Ah the youngins...I've got a couple of guys renting a lower in one of our places. No one rents the upper unit. After Memorial Day hubby noticed the upper airing porch door wide open, and some sort of cord tied to the porch fence down to the patio.

This was the second time the upper porch door was left wide open.

All I could imagine was the liability- a small porch for one, full of drunk guys sitting on the top of the railings or trying to climb the cord (one of the guys is an avid rock climber) or worse yet, a home invasion or squatters.

July 4th was coming up and I didn't want a repeat and I didn't want to scold. We've been on good terms and I thought of another way to send a message. Hubby removed the cord and installed a double-sided deadbolt; only we held the key. If they tried it again, they wouldn't have access. It isn't a fire escape for the lower unit.

Would you have done something different, if so, what?

I fully understand your concern. Those double keyed deadbolts are 100% illegal in rental housing here. So, I believe you might have substituted your liability - but things might be different there.

So they are climbing up to the top unit, which is empty, and rappelling down to the ground?

I agree with the lock, since the place is empty. But I would scold them anyhow. Knowing they are doing it and not stopping them could open you up for more liability anyhow.

Best to nip it now. Be your normal nice self, but be firm about it.

There is a rental in the small town I started in. College kids would rent it because it was the farthest from the school. I was talking to one of the police there about some crazy thing one of my people did. He told me he drove by and the kids had gotten skis and were skiing down the roof to land on the ground.

The house was a two story with a covered porch that was on a steep angle. He told them that although it wasn't illegal to do it was unsafe and the owner would obviously not be happy.

I definitely would have inquired what that was about and after they fess up tell them the upper unit and porch is off-limits because of liability reasons.