![\"belongings](\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/GettyImages-1173098478.jpg\")
<\/h2>\n3 reasons a landlord can change the locks on a rental property\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\nThere are three main scenarios where a landlord can change a tenant\u2019s locks – when they move out, if they abandon the property, and eviction. However, landlords still need to communicate that they are planning to change the locks in any of these situations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n1. When a tenant moves out<\/span><\/h2>\nThe first scenario where it\u2019s okay for landlords to change locks is at the end of a lease. The day after your tenants have moved out, you\u2019ll likely want to change the locks for security reasons. It\u2019s well within your rights as the landlord to do this. Until new tenants move in, the property is yours.<\/span><\/p>\nWhen tenants return the original set of keys, you can\u2019t be certain they didn\u2019t make copies. To be safe and ensure they no longer have access to the property, you should change the locks.<\/span><\/p>\nThis isn\u2019t a situation where you\u2019d charge the tenants unless there is a lock policy in the lease. It\u2019s a precaution landlords can opt to take. But if it\u2019s specified that this charge falls back onto the tenant, you should send a copy of the service invoice to them and inform them you\u2019re deducting the cost from their security deposit.<\/span><\/p>\n2. When a tenant abandons the property<\/span><\/h2>\nIf a tenant has left without notifying you and taken their keys with them, consider changing the locks for safety reasons. However, you should be transparent and notify the tenant first.<\/span><\/p>\nTechnically, even if they\u2019re not living in the house, the tenant is still protected by the lease to enter the property. The first question you should ask is whether they plan to return. If so, they can legally access the property until their lease expires. Keep the locks the same and remind the tenant to give the keys back.<\/span><\/p>\nIf tenants tell their landlords they\u2019re not returning, which means they won\u2019t be giving back their keys, you should notify them of the specific date you\u2019re having the locks changed.<\/span><\/p>\nEven if a tenant is unresponsive, you should still wait until the lease is up before taking any action. If that is unsettling, you should reach out a second time and let them know you haven\u2019t heard from them and are changing the locks. Should they want access to the home, you can give them a new key as long as it\u2019s returned.<\/span><\/p>\nYou also need to communicate to the tenant whether you\u2019re deducting the cost of the lock change from the security deposit. This can most likely only be done if it\u2019s listed as a consequence in the lease of not returning the original keys.<\/span><\/p>\n3. When a tenant is evicted<\/span><\/h2>\nChanging the locks is the last thing a landlord can do during the <\/span>eviction process<\/span><\/a>. It\u2019s not something you can decide to do without going through the legal process of eviction first.<\/span><\/p>\nIf there\u2019s a tenant who\u2019s not paying rent or has breached the lease in some other significant way, landlords must get an eviction judgment before even considering changing the locks. From there, the tenant has a certain number of days to appeal the judgment, depending on the state. It\u2019s only after the judgment and the appeal process have expired that you can change the locks.<\/span><\/p>\nEvery state has its own set of landlord-tenant laws, including the specifics of an eviction procedure. Whether a landlord can change locks legally is a question best answered after consulting your state\u2019s laws. You may also want to talk to an attorney to ensure they\u2019re doing everything right.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"house-cleaning-tips-4\"](\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/GettyImages-170094591.jpg\")
<\/h2>\nCan a tenant change the locks, too?<\/span><\/h2>\nRules about changing locks vary, but they include stipulations for both landlords and tenants. Most <\/span>lease agreements<\/span><\/a> prohibit tenants from changing locks, at least without the landlord’s permission. After all, you need to ensure you get a copy of the new key.<\/span><\/p>\nYou don\u2019t have to know the specific reason that the tenant wants to change the lock. However, tenants need to give advance notice and a way to get back into the property. You don\u2019t want to get left without access if you need to make a maintenance call or once the tenant moves out.<\/span><\/p>\nLandlords can specify the situations where a <\/span>tenant can change the locks<\/span><\/a> without proper notice. These options are usually more serious situations, such as losing their key, an immediate security risk, or needing to keep an old roommate from entering the property, etc. These scenarios can be listed in the lease.<\/span><\/p>\nWhat to do if a tenant changes the locks without permission<\/span><\/h2>\nIf you\u2019re a landlord and you\u2019ve discovered your tenant changed the locks on your property without notification, the first step is getting access. Ask them for a copy of the new key and remind them that they needed to have asked you first. If they give a new key without any issues, you may decide to resolve the situation there. It can count as one strike, but not a reason for further consequences.<\/span><\/p>\nTechnically, changing the lock means the house isn\u2019t left in the same condition it was in upon moving in. Even though you have a key, this may give you enough reason to deduct the cost of changing the lock from the tenant\u2019s security deposit.<\/span><\/p>\nWhen a tenant doesn\u2019t give access to the property, that can cause potential problems. If an emergency situation arises, such as a fire or leak, and you can\u2019t access the house, you\u2019re within your rights to call a locksmith or even break down the door. However, you can <\/span>get into trouble<\/span><\/a> taking this extreme type of action in a non-emergency, so try to avoid things getting to this point.<\/span><\/p>\n
1. When a tenant moves out<\/span><\/h2>\nThe first scenario where it\u2019s okay for landlords to change locks is at the end of a lease. The day after your tenants have moved out, you\u2019ll likely want to change the locks for security reasons. It\u2019s well within your rights as the landlord to do this. Until new tenants move in, the property is yours.<\/span><\/p>\nWhen tenants return the original set of keys, you can\u2019t be certain they didn\u2019t make copies. To be safe and ensure they no longer have access to the property, you should change the locks.<\/span><\/p>\nThis isn\u2019t a situation where you\u2019d charge the tenants unless there is a lock policy in the lease. It\u2019s a precaution landlords can opt to take. But if it\u2019s specified that this charge falls back onto the tenant, you should send a copy of the service invoice to them and inform them you\u2019re deducting the cost from their security deposit.<\/span><\/p>\n2. When a tenant abandons the property<\/span><\/h2>\nIf a tenant has left without notifying you and taken their keys with them, consider changing the locks for safety reasons. However, you should be transparent and notify the tenant first.<\/span><\/p>\nTechnically, even if they\u2019re not living in the house, the tenant is still protected by the lease to enter the property. The first question you should ask is whether they plan to return. If so, they can legally access the property until their lease expires. Keep the locks the same and remind the tenant to give the keys back.<\/span><\/p>\nIf tenants tell their landlords they\u2019re not returning, which means they won\u2019t be giving back their keys, you should notify them of the specific date you\u2019re having the locks changed.<\/span><\/p>\nEven if a tenant is unresponsive, you should still wait until the lease is up before taking any action. If that is unsettling, you should reach out a second time and let them know you haven\u2019t heard from them and are changing the locks. Should they want access to the home, you can give them a new key as long as it\u2019s returned.<\/span><\/p>\nYou also need to communicate to the tenant whether you\u2019re deducting the cost of the lock change from the security deposit. This can most likely only be done if it\u2019s listed as a consequence in the lease of not returning the original keys.<\/span><\/p>\n3. When a tenant is evicted<\/span><\/h2>\nChanging the locks is the last thing a landlord can do during the <\/span>eviction process<\/span><\/a>. It\u2019s not something you can decide to do without going through the legal process of eviction first.<\/span><\/p>\nIf there\u2019s a tenant who\u2019s not paying rent or has breached the lease in some other significant way, landlords must get an eviction judgment before even considering changing the locks. From there, the tenant has a certain number of days to appeal the judgment, depending on the state. It\u2019s only after the judgment and the appeal process have expired that you can change the locks.<\/span><\/p>\nEvery state has its own set of landlord-tenant laws, including the specifics of an eviction procedure. Whether a landlord can change locks legally is a question best answered after consulting your state\u2019s laws. You may also want to talk to an attorney to ensure they\u2019re doing everything right.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\nCan a tenant change the locks, too?<\/span><\/h2>\nRules about changing locks vary, but they include stipulations for both landlords and tenants. Most <\/span>lease agreements<\/span><\/a> prohibit tenants from changing locks, at least without the landlord’s permission. After all, you need to ensure you get a copy of the new key.<\/span><\/p>\nYou don\u2019t have to know the specific reason that the tenant wants to change the lock. However, tenants need to give advance notice and a way to get back into the property. You don\u2019t want to get left without access if you need to make a maintenance call or once the tenant moves out.<\/span><\/p>\nLandlords can specify the situations where a <\/span>tenant can change the locks<\/span><\/a> without proper notice. These options are usually more serious situations, such as losing their key, an immediate security risk, or needing to keep an old roommate from entering the property, etc. These scenarios can be listed in the lease.<\/span><\/p>\nWhat to do if a tenant changes the locks without permission<\/span><\/h2>\nIf you\u2019re a landlord and you\u2019ve discovered your tenant changed the locks on your property without notification, the first step is getting access. Ask them for a copy of the new key and remind them that they needed to have asked you first. If they give a new key without any issues, you may decide to resolve the situation there. It can count as one strike, but not a reason for further consequences.<\/span><\/p>\nTechnically, changing the lock means the house isn\u2019t left in the same condition it was in upon moving in. Even though you have a key, this may give you enough reason to deduct the cost of changing the lock from the tenant\u2019s security deposit.<\/span><\/p>\nWhen a tenant doesn\u2019t give access to the property, that can cause potential problems. If an emergency situation arises, such as a fire or leak, and you can\u2019t access the house, you\u2019re within your rights to call a locksmith or even break down the door. However, you can <\/span>get into trouble<\/span><\/a> taking this extreme type of action in a non-emergency, so try to avoid things getting to this point.<\/span><\/p>\n
When tenants return the original set of keys, you can\u2019t be certain they didn\u2019t make copies. To be safe and ensure they no longer have access to the property, you should change the locks.<\/span><\/p>\n This isn\u2019t a situation where you\u2019d charge the tenants unless there is a lock policy in the lease. It\u2019s a precaution landlords can opt to take. But if it\u2019s specified that this charge falls back onto the tenant, you should send a copy of the service invoice to them and inform them you\u2019re deducting the cost from their security deposit.<\/span><\/p>\n If a tenant has left without notifying you and taken their keys with them, consider changing the locks for safety reasons. However, you should be transparent and notify the tenant first.<\/span><\/p>\n Technically, even if they\u2019re not living in the house, the tenant is still protected by the lease to enter the property. The first question you should ask is whether they plan to return. If so, they can legally access the property until their lease expires. Keep the locks the same and remind the tenant to give the keys back.<\/span><\/p>\n If tenants tell their landlords they\u2019re not returning, which means they won\u2019t be giving back their keys, you should notify them of the specific date you\u2019re having the locks changed.<\/span><\/p>\n Even if a tenant is unresponsive, you should still wait until the lease is up before taking any action. If that is unsettling, you should reach out a second time and let them know you haven\u2019t heard from them and are changing the locks. Should they want access to the home, you can give them a new key as long as it\u2019s returned.<\/span><\/p>\n You also need to communicate to the tenant whether you\u2019re deducting the cost of the lock change from the security deposit. This can most likely only be done if it\u2019s listed as a consequence in the lease of not returning the original keys.<\/span><\/p>\n Changing the locks is the last thing a landlord can do during the <\/span>eviction process<\/span><\/a>. It\u2019s not something you can decide to do without going through the legal process of eviction first.<\/span><\/p>\n If there\u2019s a tenant who\u2019s not paying rent or has breached the lease in some other significant way, landlords must get an eviction judgment before even considering changing the locks. From there, the tenant has a certain number of days to appeal the judgment, depending on the state. It\u2019s only after the judgment and the appeal process have expired that you can change the locks.<\/span><\/p>\n Every state has its own set of landlord-tenant laws, including the specifics of an eviction procedure. Whether a landlord can change locks legally is a question best answered after consulting your state\u2019s laws. You may also want to talk to an attorney to ensure they\u2019re doing everything right.<\/span><\/p>\n Rules about changing locks vary, but they include stipulations for both landlords and tenants. Most <\/span>lease agreements<\/span><\/a> prohibit tenants from changing locks, at least without the landlord’s permission. After all, you need to ensure you get a copy of the new key.<\/span><\/p>\n You don\u2019t have to know the specific reason that the tenant wants to change the lock. However, tenants need to give advance notice and a way to get back into the property. You don\u2019t want to get left without access if you need to make a maintenance call or once the tenant moves out.<\/span><\/p>\n Landlords can specify the situations where a <\/span>tenant can change the locks<\/span><\/a> without proper notice. These options are usually more serious situations, such as losing their key, an immediate security risk, or needing to keep an old roommate from entering the property, etc. These scenarios can be listed in the lease.<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re a landlord and you\u2019ve discovered your tenant changed the locks on your property without notification, the first step is getting access. Ask them for a copy of the new key and remind them that they needed to have asked you first. If they give a new key without any issues, you may decide to resolve the situation there. It can count as one strike, but not a reason for further consequences.<\/span><\/p>\n Technically, changing the lock means the house isn\u2019t left in the same condition it was in upon moving in. Even though you have a key, this may give you enough reason to deduct the cost of changing the lock from the tenant\u2019s security deposit.<\/span><\/p>\n When a tenant doesn\u2019t give access to the property, that can cause potential problems. If an emergency situation arises, such as a fire or leak, and you can\u2019t access the house, you\u2019re within your rights to call a locksmith or even break down the door. However, you can <\/span>get into trouble<\/span><\/a> taking this extreme type of action in a non-emergency, so try to avoid things getting to this point.<\/span><\/p>\n2. When a tenant abandons the property<\/span><\/h2>\n
3. When a tenant is evicted<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/h2>\nCan a tenant change the locks, too?<\/span><\/h2>\n
What to do if a tenant changes the locks without permission<\/span><\/h2>\n