What is your first duty as a landlord? Your resident’s safety. Give your tenant the benefit of the doubt if they change your property’s locks without trying to obtain your consent first. 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 help you avoid lawsuits but also place you as a dependable landlord who is not busy for tenants in crisis.
In the event your tenant has single-handedly replaced all of the locks, communicate with them before making opinions. 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.
So that you’re on the right side of the law, ensure 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 say-so, in respect to these clauses, will be affected 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.
Also, you’ll want to highlight the gravity that your renters need to furnish you with a current set of keys so that you’re able to enter the premises of your property in Marina del Rey without any obstruction. Unfettered access will be needed to perform emergency repairs that could be harmful to the resident, their belongings, and your property.
The main point? Your job as the landlord is to furnish working locks and keys whenever a tenant moves in. Then they take charge. This signifies they’re 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 reply in no time at all. Documented communication ought to include whether the tenant has every intention to furnish you with copies of the new keys or if they choose 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 technique you can use to discourage tenants from changing locks on their own is by changing them between every tenant. It doesn’t matter how honorable a former tenant was, they should never have the possibility of re-entry after vacancy. It’s important to always know who has access to your property to ward off being sued for a future resident’s monetary losses. However, even when your keys are returned, you can’t be sure how many copies were made, who they were handed over to, or where they currently reside.
You can have every confidence in Real Property Management California Coast to switch locks to new ones before a new resident moves in. We also see to all tenant communication to make sure your Marina Del Rey property is in safe and sound. Call 310-535-2150 today to talk about all of our property management services and how you can make the most out of it.
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