Emergency Lock Change!

[Smowball]

Is there anyone who comes out and changes locks in an abusive emergency when the tenant has no money to pay for it?? Someone I know is in an abusive relationship. She's asked him to leave and he's refused. She's taken children out and he's txt her the most disgusting things I've ever read, told her he's just smashed up her new wardrobes and that he's taken the back door key so she can't lock him out. She says she can't call the police as last time she did they said if she took him back she'd lose her children.
Only thing I can think of is changing the locks but she doesn't have the money.

[Smowball]

Anyone??

[hc4361]

I don't know of such a thing but a cheap solution would be to put a bolt on the inside of the door. Easily done for under a tenner

[Smowball]

Will have to check if it's a wooden door as if it's PVC she won't be able to put a bolt on it(but good idea!). Just don't know what else to suggest to her.

[hc4361]

Assuming the door is inward opening she can use a door wedge to stop the door being opened easily from outside. Should give her time to call the police and get her and the kids out of the front door.

There are also gadgets that will stop a door being opened from outside such as these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000RJS3AS?tag=amz-mkt-opr-uk-21&ascsubtag=1ba00-01000-org00-def00-other-nomod-uk000-pcomp-feature-scomp-wm-4

As she is a tenant she should inform her landlord that she has lost the key to the back door and the barrel needs to be changed.

[-Talbot-]

I doubt there is.

There isn't much to go on here but are the doors upvc?

[-Talbot-]

If they are she could ask a friend (you if you also have upvc doors) to swap locks, a very simple job.

[saintpeter48]

Surely changing the locks will only antagonise the situation, he sounds like a nasty piece of work and who knows what might happen. I would advise contacting the police and/or local Citizens Advice Bureau who will give clear guidance as to what to do. The lady and children in this relationship are in danger and need the law onside. Good luck. CAB national number is 03444 111 444.

[sapelesam]

The comment regarding the police sounds a bit iffy. She has the texts to prove his threats, she must call the police. She must make a final decision as to whether she will take him back as there is a limit to police action if she will not commit to prosecute and get rid once and for all.

[murraymints]

smow ..she has to call the police..the chidren's welfare is always considered usually to be with the mum..both her and the kids need to be in a safe environment..call the police or social services !

[hc4361]

It seems the police and social services have previously been involved due to a history of domestic violence. If he is a threat to the children then the children could be removed if she keeps taking him back.

[Old_Geezer]

Locksmiths tend not to be in it for the chance to be charitable. But maybe contact some abuse charity to see if they'd fund it ?

[Peter Pedant]

I dont think the lock change in the answer
and I think she is jerking you around on this one
i
Abusive partner and she had been told she will lose the kids if she takes him back - so..... she takes him back

it strikes me that the main thing is how she is going to keep hold of the kids when the police are next called which seems inevitable. Anyway if what she says is true then you should be thinking of the safety of the kids which is paramount - rather than bolt-on accessories like how do I get someone else's locks changed

[Smowball]

It's a UPVC door. I told her to put anything into the lock this side and then sellotape over it to stop him putting his key in.