As a landlord, you have the responsibility of making sure your tenants live in safe rental premises. Among other things, this means ensuring your investment property is safe from potential intruders, explains McGuire Property Management.
Door locks are not only an extension of your property’s décor, but they are also a major point of your property’s security. So, if they look like they have seen better days, have them replaced as soon as possible.
Some of the signs that your locks may need replacement include:
- Your door locks are old. Seems obvious, right? But you may be surprised by the number of landlords that don’t change their locks for years. It is easy, in some situations, to understand why. It could be that the locks have worked fine and it wouldn’t make any sense to spend time and money replacing them.
However, this would be impractical as technology moves quite fast. So, if you haven’t changed your locks in a very long time, it’s a telltale sign that you need to replace them. As a matter of fact, contrary to popular belief that door locks work forever, most locksmiths agree the average lifespan of a lock to be 7 years.
- Your tenant has lost the keys or has had their keys stolen. Stolen or misplaced keys automatically decrease the effectiveness of your rental property’s security. Don’t make the assumption that no one will come back and use the key to gain access to your tenant’s unit.
Therefore, to be safe than sorry, consider replacing the locks on your tenant’s unit. This will help negate the possibility of anyone accessing the property easily. Of course, since it’s the tenant’s fault, the cost of replacing their locks will be your tenant’s to shoulder.
- Cases of break-ins have increased. This is also another reason why you should consider replacing the ldoor ocks on your rental property. Perhaps your community used to be one of the safest in the country. But not anymore.
In such a case it’s definitely a good idea to replace your existing locks with better options.
- Your locks have worn out. Locks undergo a lot of stress over time. The constant use, as well as the impact of natural elements, can lead to their rapid deterioration. This may cause them to stick, which makes the process of locking and unlocking complicated. If the locks haven’t lived their entire lifespan, then simple maintenance tasks like lubricating them can help slow down the aging process.
- With that in mind, let’s now take a look at 4 tips on how to choose the best lock for your rental property.
How to Choose a Door Locks for Your Rental Properties
Locks aren’t everyday purchases. Therefore, you want to pick one that is durable, tamper-resistant, and high-quality. The following are some tips to help you in this regard.
Tip #1: Consider the price of the lock.
As a landlord, you want to keep the price of the lock in mind. Don’t go too high or go too low. Try to find a balance between price and function.
Now, the prices of door locks can vary depending on various factors. Including the brand, the function, and the nature of the lock.
Tip #2: Read up online reviews.
Reading up online reviews about a particular door lock can help you know a thing or two about the suitability of that particular lock. Of course, you want to read reviews of people that have actually used them for the same purposes you intend to use them for.
If you find the reviews unsatisfactory, continue looking.
Tip #3: Consider the endurance of the lock.
Endurance of a lock is dependent upon its grade. Grade one locks, for instance, are much more burglar-proof and generally have a longer lifespan than grade two or grade three locks.
They are typically found on commercial properties but can be used on residential properties as well.
Tip #4: Consider the aesthetics of the lock.
The other thing you need to consider is the lock’s aesthetics. Of course, as a landlord, it’s your primary goal to make your property as appealing as possible. As such, you may want to buy a lock that matches the finish, color, and/or style of your rental property.
That said, while aesthetics is important, it shouldn’t be among the top deciding factors.
Types of Locks
There are many different types of locks. They include:
- Padlocks
- Knobs locks
- Deadlocks
- Numbered keypad locks
- Fingerprint locks
- Security locks
Door locks are an essential part of any home, helping keep everyone and everything safe. Choosing the right lock can, however, be challenging. Thankfully, with these tips, you will be able to choose the right lock that can help you increase security, deter would-be criminals, and provide your tenants peace of mind.
