Flat communal stair lighting breaker box key

[Cadgey123]

I feel there is a few porkie pies here... get whoever manages the property to change the light fitting/tube for you.
No offence but it’s not really upto you, hence the key situation.

 

[u0362565]

No porkies from me-
Pulled from council website:
"Why has the Council withdrawn from providing the Stair Lighting Service? The Council needs to make savings of £148 million over the next four years and as part of the savings proposal, the Council will no longer repair and maintain common stair lights in tenement blocks where the flats are all owned privately, bringing Edinburg h into line with all other Councils in Scotland."
"Where can owners obtain security drivers/keys to access the stair lighting installation? For Health and Safety reasons the Council cannot advi s ll e owners where to purchase the security drivers/keys to access the stair lighting installa tion. However a reputable Electrical Contractor will know where to obtain these security drivers/keys."
"Can the Council recommend a contractor? The Council cannot recommend an Electrical Contractor. However, you should be able to contact one via the Truste d Trader scheme, or there are two Electrical Industry Trade Associations SELECT and NICEIC and both have a “Find a Contractor” search facility on their websites. SELECT and NICEIC audit their members to ensure that they conform to industry regulations and are reputable."

 

[snowhead]

We don't pay a maintenance fee, owners are responsible for the communal areas. The only thing we pay is for stair cleaning but that's because an owner could be bothered to set this up. If there are any issues we get in the relevant trademan. This is scotland by the way perhaps things are different in England in flats.

So I would have thought, like England that there would be a Tennants management committee, to agree on who arranges what and to collect the money to pay contractors.
However the Scottish TMS is vague and pathetic and makes no specific rules.
MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF COMMON PROPERTY - http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2005/11/2194749/47514

Basically you're on your own.

If that's the case, see post no 3 and then put your own padlock on afterwards.

 

[Des 56]

I read the statement above a while back,posted on a forum by another Scottish spark,he was thinking of the opportunities it might have generated for him

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

Not sure why you are asking for a key... Those locks like 99% of similair locks can be easily opened with a tool that pushes the pins down. The grooves correspond to pins. Each pin is effectively a number that can be decoded to cut new keys or just use a pick tool available for around £90. As a unruly teenager i had a tool that opened fruit machine and arcade game locks.
Made a hobby out of going to the grand pier in weston super mare and getting the tokens to exchange for prizes

 

[Richard Burns]

If it is the secure type of tubular cam lock then you would need to know the key code in order to get a key that works, however this would be on the barrel inside the cabinet!
The two slots are to allow the key to be removed when locked or open (90° turn).
If you are the owners of the communal area and your block management company agree that you all should have access to this area then the lock should be changed (by force or locksmith) to one for which the owners have the keys.

 

[dmxtothemax]

Just change the lamps when the lights are not on ?
Your only changing a tube not a switch !

 

[u0362565]

Thanks all, i'll have a think. I will probably change the starters at the same time but yes I guess if the lights are off which they are during the day then I can probably access the luminaires without them being live. I have a voltage tester just in case. I may contact the council for advice considering the circumstances, they may say get a locksmuth in to open it in this case. I don' really want to try to force it open I will get some very suspicious looks frim the neighbours who could be a bit tut tut. Only trying to help though.

 

[Wilko]

Re neighbours - I'd be getting on the front foot and letting them know beforehand. That way hopefully they'll be appreciative, or what have you.

 

[The Ghost]

If I may enquire who owns the freehold. Have you enfranchised collectively? So the owners of the flats hold the freehold between them? So who does the decorating of the exterior and maintains the emergency lighting, who pays the cleaners, and who manages the money? Someone has to own the freehold and I assume the tenants have purchased it. If you have, then a management company must be formed and all those tasks done by it. You do pay service charges don't you? Who do you pay it to. Or otherwise you will be paying ground rent presumably, if so who do you pay that to. Follow the money.
Very often those locks/doors can be opened by inserting a screwdriver and levering the side out gently to disengage the lock cam without harm to the structure of the unit. Depends on how large it is. Otherwise drill out the centre. And replace with your own catch. Sometimes the key is hidden on top of the box or somewhere close

 

[Deleted member 26818]

I have been told, that if you dismantle a green Pentel Rollor ball pen, the barrel of the pen is the correct diameter to fit the circle and one pushed in can be used to turn the lock.

 

[u0362565]

Re neighbours - I'd be getting on the front foot and letting them know beforehand. That way hopefully they'll be appreciative, or what have you.

Its a bit informal from what I have experienced. We as owners have to arrange all communal repairs and you can follow a Tenement Management Scheme but its basically a set of guidelines on how to maintain shared/areas. But essentially its for us to spot issues and then someone contacts the rest of the owners to try and take action on it.

 

[u0362565]

I have been told, that if you dismantle a green Pentel Rollor ball pen, the barrel of the pen is the correct diameter to fit the circle and one pushed in can be used to turn the lock.

I have managed to get a simple cabinet key (circular with one groove at the top). Looking on youtube it seems I may be able to use this to turn the mechanism along with a thin metal rod to release the tensioned pins in sequence. But I will get on a ladder and make sure the door isn't just pushed too or the key isn't on top of the box!
Thanks!