Door Wont Open Properly

[chessington]

My daughter rents a flat privately and she has been there a year, she has told the estate agents the kids door gets stuck and wont open, her and her partner can open it from the outside as they have a knack to doing it now (yes, its been like it for ages and nothing has been done) the kids can not open it from inside, ages of the girls are 4 and 7 years old. If there was a fire it could make it difficult to get the girls out or visa versa. My daughter has told environmental health about this too on numerous occasions as they were dealing with a mould problem in the flat too, any suggestions apart from a the proverbal firework up the *** of the estate agent, this actually makes me angry as my grandkids lives could be at risk TIA

[Khandro]

To whom do they pay the rent? If it's the estate agent they could suggest they get a joiner to fix it and deduct the cost from their next payment.

[Cloverjo]

Perhaps they could video themselves trying to open the door from the inside and outside of the room, send the video to the estate agent and demand that it is sorted out or they will get it fixed and deduct the cost from their next payment - as Khandro also said.

This is terrible behaviour by the estate agent. You could also threaten to go to the local newspaper who'd love this, but I guess your daughter wouldn't want to jeopardise any future tenancy renewal.

[Trawlerman]

Ask your local fire station for a fire safety inspection they should attend. Also if this a property of multiple occupation there are specific laws regarding fire safety.
For a small fee the fire service may do a report on the flat and methods of escape.

[cassa333]

Depends on what the problem is really.

Is it poorly aligned?

What has the LL/estate agent said about why it hasn't been fixed? What did environmental health say?

How did it happen? Was it like that when she moved in?

[chessington]

Thanks for all replies, it was like that when they moved in in January LAST year and has been reported loads of times, I will show my daughter the replies when I next see her, good idea about the fire service, thanks all

[Hopkirk]

Well said, Divebuddy.

[hc4361]

divebuddy, many leases prevent the tenant from making any alterations, improvements or even putting a nail in a wall. If any attempt at repair causes any damage then the tenant will be liable.

As an emergency measure I suggest your daughter puts a towel or flannel over the top of the door - this will prevent it closing

[Quoi]

If I was really worried that my families lives were at risk I would just get it done. Either myself or by paying a handyman. Their lives are worth more that a few quid. If I didnt have the money or the skills - one of my family somewhere would step in.

[Quoi]

Sorry for the cross over.

[Hopkirk]

A blob of Vaseline might solve it temporarily.

[chessington]

thanks, they have had it planed in the past by a carpenter friend but they are not meant to do anything to the flat really. The point is the estate agents are rubbish and the previous tennant was not well was an alcoholic and never got anything done to the flat when she was there so all the things wrong is down to my daughter and her partner to get rectified.
They have same problem with the kitchen door, last year it slammed in the wind when the window was open and the door would not budge and the estate agent came out then as she couldn't feed her one year old child and yes, this happened at lunchtime, im surprised the flat passed anything to be let in the first place, my council house is more modern. Good idea about the towell, thanks again