Is there such thing as a security gate that doesn't need drilling to secure it?

[Claudetta]

My mother has moved into a new place and was told by the authorities there that no one is allowed to drill in or outside for a year as it's a new build and need to see whether there's any structural damage or something like that.

The problem is security, she has stairs going up to her flat and the area has plenty of kids and has had a high rate of unsocial behavior and crime.

Is there a free standing security gate which she could lock when she goes out and at night to stop people wandering up to her front door?

I'm not sure of the exact dimensions but i'd say it was roughly the space of a wide door so maybe 3ft wide and the height is unrestricted by a roof over the stairs so the height isn't an issue.

[bednobs]

what's up with people coming to her front door?

[Claudetta]

Well seeing she's had heart surgery i'd much prefer kids playing knock down ginger, burglars, thieves, conmen and junkies who usually find places like that to smoke and inject their drugs to be no where near my mother or the property.

[bednobs]

if it is as bad as you say, a security gate probably isn't going to help much - it'll be a challenge for them! Also, i can't quite picture what you are describing, but if the stairs are a common part of the building, it's incredibly unlikely she'd be able to put ANYTHING there

[bednobs]

also, if she has conmen and junkies, burgalrs and theives around, perhaps she ought to ask to be moved? or call the police?

[Claudetta]

The neighbors have had these criminal around and the police have been called many times to many crimes.

It hasn't personally happened to my mother yet as she's only been there for 3 weeks.

I'm sure you'll agree that prevention is better than the cure.

I agree with you that it's a possibility that nothing like this would be allowed probably because of health and safety in case it falls on someone or something and i'm actually still looking for the tenancy agreement which has somehow been mislaid somewhere.

[tonyav]

Claudetta, I understand how you feel, but I doubt if the fire brigade would like it !

[Claudetta]

That's one thing i never thought of tonyav and i can imagine that it'd be a similar concern with medical staff having to attend the property too.

Oh well time for a rethink.

[tonyav]

Yep, I'm afraid so claudetta.

[The Builder]

Claudetta.... what you really need is a force-field, rather like the foce shields on TheStarship Enterprise, but I doubt if they're available in B&Q yet :o(

Failing that........... what about a fairly powerful security light over the front door. Standard PIR type with movement detection. No one who's up to no good likes to be "in the spotlight".

[Twenty20]

Did your mother get a choice of where she could live? Did you visit the property first? Is it council housing or is she a private tenant?

I'm just wondering why all this is surfacing now, after only being there 3 weeks.

[Claudetta]

@The builder, no no drilling, nails or anything like that.

@Twenty20, Yes it's council and yes we did visit the property beforehand but it was a quick move due to certain issues i can't go into here as a court case is still pending.

Basically we need security measures like the lights that the builder mentioned and maybe cctv that could alert her family that intruders or anyone is in the "red zone" that would set it off but the only thing which narrows it down is these have to be free standing and able to be put inside without drilling, nails, screws etc.. and not be in the way.

Do these exist or do you have a better idea?

[bednobs]

anything freestanding is asking to be stolen

[Tilly2]

Why on earth did she accept this housing?

[RATTER15]

It sounds like you need an armed guard!

[ChuckFickens]

I'm loving the idea of a free standing security gate!
http://ih0.redbubble....he-pointless-gate.jpg

[Tilly2]

Please do not throw stones at this notice.

[ELVIS68]

I don't see how a few drill holes on each side of the wall is going to cause any structural damage.

[puddle-duck]

What about something like this as it fits over her own door it shouldn't be a problem for others gaining access to the stairs.

http://images.search....urce=2&start=0&pos=16

[Tilly2]

Perhaps a chain lock on the inside might be better.

[EDDIE51]

Even if she did get such a gate it would not be allowed as it would be against fire access / escape rules . Imagine if there was a fire and in the panic she could not open the gate or lost the key. If the place is 1/2 as bad as you say the local yobs would think it very funny to lock her in.
The stairs are an escape route and CAN NOT be blocked ever .
Any way a free standing gate would be removable so it would be stolen.