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ForumsArrowGeneral Landlording & Rental PropertiesArrowElectronic Locks on Exterior Doors (MA)
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Electronic Locks on Exterior Doors (MA)

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  • Posts 8
  • Votes 4

Jessica Turner
Realtor from Fall River, MA

posted about 1 year ago

When the property has electronic keypad locks on the exterior entry doors, is it required (by law) for the landlord to also provide the tenant with a physical key? (Property located in Massachusetts)

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Check Rosette Top Subjects:
Rentals, Analyze Deals, and Real Estate Finance
  • Posts 11K
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Nathan G. (Moderator) -
Real Estate Broker from Cody, WY

replied about 1 year ago

Maybe someone else will correct me. I don't find any lock laws for Massachusetts except that a lock change is mandatory if the tenant reports a valid fear for their personal safety: CLICK HERE

That's the only guidance I find requiring mandatory lock law.

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Check Rosette Top Subjects:
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Kevin Sobilo
Rental Property Investor from Olyphant, PA

replied about 1 year ago

@Jessica Turner , you could put a combo lockbox on somewhere on the property with a physical key. This way if the tenant gets locked out, you can give them the combo to get in without making a trip. Then just collect the key later and put it back in the box and reprogram the combo on the box. 

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Lien Vuong
Real Estate Agent from Boston, MA

replied about 1 year ago

You should have one anyways for trouble shooting. If anything have a lockbox in the back of the house for a lock out key so you do not have to be there to let tenants in the middle of the night. 

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  • Posts 8
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Jessica Turner
Realtor from Fall River, MA

replied about 1 year ago

@Lien Vuong we have a physical copy and plan to keep it regardless. we’re currently house hacking but that’s a great idea for future properties

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  • Posts 8
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Jessica Turner
Realtor from Fall River, MA

replied about 1 year ago

@Kevin Sobilo we’re currently house hacking but that’s a good idea for future properties! Though aside from the battery dying I don’t see how they could lock themselves out?

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  • Posts 8
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Jessica Turner
Realtor from Fall River, MA

replied about 1 year ago

@Nathan G. Thanks!

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Check Rosette Top Subjects:
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  • Posts 7.2K
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Joe Splitrock (Moderator) -
Rental Property Investor from Sioux Falls, SD

replied about 1 year ago

@Jessica Turner why don't you want to give them a key? 

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  • Posts 8
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Jessica Turner
Realtor from Fall River, MA

replied about 1 year ago

@Joe Splitrock didn’t say that I wouldn’t. Seems to be more simple and cheaper (by not having to change locks/ print keys) to provide a code for each unit but unsure of the legalities.

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  • Posts 8
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Jessica Turner
Realtor from Fall River, MA

replied about 1 year ago

@Joe Splitrock also this is exterior door access to the common stairway not the unit itself.

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Account Closed

replied about 1 year ago

@Jessica Turner

This method works great for Airbnb properties. It could work for normal rental property also.

But, I would have a back plan for them to still be able to enter the property.

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  • Posts 24
  • Votes 13

Tyler Phalen
Rental Property Investor from Ogden, UT

replied about 1 year ago

@Jessica Turner

Not sure about the law, but I doubt they require that you provide a physical key, a code is still a key.

If you haven’t purchased the locks yet, i would recommend getting some that don’t have a key at all, that way you don’t ever have to change them. Because if you do end up needing to rekey it would be much more expensive to change the electronic locks. They make models that have battery terminals on the outside in case the battery dies and there are no keys to deal with.

Or if you still prefer to have a key, get one that you can rekey yourself, like a kwikset smartkey.

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  • Posts 8
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Jessica Turner
Realtor from Fall River, MA

replied about 1 year ago

@Tyler Phalen we always look for multi purpose and trust technology only slightly haha. So we did go with a model that can use a key, but purchased the Kwikset due to us being able to rekey it ourselves or have a handyman do it in the future. Seemed more cost effective!

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