Why should you change locks on your rental property? How should you do so? Can I lockout out my tenant if they fail to pay rent? Learn this and a lot more by watching the video or visit the blog post at http://www.fastevictionservice.com/bl...

Script:
Hi there, welcome to another tips for landlords and property managers video. Today’s focus will be on the two different scenarios that can play out while deciding whether or not to change the locks on your rental property.
Before we begin, we’d like to remind you that this video is for informational purposes only and in no way should be considered legal advice.
After a tenant moves out, you would typically want to change the locks to your rental property to prevent anyone from entering with a spare key. Many landlords opt for having a good reliable locksmith on call to come and just change the combination in the barrel of your lock and this, over time, reduces overall cost.
But what happens when you find out your tenant has abandoned their property mid lease? What happens when rent has been paid through the month and they have upped and vanished on the 12th without a word?
In this scenario, it is advisable that you wait until the month paid has run its course to prevent any possible legal issues. After the period of rent has been paid, it is then ok for you to take possession of your rental unit, change the locks and begin the process of cleaning and putting it back on the rental market.
What happens when your tenant has abandoned the property AND you come to find out the tenant has changed the lock on the rental property without your permission? In this case, it is advisable that you serve the tenant at their last known address a 24 hour notice to enter dwelling notice and you specify you will be changing the locks.
By law, the landlord is required to have access or have a spare key to their rental unit in case of emergency or in case any maintenance issue needs to be addressed. If the tenant has changed the locks without your permission, they are at least required to provide the landlord with a spare key.
What happens when your tenant has violated their lease agreement or they have stopped paying rent? Can you just show up and change the locks on your rental property to prevent them from entering their home? No, you can’t.
If this is the case, then you would need to begin the legal process of evicting your tenant by serving a notice. 3 day pay or quit for delinquent rent, 3 day cure or quit for lease issues or 30/60 day notice for termination of a month to month lease.
The eviction process in California can oftentimes seem like a daunting task, but please be aware that changing the locks and doing a self eviction can be a lot worse.
Do you have a lock clause in your lease? If you don’t, you should. You should specify what conditions warrant the possibility of changing the locks on your rental property and who would be responsible for the costs associated. Here are some additional items you could consider for your lock clause:
• Are the tenants allowed to change the locks?
• If they aren’t, what is your policy for requesting this service?
• How much will this service cost?
• Will you take it out of their security deposit if they violate this clause?
• How many spare keys did you give your tenant when they signed the lease?
As with many legal issues surrounding this industry, prevention and preparation is KEY! Nothing beats a solid lease in court and by adding a locks clause to your lease can prove very beneficial for you in the future.
Thanks for stopping by and watching this video. Remember, you can find most of the California eviction notices on our website for free. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call or write us for a free consultation. Please subscribe, like and share our videos if you have found them useful. I’ll see you on the next one!