Are you looking for ways to secure your rental property from intruders?
Two-third of burglaries that occur every year in the United States result from a flawed security system. That goes to show how important locks are for your rental property. As a landlord, says North County Property Group, it is your responsibility to make your property safe and secure for tenants.
Old, low-quality, and cheap locks make it easy for intruders to have access to your property. In contrast, high-quality locks secure your property and give your tenants peace of mind.
Since it is your responsibility to secure the rental property, you should know when to change the locks. The following are situations that will necessitate you to change the locks on your rental property:
- When your tenant reports any case of misplaced or stolen keys – it is not advisable to assume that the keys just got lost and that no one will use them to access the property. It would help if you also changed the locks to prevent the possibility of such an occurrence.
- When your locks are worn out over time – locks also experience wear and tear following frequent usage and impact from natural elements. If your locks are becoming difficult to lock or unlock, then you should change them.
- Frequent reports of break-ins – if there are a lot of break-ins in your rental property, then you should replace the locks and make the property safe for your tenants.
- The lifespan of the locks – door locks do not last forever. The average lifespan of most locks is seven years. If your locks are old and have not had a replacement for a very long time, it is necessary to consider a replacement.
Types of locks to choose from
There are different types of locks that you can choose from:
- Deadbolt locks
- Mortise locks
- Padlocks
- Knob locks
- Cam locks
- Numbered keypad locks
- Fingerprint locks
- Security locks
Tips for choosing locks for your rental property
Below are the things you should consider while choosing locks:
1. Do your research
Check the different types of locks that exist, and before you settle for any of them, research and read the online reviews from reputable sites. It will give you an in-depth knowledge of locks and help you know if the lock will be suitable for your property type. Aside from the online reviews, you can also ask people who are using similar locks or talk to your locksmith.
2. Consider the price of the lock
Prices of locks are also essential when you are choosing locks for your rental property. Cheap locks have a low level of security. Do not go for cheap locks or costly locks.
Prices of locks vary due to brand, function, style, nature, security level, and demand. It would help if you balanced the lock’s cost and the role you expect it to perform.
3. What function will it perform?
The lock you choose for an interior door or hallway will not have the same security level or endurance as the locks of an entrance or front door. For that reason, you should choose your lock accordingly.
4. Consider the lock’s level of endurance
Before you choose a lock, you should know which grade it belongs. There are three grades of locks depending on the level of endurance.
- Grade 1 locks are the strongest and heavy-duty locks because they have the highest level of endurance. They can withstand up to 1 million cycles of opening and closing. Thus, they are very suitable for commercial properties.
- Grade 2 locks are medium-duty locks and have a moderate level of endurance. We do not recommend them for high-security areas; however, the level of protection they offer exceeds the requirements for a typical residential property.
- Grade 3 locks have the lowest level of strength, lifespan, and endurance. It is inappropriate to use them for commercial properties or areas that need a high-security level.
5. Consider the aesthetics
Landlords often aim to make their rental property appealing to renters. For this reason, part of the things you should consider before choosing a lock is the aesthetics. Ensure that your locks match the style, color, and finish of your rental property. However, this should not be a top priority for choosing a lock.
6. Choose locks that you can rekey
There are some situations where the locks of your rental property will require rekeying. Such instance are when your tenants misplace or loses a key and before a new tenant moves into your rental property. That is why you should choose locks that you can rekey easily.
It is cheaper to rekey a lock than to replace the entire lock. Lock rekeying is cost-effective and are also pick and bump resistant. However, you should know that locks that are easy to rekey do not provide a high-security level.
Bottom-line: Tips for Choosing Locks for Your Rental Properties
Locks are essential in rental properties because they keep your tenants safe and secure. As a landlord, you have to choose and install appropriate locks that will guarantee you and your tenants’ peace of mind.
