Changing locks following a tenant’s departure is crucial for several reasons, including property security, preserving incoming tenants’ privacy and safety, maintaining a streamlined and dependable property management process, and reducing liability for the property owner. The provision of a safe and secure living environment for both the landlord and the new tenants, coupled with the issuance of new keys and assurance of confidence, is facilitated by this approach. Re-keying your rental property can reduce the liability risk associated with property management, promoting a safer and more responsible approach to managing your property.
Property Security
Whether or not your property is currently occupied, landlords should prioritize security. Upon the departure of tenants, there’s a potential risk whereby they may retain copies of keys. By re-keying the property, the potential hazard of unauthorized access is eliminated, and the assurance of access is provided solely to those with proper authorization. Even briefly vacant properties can become at risk of criminal mischief and burglary. To keep your property secure and deter unlawful actions, you must be able to regulate who has access to it and when. You can simplify this by re-keying your property’s exterior doors once a tenant moves out.
Renter Safety
Unreturned keys pose a major problem for your future tenants. Renters want a sense of security in their rental properties. Yet, if previous renters still have a key to the property, the impression of safety may be deceptive. If a previous occupant or somebody to whom they issued a key trespass, you may be held liable for any damage or injury that occurs. Losing the trust of renters can result in canceled leases and costly turnover. Re-keying the locks is essential to ensure renter safety.
Increased Appeal
Although the cost of re-keying the locks between renters might discourage you, it can be leveraged as a benefit when selling your property. If a prospective renter is concerned about security, one possible solution is to ensure that their locks have been re-keyed; as a result, they may choose your property over similar rentals in the area. If you can increase demand for your property in this manner, you can charge a slightly higher rent and rapidly recoup the cost of changing the locks.
Hire a Professional
Depending on your mechanical proficiency, you might be able to re-key the locks on your rental property yourself. While not difficult, it does require a bit of expertise. Additionally, re-keying the locks is more affordable than replacing the entire lock, knob, or deadbolt.
Nevertheless, to ensure the job is executed accurately, you should consider hiring a professional to enter and manage it. A professional locksmith will be able to do the job more quickly and with greater assurance that the re-key was done correctly. The most crucial factor is the proper execution of the process, which entails the provision of a fresh set of keys to the incoming tenant.
Alternatives to Re-Keying
Contemporary landlords are seeking new methods to safeguard their property and renters. As opposed to re-keying the locks each time a renter moves out, some landlords believe that installing an electronic keypad or smart key solution is more cost-effective. For example, installing a keyless entry system that requires a code rather than a physical key could eliminate the need for re-keying your house again. Even more modern keyless entry systems need unlocking via a smartphone app. While such alternatives are initially pricier, the benefit is that you can easily update the security code or smart key tool. A keyless entry system could lead to significant savings over time.
The process of renter move-out can potentially induce stress for property owners. Why not entrust this responsibility to the experts at Real Property Management Lonestar? Our local property managers are experienced in handling all aspects of the move-out procedure and can additionally assist in identifying a suitable renter. To find out more, contact us online or call us at 603-448-8808.
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.
