Locks and Keys

If the previous tenant left on bad terms consider changing the locks to protect the new tenants and your property. Keep the replaced locks as you may need to rotate the locks and keys again in the future or on another property.

Always ask the tenants to sign a receipt for all the keys given, for these form part of the inventory and should the tenant lose keys it could become be costly.

When you update locks, consider replacing with cylinder locks for from a healthy and safety perspective these are safer than dead locks.

Locks

The landlord/agent should supply and maintain all locks to ensure the premises are reasonably secure, and should provide the tenants with a key for each lock.

If, at any stage of the tenancy, either party wants to change the locks, both parties should agree and neither party may unreasonably withhold their consent.

Keys

The landlord/agent should give at least one of the tenants a key for each lock that is part of the premises. For example, a key for a lock on a door to a room in the premises, one for the mailbox in the property, a communal door key, a key to an out building or on a built-in cupboard in the premises.

If there is more than one tenant named on the tenancy agreement, then the landlord/agent should supply each of the named tenants on the tenancy agreement with a key for each lock.