Thread: Rifle safe/rack and renting a flat

Hi guys,

I am currently renting a place (stay in Wellington) and am looking at buying a rifle.

What would be best? Can I buy a rifle rack and that would be sufficient or should I go for a safe? It'sjust really tough to move a safe if I change where I live? Don't want to let the police come and do inspection and then they're not happy with a rack only?

Hopefully someone is in my position and has some good advice.

Thank you



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Maybe have a chat with the police, they are the ones you really have to please at the end of the day. I prefer a safe as it speaks for its self, but a mate of mine is in the boat as you and has a rack in a walldrobe.

Thanks mate!

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Get a safe. Racks might be legal at the moment, but I don't see it being the case for much longer. And, when you get a safe, get a decent one like what used to be known as B, C, E cat. I would suspect that will also become minimum standard. I'm soon to buy a house, sure, but have flatted up till now and just moved 4 safes, one of which weighs over half a ton. My E cat rated one is much lighter though, and is manageable with two adults. It's all part of owning a firearm, and the rules are about to become stricter, you watch. You might not get burnt with a law change, but with the speed and aggressiveness of law changes recently, don't be surprised. Buy once, cry once etc.

Also run it past your landlord as some may not allow firearms, I have been there

Originally Posted by ROKTOY

Also run it past your landlord as some may not allow firearms, I have been there

Yeah, that'll probably be the end of my lease then

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a steel cabinet screwed through base into floor of wardrobe wont leave any marks for landlord to moan about...a couple of 12 screws into the wardrobe lining take about 53secounds to plaster over the wee tiny holes when you remove it and leave....you can buy putty in rediculacely small containers and smooth it on with a bread knife....

Get a rack and throw it up into the man hole in the ceiling. Heavy duty and decent length screws to mount it into a solid beam that you can reach.

When you move out just take it with you. Don't bother telling landlord, only damage will be two or three screw holes out of sight in a non visual part of building.

Although that may not be legit storage now days it worked well for me when renting in the past.

Originally Posted by Preacher

Get a rack and throw it up into the man hole in the ceiling. Heavy duty and decent length screws to mount it into a solid beam that you can reach.

When you move out just take it with you. Don't bother telling landlord, only damage will be two or three screw holes out of sight in a non visual part of building.

Although that may not be legit storage now days it worked well for me when renting in the past.

The practical steps Preacher is proposing are reasonable but my personal take is that regardless of what you're fixing how, I'd run it past your landlord first, especially if they're slightly user-friendly/ your relationship is ok with them. Getting caught trying to do the sneaky and having permanently damaged the place is a good way to get kicked out pronto and lose a good chunk of your bond, especially if they're feeling malicious/ hard done by. It also opens you up to an angry (ex) landlord talking to the cops about how you might not be "fit and proper", as some people have previously mentioned on here. It starts getting pricey if they start charging you to repair load bearing members or even damage to linings.

I know if I was a landlord and had a tenant engage with me and discuss a reasonable, minimal damage, proposal for fixing a safe/ rack I'd take that a lot better than catching them do it without my permission

Two or three small screw holes on the topside of a ceiling beam is hardly permanently damaged.

Personally I would rather a landlord did NOT know I had firearms. But to each their own.

Originally Posted by Preacher

Get a rack and throw it up into the man hole in the ceiling. Heavy duty and decent length screws to mount it into a solid beam that you can reach.

When you move out just take it with you. Don't bother telling landlord, only damage will be two or three screw holes out of sight in a non visual part of building.

Although that may not be legit storage now days it worked well for me when renting in the past.

This is what I did in one of my flats, the screw damage is minimal and also consider covering it with something, I used to keep a towel draped over rack/guns and it wasn't all that obvious.
I never had any issues, have my own place now and a proper safe with other security but only had a couple guns then

Im one of those mean nasty landlords id just run it past him its the decent thing to do if you expect him to cooperate last thing you want is a contractor to come across it and he hears second hand theres firearms on his property hes unaware of i dont have a problem with my tennant having firearms

Originally Posted by Preacher

Two or three small screw holes on the topside of a ceiling beam is hardly permanently damaged.

Personally I would rather a landlord did NOT know I had firearms. But to each their own.

Yeah was what I did when renting. Landlords were cool but were also soft types.

Not really fair to allow the landlord to decide if you can hold a rifle or not. Be careful where you put it and it will be fine.

Definately go the safe, especially in a group living situation.

I am a landlord.
Would prefer tenant asked.
A reasonable approach should get a reasonable response



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Thanks everyone. I already asked and he is fine with it. Will be looking at a safe and buying within the next week or so.

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