Landlord vs. tenant security

[moneymaker]

If a certain downtown condo had a single deadbolt lock on the metal door would landlord have right to do something if tenant changed said lock/or had it re-keyed. The reason I ask is because I was asked to change said lock and didn’t due to technical difficulties but am now realizing that renting tenant may not have acquired owners permission beforehand.

[Doofrat]

I wouldn’t think the landlord would have any say in it, we always changed the locks without asking permission. As a tenant, you don’t know who has had access to the place before hand, changing the locks in a new place is a top priority.

[spdrun]

As long as you provide the same # of key copies as the landlord originally provided when you move out…

[skerzz]

I believe it’s fairly common for lease agreements to speak to this issue. Does the lease agreement for said property have a condition that covers keys/controls and/or Landlord access (i.e. changing locks without notifying landlord may be considered failure to permit “reasonable access”).

My lease agreements contain language covering both Keys/controls and LandLord access. Failure to immediately notify and delivery new keys upon re-keying of locks would be a breach of the agreement and tenant would be in default if they fail to permit reasonable access to Landlord.

[moneymaker]

I have no idea as I’m neither the landlord nor the renter, but I guess it is reasonable to assume the renter should follow the terms of the lease whatever that happens to be. I just realized that I probably never fully read any lease I signed which might have only been 1 in the past in regards to an apartment.

[EconProf]

First, the lease language controls, so both LL and tenant need to follow it strictly.
If it says nothing about the locks, then tenant cannot change them without permission. If locks are changed, LL needs to get copy of keys for several reasons: to gain access in the future (with limitations spelled out by law and in the lease), and in the event tenant loses keys or locks himself out.
Also, if tenant is given permission to change locks, LL must demand ALL the parts to the original locks. The tenant may put on a cheapo lock which could be replaced by the original lock when they leave.

[Author]

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