Reducing the property owner’s liability and property security and ensuring the privacy and safety of the incoming tenants are just a few of the many reasons why changing locks after a tenant moves out is so important. Both landlords and the new tenants benefit from this arrangement since it establishes a safe and secure living environment and gives a fresh set of keys and peace of mind. Reducing the likelihood of legal action against the landlord is another benefit of re-keying your rental property.
Property Security
It doesn’t matter if your rental property is empty or not; landlords should prioritize security. When tenants move out, there is always the possibility that they may still have spare keys. By re-keying the property, you get rid of this possibility and ensure that only authorized individuals have access. Even temporarily vacant properties can become targets for criminal mischief and burglary. It is important to restrict who can enter your property and at what times in order to keep your property secure and deter criminal conduct. You can make this easier by re-keying your property’s exterior doors as soon as a tenant moves out.
Renter Safety
Unreturned keys become an even bigger problem for your future tenants. Renters need a sense of security in their rental properties. However, if previous renters still have a key to the property, that sense of safety could be a dangerous illusion. If a previous occupant or someone to whom they handed a key intrudes, you may be held liable for any damage or injury that occurs. If renters stop trusting you, you could lose them, which may result in canceled leases and costly turnover. Re-keying the locks is important to ensure renter safety.
Increased Appeal
While the cost of re-keying the locks between renters may deter you, you can use it as a selling point for your property. If the prospective renter is concerned about security, you can reduce their worries by warranting that their locks have been re-keyed; for this reason, they may pick your property over similar rentals in the area. If you can increase demand for your property in this fashion, you can charge a slightly higher rent and rapidly recoup the cost of having the locks re-keyed.
Hire a Professional
Contingent upon your level of mechanical expertise, you might be able to re-key the locks on your rental property yourself. It’s not really challenging, but you will need to know what you’re doing. Furthermore, the cost of re-keying the locks is much lower than replacing the entire lock, knob, or deadbolt.
However, if you want to make sure the job is performed right, you may want to consider hiring a professional to come in and do it for you. A professional locksmith can rekey the lock quickly and with greater assurance that the rekeying was done correctly. The most critical part is that it is done correctly and that you have a whole fresh set of keys to hand over to your new tenant.
Alternatives to Re-Keying
To safeguard their property and renters, landlords nowadays are exploring new security measures. Rather than re-keying the locks each time a renter moves out, some landlords find it more cost-effective to install an electronic keypad or smart key solution. If you have a keyless entry system that uses a code instead of an actual key, for example, you could eliminate the need for re-keying your house entirely. Even more modern keyless entry systems nowadays require unlocking using a mobile app. The initial expense of such options may be more, but the benefit of easily replacing the key code or smart key tool on your own is substantial. A keyless entry system could result in significant savings over time.
Renter move-out can be a busy day for property owners. If you need help, why not hire Real Property Management Pocatello? All the details of your move-out will be taken care of by our experienced local property managers, and they will also help you find a great new renter! To learn more, contact us online or call us at 208-234-1000.
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