Is one allowed to change locks in an apartment they are renting? (lease, condo)

[Malishka31]

An apartment that you are renting in a complex, are you allowed to change the locks to the front door?

[TomMoser]

If you check your lease, you will probably find that if you change the lock you will need to supply a key to management. This is so that they can enter in an emergency.

[Malishka31]

Well we are moving to Suffolk and our current lease in Brooklyn doesnt have anything like that. Our landlord currently has no key to our apartment and never had one because we changed locks when we moved in.

Would this be just dependant on complex? or is there some sort of law that states this?

[TomMoser]

It depends upon the complex. But, most large ones have this rule.

[newtoli]

Pretty much every place I ever rented at in the tri-State area stated the landlord must have a copy of the key in case of emergency.

[sci]

The landlord allways should have a key. It is his/her property and needs access to it in case of emergency. If there is a problem they contact the owner not the tenant. If the owner can not get in and has to break down the door, he will most likely have you give you the bill or evict you for changing the lock and not giving him a key. If you want to 'Have the only key " to your place, buy your own house.

[DanBev]

I worked in complex after retirement for awhile,management would have me swap locks with another apartment when someone moved out,this takes care of duplicate key situation.

[Malishka31]

My concern is with maintenance people etc having a key really, not the owner of the property.

I hear horror stories of them entering premises whenever without warning to "check" stuff. I know that is illegal.

[johnrain]

My roomate told me my landlord entered my room in a non emergency situation. Is that against the law?

[SandyJet]

Most doors have TWO locks. My coop/condo had a rule tenant or owner could only have one lock with their own key. Second lock super/owner needed key. That way if water leak, issue etc. Tenant could leave their lock open and only lock door with key super has.