Changing locks once a tenant departs is necessary for numerous factors, including property security, preserving the privacy and safety of incoming tenants, upholding an efficient and dependable property management process, and lowering liability for the property owner. This gives the landlord and new tenants a safe and secure living environment, as well as a new set of keys and a feeling of confidence. Re-keying your rental property lowers liability as well, making the property management process more secure and accountable.
Property Security
Whether or not your property is currently occupied, landlords should prioritize security. When tenants leave, there is always the possibility that they may still have copies 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 targets for criminal mischief and burglary. To keep your property secure and discourage criminal activity, 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 when a tenant moves out.
Renter Safety
Unreturned keys become an even more serious problem for your future tenants. Renters want a sense of security in their rental properties. That sense of security can be a false one, though, if previous renters still have a key to the house. You might be held liable for any damage or injury that occurs if a previous occupant or someone they supplied a key to breaks in. Additionally, you risk losing the renter’s trust, which could lead to canceled leases and costly turnover. Re-keying the locks is advisable to ensure renter safety.
Increased Appeal
While the cost of re-keying the locks between renters may put you off, you can utilize it to your advantage when marketing your property. If a prospective renter is concerned about security, you may allay their fears by making sure that their locks have been re-keyed; due to this, they could pick 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 rapidly recoup the cost of having the locks re-keyed.
Hire a Professional
You might be able to re-key the locks on your rental property yourself, depending on your mechanical ability level. It is not challenging, but it does require some knowledge. Additionally, re-keying the locks is less costly than buying a new lock, knob, or deadbolt.
However, consider hiring a professional to come in and do it for you if you want to ensure that the job is done correctly. A professional locksmith can complete the task more quickly and with greater assurance that the re-key was done correctly. The most crucial factor is that everything is done correctly and that you have a whole fresh set of keys to provide to your new tenant.
Alternatives to Re-Keying
Landlords today are seeking additional strategies to safeguard their property and renters. Instead of re-keying the locks each time a renter moves out, some landlords discover that installing an electronic keypad or smart key solution is more cost-effective. For instance, installing a keyless entry system that employs a code rather than a physical key might eliminate the need for re-keying your house. Even more modern keyless entry systems require a smartphone app to unlock. The advantage of such options is that you can rapidly update the key code or smart key tool yourself, despite the fact that they initially cost more money. A keyless entry system could result in significant savings over time.
For property owners, moving out of a renter can be a stressful moment. Why not let the experts at Real Property Management Prosperity handle it for you? Our neighborhood property managers are adept at managing every aspect of the move-out process and can even help you find a fantastic new renter! To learn more, contact us online or call us at 267-364-5785.
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