Do you know what is your first task as a landlord? Your resident’s safety. If ever your tenant changes your property’s locks without soliciting your blessing, continually give them the benefit of the doubt. If the locks were changed as a result of roommate difficulties, domestic abuse, divorce, etc., you’ll want to put an end to any risk of liability. This will not only enable you to avoid lawsuits but also situate you as a dependable landlord who is available for tenants in difficulty.
Should you discover that your tenant changed the locks on their own, have a talk with them before making speculations. It could be that by wasting time waiting for a locksmith, it might make them vulnerable to new occasions of domestic violence. Count on the belief that your renters would only switch the property locks to new ones in order to secure themselves and their belongings from theft, vandalism, and other dangerous behaviors.
In order to be on the right side of the law, guarantee open communication with your tenants. In the beginning, specify in your lease terms whether they are allowed to change the locks and if/when they must provide you with a new set of keys. Your influence as regards to these clauses could be shaped by state law. For example, California and New Jersey permit residents to change locks without providing additional keys unless it’s explicitly stated in the lease that they may not do so.
You should also emphasize the gravity that your renters ought to give you a current set of keys so that, without exception, you’re able to enter the premises of your property in Temple, TX. Unfettered access will be needed to perform emergency repairs that could be harmful to the resident, their belongings, and your property.
What is the bottom line? Your job as the landlord is to furnish working locks and keys whenever a tenant moves in. After that, they run the show. This indicates that they are liable for replacement costs of keys and locks. You will not be deprived of anything from your tenant’s endeavor to defend themselves and their personal effects provided that they heed the procedures outlined in your lease or you remind them to do so. In the event that you’re unable to perform an emergency repair due to a lock change, negotiate with the tenant as to whether or not you’ll deduct the cost of the repair from their security deposit.
Always document the renter’s request or notification of changing the locks and make a response as quick as you can. Documented communication should cover whether the tenant plans to present you with copies of the new keys or if they intend to restore the locks to their original condition when they vacate your property. If your tenant fails to coordinate with you or to form alternative suggestions after an ample grace period, you are permitted to tell them that you mean to deduct the replacement costs from their security deposit.
One course of action to discourage tenants from changing locks on their own is by changing them between every tenant. Even if you find a former resident worthy of your trust, they still should never have the possibility of re-entry after vacancy. It is significantly important to be aware of who has access to your property to avert being sued for a future resident’s monetary losses. Yet, when keys are returned, you cannot be certain as to how many copies were made, who they were lent to, or where they currently reside.
You can rely on Real Property Management Talent to swap out the locks before a new resident moves in. We also attend to all of the tenant communication to verify that your Temple property is protected from harm. Call 254-401-0400 today to explore all of our property management services and how you can profit.
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