Tenant wants to get the keys a few days before his lease.

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Tenant wants to get the keys a few days before his lease.

Linda Roberts
Member since 2020 · 65 posts · 14 votes

My tenant wants the keys 2 days before his lease date because it's more convenient for him on the weekend. The apartment is ready. Can I give him keys? Do I need to rewrite lease to the date when he gets the keys? What if he create any problems before his lease even started? What would you suggest?

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Russell BrazilBusiness Member
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Real Estate Agent · Washington, D.C. · Member since 2012 · 17k+ posts · 30k+ votes
4y

Just give him the keys, who cares.

You are a business owner. Your tenant is your customer. Do whatver you can to provide the best customer service to your customers that you can. Getting them the keys at a time more convenient to them, absolutely.

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  • Bill B.
    Investor · Las Vegas, NV · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 10k+ votes
    4y

    No problem. Change the lease to start 2 days earlier and add 2 days rent to the amount due BEFORE keys are handed over. That way monthly amount due stays the same. 

    7Reply
  • Erin Dreher
    Real Estate Agent · Little Rock, AR · Member since 2022 · 83 posts · 63 votes
    4y

    Keys should be handed over on the same day the lease starts. 

    You know they are going to move in as soon as they get keys. Common request to us property managers. We will allow if we can change the start date of the lease (when they start paying) 

    3Reply
  • Joseph M Fleming
    Member since 2022 · 3 posts · 0 votes
    4y

    Erin is correct but I like Bills reply better.

    0Reply
  • Linda Roberts
    OP
    Member since 2020 · 65 posts · 14 votes
    4y

    Thanks. Definitely you all are right. The tenant mentioned that it was never an issue for him before to get the keys earlier, but didn't want to change the lease. I hope we will find common grounds with him in a future.

    0Reply
  • Theresa HarrisPro Member
    Member since 2019 · 15k+ posts · 11k+ votes
    4y

    Change the dates on the lease, prorate the rent and make sure he's got the utilities in his name before you give him the keys.

    2Reply
  • Russell BrazilBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Agent · Washington, D.C. · Member since 2012 · 17k+ posts · 30k+ votes
    4y

    Just give him the keys, who cares.

    You are a business owner. Your tenant is your customer. Do whatver you can to provide the best customer service to your customers that you can. Getting them the keys at a time more convenient to them, absolutely.

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    9Reply
  • Account Closed
    Investor · Scottsdale Austin Tuktoyaktuk · Member since 2021 · 4k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    4y
    Quote from @Russell Brazil:

    Just give him the keys, who cares.

    You are a business owner. Your tenant is your customer. Do whatver you can to provide the best customer service to your customers that you can. Getting them the keys at a time more convenient to them, absolutely.

     If he gets hurt or if someone else gets hurt on the proeprty, will insurance cover it if there is no provision for him being on site?

    "No good deed goes unpunished".

    3Reply
  • Linda Roberts
    OP
    Member since 2020 · 65 posts · 14 votes
    4y

    @Account Closed

    "If he gets hurt or if someone else gets hurt, will insurance cover it if there is no provision for him being on site?"

    How is that related? He or his guest can get hurt during the lease time. There is a basic home insurance. 

    0Reply
  • John MorganPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Grand Prairie, TX · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    4y

    I toss them the keys within 10 days of the beginning of the month and let them have it for free. It’s a long term partnership and I like to start off good. So far so good, nobody has left me yet.

    7Reply
  • Linda Roberts
    OP
    Member since 2020 · 65 posts · 14 votes
    4y

    @Russell Brazil, so you don't see an issue in giving the keys before the lease started?

    0Reply
  • Linda Roberts
    OP
    Member since 2020 · 65 posts · 14 votes
    4y

    @John Morgan Are you or any landlord is everyday in the house? In my case it's a single family, an hour drive from my house.

    0Reply
  • JD MartinBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Rock Star Extraordinaire · Northeast, TN · Member since 2015 · 10k+ posts · 16k+ votes
    4y

    If we have a vacant property, we will usually let the upcoming tenant move in up to 5 days early so long as utilities have been turned, deposit and first month have been paid, rental insurance is in place and everything's been signed. The place is vacant anyway, you're talking about a couple days of extra wear and tear and it lets the new tenant move in gradually if they so choose. It starts the relationship off on a good foot and the tenants appreciate it.

    We have always done it this way and it's never caused us a single problem. Yes, I'm giving them a couple of free days but it literally costs me nothing, I have insurance all the way around if something happens, and the tenants feel even better about their new place. You don't need to rewrite your lease.

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  • Russell BrazilBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Agent · Washington, D.C. · Member since 2012 · 17k+ posts · 30k+ votes
    4y
    Quote from @Account Closed:
    Quote from @Russell Brazil:

    Just give him the keys, who cares.

    You are a business owner. Your tenant is your customer. Do whatver you can to provide the best customer service to your customers that you can. Getting them the keys at a time more convenient to them, absolutely.

     If he gets hurt or if someone else gets hurt on the proeprty, will insurance cover it if there is no provision for him being on site?

    "No good deed goes unpunished".

    If the owner has insurance, yes. Do you have a lease with everyone that enters your home?
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    0Reply
  • Bill B.
    Investor · Las Vegas, NV · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 10k+ votes
    4y

    I assume those that say give them the keys 2-10 days before lease starts also let tenants stay 2-10 days free after lease ends? Seems a little silly. To each their own. 

    1Reply
  • Account Closed
    Investor · Scottsdale Austin Tuktoyaktuk · Member since 2021 · 4k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    4y
    Quote from @Russell Brazil:
    Quote from @Account Closed:
    Quote from @Russell Brazil:

    Just give him the keys, who cares.

    You are a business owner. Your tenant is your customer. Do whatver you can to provide the best customer service to your customers that you can. Getting them the keys at a time more convenient to them, absolutely.

     If he gets hurt or if someone else gets hurt on the proeprty, will insurance cover it if there is no provision for him being on site?

    "No good deed goes unpunished".

    If the owner has insurance, yes. Do you have a lease with everyone that enters your home?
    My home isn't a business. It falls into an entirely different insurance category.
    0Reply
  • John MorganPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Grand Prairie, TX · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    4y
    Quote from @Linda Roberts:

    @John Morgan Are you or any landlord is everyday in the house? In my case it's a single family, an hour drive from my house.

    I’m not sure what you’re trying to say. But I would let them have it for free if it’s within a couple weeks from the 1st of the month. Your tenants will appreciate it. 
    0Reply
  • Linda Roberts
    OP
    Member since 2020 · 65 posts · 14 votes
    4y

    @John Morgan I have no problem with them living for free for a couple of days, but for this time they live without a lease. What's the point to sign the lease if I allow them to live without it? All my lease not even valid during this time.

    0Reply
  • Alecia LovelessPro Member
    Member since 2019 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    4y

    @Linda Roberts I typically change the lease date so as to get insurance coverage. I only do this for 2-3 days prior to the original start date for free. Any longer and I would at least charge a fee if not actually prorate the rent.

    1Reply
  • Christina M.
    Rental Property Investor · PA · Member since 2017 · 69 posts · 60 votes
    4y

    @Linda Roberts. We would give them access - allowing them to move things into a storage space or code for garage for insurance purposes they can not store items in unit or move in until lease start date.

    1Reply
  • John MorganPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Grand Prairie, TX · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    4y
    Quote from @Linda Roberts:

    @John Morgan I have no problem with them living for free for a couple of days, but for this time they live without a lease. What's the point to sign the lease if I allow them to live without it? All my lease not even valid during this time.


    0Reply
  • Linda Roberts
    OP
    Member since 2020 · 65 posts · 14 votes
    4y
    Quote from @Alecia Loveless:

    @Linda Roberts I typically change the lease date so as to get insurance coverage. I only do this for 2-3 days prior to the original start date for free. Any longer and I would at least charge a fee if not actually prorate the rent.

     @Alecia Loveless. What insurance are you talking about? Is it a home insurance?

    0Reply
  • Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
    4y
    Quote from @Linda Roberts:

    My tenant wants the keys 2 days before his lease date because it's more convenient for him on the weekend. The apartment is ready. Can I give him keys? Do I need to rewrite lease to the date when he gets the keys? What if he create any problems before his lease even started? What would you suggest?


    What part of "lease start date" do they not understand? I would tell them this isn't a free storage facility. If they want to start moving in early, they can start renting early. Don't take on liability unless the lease is signed, they've set up utilities, they've paid all amounts owed, and met every other requirement. Then you can hand them the keys.

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  • Eliott Elias
    Investor · Austin, TX · Member since 2021 · 9k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    4y

    Don't do it. Tenants will tell you what you want to hear until they get the keys, then the balls in their court 

    1Reply
  • Chad Hale
    Property Manager / Investor · San Jose, CA · Member since 2013 · 780 posts · 302 votes
    4y
    Regardless if you charge the 2days or not (everyone runs their business differently), the lease start date needs to be updated (in writing and signed by all parties) to reflect the date they are getting keys/possession.  Otherwise you are exposing your self to unnecessary liability.
    0Reply
  • James Wise
    Real Estate Broker · Cleveland Dayton Cincinnati Toledo Columbus & Akron, OH · Member since 2013 · 31k+ posts · 20k+ votes
    4y
    Quote from @Linda Roberts:

    My tenant wants the keys 2 days before his lease date because it's more convenient for him on the weekend. The apartment is ready. Can I give him keys? Do I need to rewrite lease to the date when he gets the keys? What if he create any problems before his lease even started? What would you suggest?


     The day the tenant gets the keys is the day the lease starts. 

    0Reply
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