Landlord making own keys

[Maryellen]

I have seen maintenance men where I live removing tenants' apartment doors and replacing them when they weren't home. I know from a previous conversation that they are able to make keys for locks that don't have them.

If they are removing doors in order to make a set of keys for themselves is that legal? The lease says they must be given a set of keys if you change your locks but the way they are going about it seems wrong.

[Friend In Court]

The landlord is entitled to have keys to all the units. If maintenance men replace the door locks, the tenants should be notified beforehand and given a set of keys immediately so they do not end up inadvertently locked out.

[sandyclaus]

Originally Posted by Friend In Court The landlord is entitled to have keys to all the units. If maintenance men replace the door locks, the tenants should be notified beforehand and given a set of keys immediately so they do not end up inadvertently locked out.

Agreed.

It's not about whether or not it's legal for the LL to have keys for these rental units, but about whether or not the tenants knew that the locks were being changed. They are legally entitled to notice prior to doing the lock changes, if for no other reason than to avoid unintentional lockouts.

[Maryellen]

The locks aren't being changed--maintenance is making their own copies of keys to the existing locks. I doubt if tenant(s) even know that maintenance has done this. It seems there would be a better way to get copies since it is required by the lease.

[sandyclaus]

Originally Posted by Maryellen The locks aren't being changed--maintenance is making their own copies of keys to the existing locks. I doubt if tenant(s) even know that maintenance has done this. It seems there would be a better way to get copies since it is required by the lease.

Well, the LL is ENTITLED to have keys for all their rental properties. The issue, then, is that they are failing to get permission from the tenants to enter the property to make the keys. That unauthorized entry could blow up in their faces if the tenants complain - and rightfully the SHOULD.