When it comes to rental properties in Waco, you as the owner should know by now that it is understandable if residents raise concerns about their personal safety. Anticipate that whenever new residents rent your property, they will raise questions about changing the locks for their peace of mind. This way, they are convinced that old residents or other individuals who used to have keys to the property will no longer be able to come in anytime. Not all places require landlords to change the locks between residents though, while some local laws do. Plus, some property owners often feel like changing locks is such a useless expense.
If the resident asks, do you need to change or re-key the locks?
The uncomplicated response is no, and you are probably not required to change the locks upon demand. But it is essential to factor in the possible outcomes of failing to do so.
As a responsible property owner, you have a great deal of responsibility when it comes to your residents. It is within your duties to give you Waco residents the means to secure the home so whenever residents sign a lease; you provide them with keys, garage door openers, or passcodes not only to give them access to the property but also you give them the means to secure the property. Reality is, residents, tend to make multiple copies of their keys to give away to family members or even neighbors, and more often than not, when they move out, they are not at all concerned about those copies let alone correctly dispose of them.
On the other hand, if you fail to change or re-key the locks, and somebody illegally enters the residence, you could be slapped with a lawsuit and be held responsible for damages. Particularly in cases of domestic abuse, divorce, or family issues, or even if a former roommate is a concern, changing the locks between residents is a necessary step in protecting yourself from legal liability.
Of course, the locks are only one piece of a rental home’s system. Garage door openers, keypads, and other access devices are also likely dangers. Residents may give away entry codes to babysitters, repairers, or others who need access to the home when they are not around. Careful management of passcodes, remote controls, and so on should be part of your Waco property management strategy, as well as changing codes or replacing remote controls as needed to help safeguard the protection of your residents.
At Real Property Management Talent, we want to make sure that the only people who have access to your rental properties are your residents. That is why we include lock changes among residents as an essential part of our property management services. Our approach is designed to protect you and your properties with the best practices in the industry. To learn more, contact us online or call us at 254-401-0400 today.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.