Doors, windows and locks in a Pakenham rental
How doors that bind and damaged windows affect the locks and windows standards.
In short: Two of the 15 rental minimum standards are about locks and windows. Older Pakenham rentals often stumble on both.
The locks standard
External entry doors must have a functioning deadlock or a lock that can be opened from inside without a key. Doors must also close and latch for the lock to work.
The windows standard
Every external window that can open must be able to be secured with a latch.
What we see in older homes
Doors out of level that bind and will not close freely, damaged window frames and sills, and external doors without weather seals.
Why it matters
A door that will not latch cannot be locked. A damaged window may not close or latch properly.
Fixing it
Most are carpenter jobs: rehang or plane the door, repair the frame, fit a latch. We can return to confirm the fix.
Written by our local inspection team from work carried out in Pakenham. Licensed building practitioners, Building & Plumbing Commission registration CDB-U 53425.
