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My husband and I just moved out of a house we lived in and the property management company charged us $250 to replace the locks. I was more than a little taken aback! Should I take them to small claims court. That really seems totally ridiculous. Please share your thoughts.
Did your lease/rental agreement say anything about the locks? Did you return any keys they provided to you?
I've never been charged to change the locks any time I've rented a place.
Your time must be worth about 3 bucks an hour if you are even considering small claims court for 250.00. That sum is a pittance to have someone come out and do that service. Whether they have the right to charge you that cost I do not know.
No, we didn't lose any keys. The landlord was going to change the locks a month before we moved, and we thought it would be easier to wait till we moved, so we told him that. He came back and told us that had we allowed him to change the locks initially he wouldn't have charged us, but because we made him wait he charged us. There were two locks on the front door and one from the garage to the house.
No, we didn't lose any keys. The landlord was going to change the locks a month before we moved, and we thought it would be easier to wait till we moved, so we told him that. He came back and told us that had we allowed him to change the locks initially he wouldn't have charged us, but because we made him wait he charged us. There were two locks on the front door and one from the garage to the house.
Look at the terms of the lease. If charging for the cost of lock changes is not mentioned, then I'd suggest that rather than taking him to court, you just write him a letter of explanation to establish the facts and to justify your not paying him. Then let him take you to court if he wishes. Take the monkey off your back and put it on his! Your reasonable letter can then be used as evidence of your good faith if he does take you to court. But I am not an attorney so that's just my gut opinion. There is also a hotline for aggrieved tenants to call for advice (New Mexico Landlord Tenant Hotline) but be advised there is a $30 fee per call.
Look at the terms of the lease. If charging for the cost of lock changes is not mentioned, then I'd suggest that rather than taking him to court, you just write him a letter of explanation to establish the facts and to justify your not paying him. Then let him take you to court if he wishes. Take the monkey off your back and put it on his! Your reasonable letter can then be used as evidence of your good faith if he does take you to court. But I am not an attorney so that's just my gut opinion. There is also a hotline for aggrieved tenants to call for advice (New Mexico Landlord Tenant Hotline) but be advised there is a $30 fee per call.
good advice!
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