Changing locks once a tenant leaves is imperative for numerous reasons, like property security, respecting new tenants’ privacy and safety, maintaining a competent and dependable property management procedure, and lowering accountability for the property owner. This provides 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 feeling of assurance. Re-keying your rental property also lowers the liability risk, making property management more secure and accountable.
Property Security
Whether or not your property is currently leased, landlords should prioritize security. There is always the risk that a tenant may still have extra keys after moving out. Re-keying the property reduces risk and ensures that only people with permission can enter. Even briefly vacant properties could fall victim to criminal mischief and burglary. You need to control who gets access to your property and when to keep your property secure and discourage illegal activities. You can make this easy by re-keying your property’s exterior doors after a tenant moves out.
Renter Safety
Unreturned keys become a more serious problem for your future tenants. Renters want to feel secure in their rental properties. The feeling of security can be a false one, though, if previous renters still have a key. If a previous occupant or someone they handed a key to sneaks inside, you may be held liable for any damage or injury that occurs. Additionally, you will lose your renter’s trust, which may lead to canceled leases and costly turnover. Re-keying the locks is required to ensure renter safety.
Increased Appeal
Although the cost of re-keying the locks between renters may deter you, you can use it as a selling feature for your property. If a prospective renter is concerned about security, you can minimize their fears by making sure that their locks have been re-keyed; hence, they could choose 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 easily 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. It’s not difficult, but it does demand some expertise. In addition, changing the lock, knob, or deadbolt is more expensive than re-keying the locks.
But if you want to make sure the job is done right, you might consider hiring a professional to perform it. A professional locksmith can finish the job more quickly and with more assurance that the re-key was done correctly. What matters most is that it is done correctly and that you have a whole fresh set of keys to give to your new tenant.
Alternatives to Re-Keying
Landlords today are on the hunt for other methods to safeguard their property and renters. Some landlords believe installing an electronic keypad or smart key solution is more cost-effective than re-keying the locks each time a renter moves out. For example, adopting a keyless entry system that utilizes a code rather than an actual key might completely eliminate the need for re-keying your house. Even more modern keyless entry systems require a smartphone app to operate. The benefit of such solutions is that you may quickly change the key code or smart key tool yourself, despite the fact that they are initially more expensive. A keyless entry system might end up in significant savings over time.
Moving out of the renter can be a stressful time for landlords. Why not let Real Property Management Pacific experts handle it? Our local property managers are experienced at managing every aspect of the move-out process requires and can even help you find a great new renter. To learn more, contact us online or call us at 510-900-4544.
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