(edit title) Changing a door lock ...as a second-hand tenant Options

[Hamsterdam]

On yer byke, hamsterdam,.

That wouldn't have been funny even when you were relevant, all those years ago.

[elk200]

@Yorkshireman: As always, a very informative and helpful post - thanks!

@elk, there is nothing in law that states You cannot change the lock. That said, it may be in Your 2nd hand contract, or indeed within the contract of Your landlord to their l ... (show full quote)

@elk, there is nothing in law that states You cannot change the lock. That said, it may be in Your 2nd hand contract, or indeed within the contract of Your landlord to their landlord!. Remember, for a 2nd hand contract, Your landlord is/may be different than the Company that owns the building. ... (hide full quote)

Ha, I could be a nitpicker and say, if my contract with the 1st hand tenant does not prohibit it - I have no contract with the building owner... But I get your point. However, I am less concerned with whether I should or shouldn't do it, because there is noone who could complain (without implicitly disclosing they had another key which doesn't work anymore). The other issue is, if I announce to the 1st hand tenant I would like a new lock, they are either "only" offended by my natural distrust or possible even alarmed in the sense of "what could he want to be hiding in our flat" - hence, I don't want to cause too much of a stir.

Finally... Unless you have it in writting that You can, do not, throw away the existing lock+keys, it is not your property, keep them handy and give back when you leave the ap ... (show full quote)

Finally... Unless you have it in writting that You can, do not, throw away the existing lock+keys, it is not your property, keep them handy and give back when you leave the apartment.

Also, if you do change the lock, that is your property, so keep the receipt ... and you are free to either hand over the reciept for the lock, or indeed change it back to the old one, when You leave. ... (hide full quote)

Yes, exactly my thinking. It was definitely my intention to just leave the flat as I received it when I move out. And then I can use my lock in my next flat for the same purpose, if required.

[byke]

Byke's right, some nasty stuff does go down, especially with second hand rentals. I'm just not convinced anywhere else in the world is better - have you seen chav neig ... (show full quote)

Byke's right, some nasty stuff does go down, especially with second hand rentals.

I'm just not convinced anywhere else in the world is better - have you seen chav neighbourhoods in the UK, byke? ... (hide full quote)

Dave,
I am sure there are 1000's of places in the world that suffer similar issues or are in fact worse.
From the drug dens of Guatemala to the serial killers of Malmö. Each having specific issues relating to a whole bunch of variables that work very different to what was being discussed.

But that wasn't the point of my post, it was simply to relay a concern that is often associated in the Swedish 2nd hand market. Unfortunately some misread this as being an attack on Sweden or local values - And feel the need to defend.

Which says volumes more about society and how people who maybe classed as "foreign", discuss such issues on a noticeboard are then accused of being anti Swedish. As people who may be classed as foreign, are clearly not allowed to discuss such issues which may shine negatively on Sweden and those who live in it (Especially in a language which some natives can understand). Hell, even Fred the prez refers to those who live in Sweden by using terms as "ethnic" to deflect negative numbers such as high unemployment as being a foreign caused issue.

Maybe when such issues are discussed in Swedish on a Swedish board, where no one knows associates the posters or the forum as being "foreign" can such issues be discussed without the general tyranny of a few keyboard warriors and house servants.

So ignore my original comment.
Issues relating to 2nd hand contracts in Sweden doesn't happen.
As nothing bad or negative could happen in Sweden, as it only happens in foreign countries.

Heja Sverige!

[Bender B Rodriquez]

Of course there's a lot of fishy things are going on with second-hand leases. This is primarily because a second-hand lease is basically the ONLY way to get a flat unless you buy one or have been in the queue for years.

[elk200]

Hej!. I am not there with with you, but locks are locks!. I'm the USA.. You can change the cylinder or the lock itself.. Just go to Youtube...It's not that hard to do...trust me on this.

Ha, you're right. I took the lock apart today to find out which model the cylinder is. All it took was a screwdriver and perhaps 10 minutes. And all the videos about picking ASSA locks are kind of reassuring that the cheapest cylinder will do (as even the expensive ones don't seem to hold a pro up for longer than a minute).

[Pursuivant]

I think though that the building owner actually owns the "hardware", including doors and locks, and the apartment owner just has the use of them. I mean you can't go change your doors, paint them pink or things like that in a block or flats. Depending on how the house ownership goes, but the house rules usually have all kinds of health & safety clauses. Usually the caretakers have a skeleton key, and the keys are "serialised" in a staircase, instead of 100 different keys. But as I said, it it depends.

[Hisingen]

Not unusually if there is a janitor (fastighetsskötare) then he often has a master key for the apartments under his jurisdiction, for access in emergency, service etc. By replacing the lock, unless you provide him with a duplicate key, he cannot access your apartment should an emergency occur (e.g. water leakage, heating breakdown).
The best thing despite everything, would be to contact the janitor to ascertain his position, and yours, regarding access in your absence. Unless your 'landlord' demands access, then there is no reason why you should not fit your own cylinder. But as said, contact the fastighetsskötare for safety sake. He is the one most affected.
Changing a lock in itself presents no difficulties, as you now know. The main thing is to discover if the existing cylinder has five or seven pins, so that the replacement cylinder itself fits properly on the door. It should not protrude more than 1-2 mm beyond the housing externally.
A new cylinder usually comes with three keys, and as and when you leave the apartment you simply replace the original cylinder, and Bob's your uncle. You take your 'own' cylinder with you, and the apartment is as it was. You then request your third key back from the fastighetsskötare, or not, since it will not be of any use once your cylinder has been removed, but it will save you 50:- by getting it back for your cylinder in another door.
It will depend upon the cylinder, of course. The older type is oval, and the newer versions are round, and it is not completely easy to get extra keys for them for security reasons. Perhaps getting an extra key before fitment might be an easier alternative. Ask a local locksmith.