As an investment property owner, you’ll want to ensure the safety of your home and your current tenant. That means you should rekey your Austin property every time you change renters. Here’s why.
It’s Best Practice
Part of being a trustworthy, reliable landlord is that you create a safe space for your renters to live. It’s standard to collect keys as part of a move-out inspection, but rekeying your property’s locks is the only real way to control access to your residence after move out. Taking the precautionary measure of rekeying is a commonplace gesture as the landlord to show prospective tenants you’re concerned for their wellbeing.
If your previous renter gave copies of the keys to their friends, family members, or even their dog walker, you don’t want to invite the possibility that those individuals could attempt to use their copy of the key at any point afterward. Even if your previous renter skipped town, it’s essential to make sure they don’t attempt to return to the property. It’s better to create peace of mind by rekeying.
It Protects Your Property
Consider the neighborhood where your property resides. If the area is prone to high crime rates, especially break-ins and vandalism, rekeying your property will minimize the risk of potential damage.
It’s also a possibility that your past relationships with previous tenants may not have ended amicably. Rekeying is a simple solution to prevent them from taking out any frustration on the property after they move out.
Your tenants themselves may have had their falling out, which could put your property at risk for damage from any resulting conflict. If your renter is moving out because of a failed relationship or other roommate situation, for example, you’ll want to avoid the possibility of violence done to the property by preventing entry.
It Protects Your New Renter
However, innocent the intentions of the person trying to gain entry – even using the property’s pool – entering the property after a lease has ended is a gross violation of your new tenant’s safety.
With multiple copies of a key floating around and the potential that any one of those copies could be lost in the area, it’s better to know you did your part to protect your renter and your investment. Crimes such as theft or assault are more of a possibility when you choose not to rekey your property after move out. By working to eliminate property access to those outside the new lease, you can help prevent harm done to your tenant.
It Prevents Your Liability
When someone steals big-ticket items or identification, your renter may hold you responsible for their valuables. Take the necessary steps of rekeying so that no one may enter your home without your renter’s consent. Rekeying limits your liability by providing you full knowledge of the whereabouts of your property’s keys or at least the originals that you provide. If you gave possession of the key to the renter and they make their copies, you won’t be responsible for any resulting consequences, such as the loss of their belongings.
It’s Not Expensive
Rekeying your property after a move out is cheaper than changing the locks altogether. By hiring a professional locksmith to replace parts inside the existing lock cheaply, you can more effectively manage the tracking of your key’s ownership. You can include rekeying coverage in the deposit that you require of your property renters. Preventing the victimization of your renters and your property doesn’t have to be a costly decision – just a sensible one.
In Conclusion
Bottom line? The only people that should have access to your residence are you, your renter, and any service providers you provide additional copies to perform maintenance duties. A simple way to ensure everyone involved in the leasing process is at ease is to rekey your Austin property.
Security should be a significant priority for you as a property owner. A property management company like Real Property Management Alamo can work with you to protect your asset. We cover every stage of residency, from move in to move out.
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