Tenant Changes Lock On Door Without Permission

According to chapter 83 of the florida statutes specifically article 67 a landlord cannot remove locks from a property unless it s for the purpose of maintaining repairing or replacing them.

Tenant changes lock on door without permission.

A landlord may write a letter to the tenant requesting that the chain lock be removed. Landlords can ask the tenant to change the locks back but if a renter doesn t respond the landlord has to wait until the lease s end date to rekey the property. If there s a problem tenants can use the dispute resolution process through the residential tenancy branch to get an order to change the locks. Let s take a look.

If the tenant does not comply a landlord may contact the rental housing enforcement unit at the ministry of housing at 416 585 7214. The same chapter also covers whether a tenant can change the property s locks without the landlord s content. In most cases if a tenant changes a lock or locks without the landlord s permission he is violating his lease. For a long time i was under the impression that tenants could freely change the locks without any issue but after devouring the heated comments section in this wonderful blog post on landlordlaw which has notable contributions by legal minds i ve taken a 180 degrees turn.

If your tenant changes the locks without your permission and you can t access your rental unit when you need to making it necessary for you to change the locks you could charge your tenant for. Tenants should note that if they change the locks without. But the law says that you are not allowed to change or add a lock without your landlord s permission. There s a lot of confusion around this issue and i d be remiss if i didn t hold my hands up and admit doubt.

Apply for permission to change the locks. If they change the locks without asking the landlord for permission does the landlord have the right to change the locks if there s nothing about it in the lease. A tenant has the right to a habitable apartment. If you are concerned about your safety or privacy in your home you might want to change or add a lock.

That includes utilities no leaks safe electrical wiring and a secure entrance with a secure front door. Without permission the tenant may only add on locks that are used on the inside like a chain lock. It is an offence under the residential tenancies act for a tenant to change the locks and bar the landlord s access to the rental unit. The landlord and tenant statutes generally take the landlord s perspective regarding a tenant s changing the locks.

If the tenant wants to change the lock during the tenancy they will. If you do your landlord could ask the landlord and tenant board to make you give your landlord a key change the lock back or pay to have it changed back. Over in b c the situation is similar locks must be changed at the start of a new tenancy.