Communal entry doors for street properties

We have a legal duty to carry out regular fire and building safety checks in communal areas.  

Over time, different locks have been fitted to communal doors in street properties. This means we cannot always get easy access to complete our safety checks. Sometimes we’ve had to ask residents to let us in. In some cases, we’ve had to force entry to complete fire risk assessments. 

To avoid this and to keep everyone safe, we’re fitting a universal key system to all communal doors. 

How the universal key system works 

We store the universal key securely at our head office. Any officer or contractor who needs to use it must sign it out and sign it back in. This means we always know who has the key and for how long.  

If an officer or contractor needs to access a communal area, they will always wear a uniform and carry ID 

What this means for you 

We will always try to let you know in advance about any lock installations or planned work. 

When we replace a communal door lock, each flat within the block receives 3 keys for the new lock. The keys are free of charge and sent by special delivery. This means they must be signed for. 

You must not change the communal lock. This would be a breach of your tenancy agreement. 

Ordering additional keys 

Additional keys cost £15 each. Email your full name, address, phone number, and the number of keys you need to [email protected] or call 020 7974 4444. 

These are specialist keys and cannot be cut at your local locksmith.  

If you lose your communal door key 

If you lose your communal access key, email [email protected]. 

Further information 

Find out more about the decision to introduce the universal key system.