McDad
I can't brain today; I has the dumb.
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- Jan 3, 2011
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I rent residential property in TN. I am not aware of any law which requires me to switch locks when a new tenant moves in. But, I've never worried about it because i do it as standard practice.Are landlords required to change the locks when someone moves out ? Asking because my daughter moved this past week and she made a key for me and just curious since it opens the main door to the building and her apt -- I wondered what the hell - it must open the other 3 apts in the building also and sure enough, I tried it at one (that is currently vacant) and got right in. So I wonder now if people that have moved out and had keys made, of course they can use it to rob the place if they wanted and the other 3 apts tenants can get in whenever someone is gone -- she is worried and her husband is too -- I told him to call the landlord and install deadbolts on both their doors, but if he wont, can he be forced to do it ?
I would advise against changing the locks without the consent of her landlord. My contract specifically forbids changing the locks. If permitted, she could change the lock to a "programmable" lock which can be reset to accept a different key. Of course, the landlord will require a copy of the new key. But after they vacate, the landlord could reset it to accept his original key. Or, buy new and give key, then remove and reinstall original when vacating.
If her current key opens all the other apartments, i agree with you. It is a huge safety concern.