Changing locks after a tenant’s departure is imperative for various reasons, such as property security, ensuring the privacy and safety of future tenants, upholding a proficient and dependable property management system, and mitigating the property owner’s legal responsibility. This gives a safe and secure living environment for both the property owner and the new tenants, as well as a new set of keys and a sense of assurance. Re-keying your rental property also decrease the potential for accountability, leading to a more secure and responsible property management process.
Property Security
Whether your property is currently occupied or not, landlords should prioritize security. Upon the departure of a tenant, it is possible that they may retain duplicates of the keys. By re-keying the property, you eliminate this risk and ensure that only authorized individuals have access. Even temporarily vacant properties can become subject to criminal mischief and burglary. To keep your property secure and prevent unlawful activities, you must be able to control who has access to it and when. You can make this easier by re-keying your property’s exterior doors as soon as a tenant moves out.
Renter Safety
Unreturned keys pose a serious problem for your future tenants. Renters desire a sense of security in their rental properties. Nonetheless, if previous renters still have a key to the house, the sense of safety and protection may prove to be a deceptive facade. In the event of a forced entry by a previous occupant or an individual who has been granted access to the premises, you may be held liable for any damage or injury that occurs. Plus, the loss of trust from renters could potentially lead to canceled leases and costly turnover. Re-keying the locks is important to ensure renter safety.
Increased Appeal
Although the cost of re-keying the locks between renters may pose a potential obstacle, it can be utilized as a marketing advantage for your property. If a prospective renter is concerned about security, it is advisable to ensure that their locks have been re-keyed; as follows, they may choose your property over similar rentals in the area. If you can increase demand for your property in this way, you can charge a slightly higher rent and quickly recoup the cost of having the locks re-keyed.
Hire a Professional
Depending on your level of mechanical skills, you might be able to re-key the locks on your rental property yourself. Although the task is not hard, it necessitates a certain level of knowledge. Moreover, the act of re-keying the locks is more affordable compared to replacing the entire lock, knob, or deadbolt.
Nevertheless, to guarantee that the task is done correctly, it is advisable to consider hiring a professional to perform it on your behalf. A professional locksmith can perform the task efficiently and with increased assurance that the re-key was done correctly. The top priority is the proper execution of the key transfer process, ensuring the delivery of a fresh set of keys to your new tenant.
Alternatives to Re-Keying
Today’s landlords are seeking other ways to safeguard their property and renters. In place of re-keying the locks each time a renter moves out, some landlords opt for the installation of an electronic keypad or smart key solution, which they deem to be a more cost-effective alternative. Installing a keyless entry system that uses a code rather than a physical key, for example, could eliminate the need for re-keying your house entirely. There are even more modern keyless entry systems that must be unlocked through a mobile application. Although the initial cost of these options may be higher, the benefit lies in the ability to independently replace the key code or smart key tool in a timely manner. A keyless entry system could result in significant savings over time.
Renter move-out can be a hectic time for property owners. It is recommended to consider outsourcing the task to the experts at Real Property Management Viking. Our local property managers are skilled at handling everything the move-out process requires and can find you a great new renter as well! For additional details, contact us online or call us at 612-230-3953.
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