Changing locks after a tenant departs is imperative for several factors, like property security, protecting new tenants’ privacy and safety, keeping a professional and dependable property management procedure, and lessening responsibility 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 sense of trust. Reducing the potential for legal action against the property owner is another benefit of re-keying your rental property.
Property Security
Whether or not your property is inhabited, landlords should prioritize security. It is always possible that former renters could still have spare keys lying around after they move out. By re-keying the property, you can be assured that only authorized people will have access to your property. There is always a risk of criminal mischief and burglary, even temporarily vacant properties. The ability to regulate when and who can enter your property is crucial for keeping your property secure and discouraging illegal behavior. You can make the process smoother by re-keying your property’s exterior doors once a tenant moves out.
Renter Safety
Unreturned keys become an even bigger problem for your future tenants. Renters desire a sense of security in their rental properties. But if previous renters still have a key to the house, that sense of safety may be misplaced. If a previous occupant or someone to whom they gave a key breaks in, you may be held liable for any damage or injury that occurs. Additionally, you will lose your renter’s faith, which may result in canceled leases and costly turnover. Re-keying the locks is imperative to ensure renter safety.
Increased Appeal
Although the cost of re-keying the locks between renters may put you off, it can be used as a selling factor. If a prospective renter is concerned about security can be allayed if the locks have been re-keyed, making your rental a more appealing option 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
You may be able to re-key the locks on your rental property by yourself if you are mechanically inclined. It’s not hard, but you will need some background knowledge. Furthermore, re-keying the locks is cheaper than replacing the entire lock, knob, or deadbolt.
You might consider hiring a professional to conduct the job if you want assurance that it will be done properly. A professional locksmith can assure that the re-key was done correctly with better speed and accuracy, giving you peace of mind. The most important thing 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
Landlords today are on the lookout for innovative security measures to safeguard their property and renters. Some property owners believe that electronic keypads or smart key solutions are more cost-effective than re-keying the locks each time a renter moves out. You could eliminate the need for re-keying your house again if you install a keyless entry system that requires a code instead of a physical key. More modern keyless entry systems can now only be accessed with a special smartphone app. The upfront cost of such options may be more, but you’ll save time and money in the long run by being able to easily replace the key code or smart key tool yourself. A keyless entry system could result in significant savings over time.
Property owners may experience increased stress during tenancy termination. Why not have the experts at Real Property Management Silverstone take care of it for you? Our local property managers are pros at coordinating everything the move-out process requires and can find you a great new renter as well! If you have any questions, contact us online or call us at 586-992-6419.
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