So it's dark out and phone rings. Tenant can't open lock. Door is jammed somehow. OK, I drive over, it's two blocks. A very old push down latch on the front door will not move. I can't believe I left that piece of old crap on there. I try to improve everything. Ok so tell tenant we can go in through garage entrance. She says no that she has a special pole thing under the door knob so it won't budge. She also has one on the cellar entrance. So tenant has effectively left no way to get in if something mechanical goes wrong with the front door. So she says we can try to push in the garage to house door. For some reason she has no key. She did have key on move in and I have it. Same as apartment door. Maybe hers is badly cut. OK so I manage to push the door in 2 inches and get my skinny wrists in there but can't grab the pole thingy. So she gets a car cleaner pole and manages to dislodge the pole lock and we are in. So we go to the front door and it's lock is working but there is an old old latch that has to be pushed down and it's stuck. So the fix is to use tape around that latch to keep it from going into it's slot in the jamb.

So what does the locksmith, assuming I can find one tomorrow, have to do to fix that door? There is a big old curved handle and the latch is on top of that. On the side is a plate with the other latch in it that goes into the jamb. The lock that functions with the key is a surface mount dead bolt. Tenant is a helicopter mechanic so she says she can fix it but has been called into work tomorrow.

Now she did this because her room mate has been frightened by things going on locally like gun shots and they drove through Trenton and saw a guy who had been stabbed laying in a pool of blood. Nice. Roommate now scared. What can I do to make her feel safer? More locks? Door bell camera? One of those inside surveillance modules? They are great tenants and I would hate to lose them. Suggestions?

Some people live in such a level of fear that no lock or combination is enough for them. There is nothing that is enough.

Just change/fix the lock. Otherwise you'll likely never stop providing one thing after another for this person.

i have always hated those door latches that had to be pressed down ever since I was a young child. We had one on our front door, and my little hands were to small to get it opened. Now I have a bit of arthritis, and I am sure I’d have the same problem occasionally. I use a deadbolt and a passage knob on all exterior doors, and all are keyed the same. One key fits everything, so no fumbling for the right key.

I like motion sensor lighting as an added security feature. I have since realized, I also need to add lights that can be flipped on from inside, so it’s lit before they step out, if there isn’t one of those as well. ( So, both on the doors!) And, no, not the switch for the motion sensor light. It’s too confusing to get the motion sensor lights working off the switch. I found a nice corded motion sensor light at Home Depot for about thirty five dollars, when a tenant’s car was being messed with. Gave me the ability to get additional lighting up very quickly, but inexpensively, especially as we weren’t sure about the best location. Nice long cord, too. I have three of them in use now. Just saw last night how nicely the light works where I put it up for a tenant’s dog exercise area.

Yes, I am offering Simplisafe and to pay for it and maintain it. Also offering ADT alarm if they want. I don't want to lose this tenant. They actually put one of those door knob jam things on the inside cellar door in the back. I would not have been able to get into heater or my electric box! I nicely said that has to be removed immediately.

I found a locksmith that lists "removing antique locks and replacing" right on his website. He is in an old town nearby in PA. I am calling him this morning as he has Saturday hours. So I will also add a ring doorbell. All this seems to have arisen after I asked to enter with the fire inspector for the yearly inspection. They have a new cat and were afraid it would get out and canceled a trip to be there.

AllyM,

$400!?!?

My first guess is the new door jamb pinching the system.

We use Houdini lock spray.

Like anything mechanical, locks, handles, etc must be lubricated.

Thank you Robert Ontario. I will ask about that.