without a key from the inside.
However, the more detailed page is: https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/housing/renting/repairs-alte…
A rental provider must make sure that each external door of the rental property has a working deadlatch with at least one cylinder. A deadlatch is a type of lock that can automatically lock when you close the door.
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Act is this one s4, but I think it's the same as above page anyway.
I do not see anything about my (very common) door lock types being "non-compliant" in a mandatory sense ("at least" one cylinder), and a relo's rental property with similar locks had no issues with their compliance report last year. Ironically enough my new house of a more recent build uses the locks they want me to put on.
Since everyone on OzB seems to be rich and/or renting hoping for a second/+ opinion to confirm my thinking on it.
I get the whole deadlocking yourself inside danger like fire, which is why I never did it. But is it the law now that you can't even let them have the option (in which case most screen doors are out too)?
Making some down-track assumptions, what if the agent and/or their preferred compliance check provider insists they are not compliant?
“Screen doors” are not entry doors. Unless they are in a seperate frame, they are not covered. If the screen door is part of a veranda and the main door is part of the house, then it would need to be treated as a door in its own right.
For your front door, you may be able to just replace the Euro cylinder with a Euro with a thumb turn on the inside. I would imagine that that this lock is a latch already, but it would have a dead bolt as the actual door lock. The issue they may have is that you need to use the key in the door to lock it. You can’t just pull the door closed and it is locked.
For the deadbolt rear door, just get a thumb turn deadbolt set if the bottom handle has a dead latch in it already.
I am not 100% here either, but I am pretty sure with building codes and rental properties, you have to have lever door handles fitted as well (as per their example), even on back doors. You can’t just have knob type handles on rentals. But again, I would need to look this up to confirm and it would depend on how old your house is, etc.
Caveat; while I am a part time locksmith, I just don’t have the knowledge of what is required in Victoria or under building codes. I mainly only deal with gain entry stuff and doing re-keys. I don’t really do any fitting of hardware. Your best bet would be to go and speak to a local locksmith and tell them what you are doing with the house and what you already have in the way of locks and they should be able to better guide you.