What's Fair?
Trying to figure out what’s fair before I respond to my tenant (garden level of our brownstone) – We moved into this house in December and the front door and tenant door both have Multi-Locks (the kind of key that you need a code in order to make a copy). – The previous owners did…
Trying to figure out what’s fair before I respond to my tenant (garden level of our brownstone)
– We moved into this house in December and the front door and tenant door both have Multi-Locks (the kind of key that you need a code in order to make a copy).
– The previous owners did not have the code, so we do not have the code and therefore cannot makes spares
– My tenant lost her key last night and wants a new one
– I can give her a key, but there will be no more spares
If any keys are lost in the future, this will mean we’ll have to get two doors rekeyed because no more can be made.
My question is:
Is it fair to give her the key and have her sign an agreement (addendum to the lease) that if this key is lost, she needs to pay for the locks to be rekeyed? Is there another fee that’s fair? Or can someone tell me how to get copies without the code?!?
(No we don’t have anything in the lease right now that discusses lost keys.)
Yes, you need to change the locks. Agree with Steve about security, plus you need to be able to make copies. This is not major money. Bite the bullet, get a new cylinder, give everyone new keys (two) and then charge the ten bucks for extras. With a new house, why wouldn’t you want new locks, that is the first thing you should be doing. Do you want old tenants, cleaning ladies, landlord able to access your house? That is the point of these expensive locks in the first place.
For a matter of security, you should change those locks. The day I closed on my house, the very first thing I did after leaving the closing was change the locks on ALL of the doors. You just don’t know who may have a key.
steve
Fair comments…thanks for the input!
Dirty…leaving your apartment unlocked, if you have a key doesn’t equate to “not providing me with a means to secure my property.” Sounds more like willful neglect on your part.
Just trying to avoid added expenses for someone else’s carelessness…losing keys at a bar (which is what happened) just isn’t something I feel like I should have to pay for. But yes, I should have the ability to rekey! Too bad previous owners didn’t have the card!
Good things to know. You bought those locks when you bought the house. You could of worked something out before you closed on the house.
What if you were to lose your keys? I would start with new locks. You could contact multilock and explain what happened, maybe they would help you with a new purchase.
Yes, you have to give her a new key.
The lock and the ability to make copies is your responsibility. So before you give her a key, go to a shop that makes keys and make a copy. The guy may tell you that the key may or may not work, but they have always worked for me. A lot of places don’t ask for the code.
“Is it fair to give her the key and have her sign an agreement (addendum to the lease) that if this key is lost, she needs to pay for the locks to be rekeyed?”
if my landlord ever presented me with such an addendum – i’d laugh in his face, and tell him i’ll pass and just leave my apartment unlocked all the time, and if anything gets stolen i will hold them personally responsible due to not providing me with a means to secure my property.
When you became an owner/landlord, you became responsible for building maintenance. The tenant is not responsible for your inability to make copies of keys. It’s reasonable that you charge an appropriate amount for providing another key, which amount is based on the USUAL cost of making keys, and NOT based on the absence of the original key order card, or the cost of installing new locks. It’s not clear whether you’re saying that both locks are keyed alike, but it mostly doesn’t matter. Have you spoken to the locksmith who originally cut your keys (their phone number should appear on your Multilock)?
I don’t think your tenant should have to pay to get locks rekeyed because you don’t have the codes. I wouldn’t sign that agreement. Get new locks. It’s the cost of doing business.
It isn’t what posters on here tell a cheap ass landlord what they think is fair.
This stuff is governed by law (not by any illegal, meaning unenforceable, clauses you put in a lease). Not to mention common sense, or actual fairness.
Witch is right.