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

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

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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Sergey A. Petrov
Real Estate Consultant · Seattle, WA · Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 784 votes
4y
Tenant gets the keys when the lease starts. So, either amend the lease or provide the keys on the first day of the lease. You can always put the keys in a contractor’s lockbox and tell the tenants they’ll get the combo code the night before / the morning of the lease start. Then remove the lockbox at your convenience
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Colleen F.Pro Member
Investor · Narragansett, RI · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
4y
@Linda Roberts If they want to stay a couple days late for free that is an issue. Move in a day or two early not so much however the lease starts on move in.
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Joe Moore
Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2014 · 1 post · 1 vote
4y
If the lease is signed, I wouldn't sweat over a day or two to handover the key. Also, Insurance shouldn't be an issue since the property would be insured anyway.
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Brad S.
Investor · Pasadena, CA · Member since 2017 · 613 posts · 523 votes
4y
If I were you, I would read all the responses with general interest, while understanding they are generally anonymous and have no responsibility for your outcome, etc.

Then if you truly wanted to cover yourself, ask a local reputable Property Mgr, Your insurance provider, and a local Real Estate Attorney (preferably someone who deals with tenant/landlord issues). Then I would lean toward their recommendations more than the former.

You don't want to allow the tenant to move their stuff into the garage or unit prior to the lease date, and have something stolen, only to go after you accusing you of being responsible since their lease term had not started yet. And possibly to find out your Landlord insurance policy won't cover it, since you did not have a valid lease in place, etc. But, again don't take my word for it either!
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Bob Metry
Member since 2020 · 62 posts · 46 votes
4y
@Linda Robertsjust put the keys on a lockbox at the property but dont give him the code until move in time.
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JD MartinBusiness Member
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Rock Star Extraordinaire · Northeast, TN · Member since 2015 · 10k+ posts · 17k+ votes
4y
Quote from @Bill B.:

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.
No, because the end of the lease is the end of the relationship, and also affects the resumption of leasing the unit to someone else. A vacant house waiting for a tenant is just sitting costing money on utilities and upkeep (lawn, for example). We don't permit more than a few days without amending the lease, so we feel it strikes a decent balance.

As you say, to each their own :)
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Daniel Rogers
San Diego, CA · Member since 2018 · 8 posts · 5 votes
4y
I tend to be pretty generous - but also cautious. A few of the times that this has happened with me, we just modified the lease to start those couple days earlier and didn’t charge so that we could establish a good first impression. But looking back, a higher percentage of those tenants than ones who stuck to the original lease are the kind of tenants who try to bend more rules down the road. Depending on the person, you open up the door to setting the wrong precedent to a tenant who might be the type of person who likes to take advantage of others - a precedent that they don’t HAVE to abide by what they agreed to on the lease.
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