Comments on: Landlord Gives Tenant Grief Over Lock Change http://www.american-apartment-owners-association.org/blog/2008/05/26/landlod-gives-tenant-grief-over-lock-change/ Real Estate News, Landlord Help, and Apartment Information Fri, 5 Dec 2008 15:17:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3 By: C. Gabriel Lewis http://www.american-apartment-owners-association.org/blog/2008/05/26/landlod-gives-tenant-grief-over-lock-change/#comment-4397 C. Gabriel Lewis Wed, 28 May 2008 15:11:25 +0000 http://www.american-apartment-owners-association.org/blog/2008/05/26/landlod-gives-tenant-grief-over-lock-change/#comment-4397 As a property manager, I do have one point I would like to make concerning the tenant changing the lock(s). While I fully understand the need for peace of mind, I wonder if they knew if the lock that they took off was re-keyed to a master? I know for all of the properties that we manage, most of them are keyed to a master so if there is an emergency - say for example water leaking from an upstairs to a downstairs unit- I can call my plumber, electrician, or my handy man, each who have a master key, to react to the situation quickly. By simply giving me a key to that one apartment, could very well disrupt the system and cause confusion as to which apartment/houses or keyed to our master or not. Having multiple keys from multiple tenants who want to change their keys when they want could be potentially hazardous. If it were me, I would have offered to change the locks ourselves at no charge and give them a new set of keys. This would be a win win situation- peace of mind for the tenant, and peace of mind for the property managers knowing they have access when need be. As a property manager, I do have one point I would like to make concerning the tenant changing the lock(s). While I fully understand the need for peace of mind, I wonder if they knew if the lock that they took off was re-keyed to a master? I know for all of the properties that we manage, most of them are keyed to a master so if there is an emergency - say for example water leaking from an upstairs to a downstairs unit- I can call my plumber, electrician, or my handy man, each who have a master key, to react to the situation quickly. By simply giving me a key to that one apartment, could very well disrupt the system and cause confusion as to which apartment/houses or keyed to our master or not. Having multiple keys from multiple tenants who want to change their keys when they want could be potentially hazardous.

If it were me, I would have offered to change the locks ourselves at no charge and give them a new set of keys. This would be a win win situation- peace of mind for the tenant, and peace of mind for the property managers knowing they have access when need be.

]]> By: Ernest Weimer http://www.american-apartment-owners-association.org/blog/2008/05/26/landlod-gives-tenant-grief-over-lock-change/#comment-4394 Ernest Weimer Wed, 28 May 2008 01:23:27 +0000 http://www.american-apartment-owners-association.org/blog/2008/05/26/landlod-gives-tenant-grief-over-lock-change/#comment-4394 To begin with, new locks should be installed at each change of occupancy. Therefore I can understand the tenant's concern. But permission needs to be discussed and obtained BEFORE the change takes place! For the tenant to change the locks without permission arrogant. Even demeaning to the Landlord/Tenant relationship. Besides, what if there were a fire or some other emergency while the tenants were away? (Before they were able to get a key to the landlord.) To begin with, new locks should be installed at each change of occupancy. Therefore I can understand the tenant’s concern. But permission needs to be discussed and obtained BEFORE the change takes place! For the tenant to change the locks without permission arrogant. Even demeaning to the Landlord/Tenant relationship. Besides, what if there were a fire or some other emergency while the tenants were away? (Before they were able to get a key to the landlord.)

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