With so many more people living longer in private rental housing, security is becoming a much bigger issue for tenants and landlords. But what are both parties’ rights when it comes to security equipment?
Security equipment can give tenants peace of mind while living in a rental property. For landlords, offering a property with security equipment can make it stand out on the lettings market and add value to its rent price. So whose job is installing the equipment, and who can remove it?
Essentially, it all stands in the tenancy agreement, explains Just Landlords, an award-winning provider of Landlord Insurance.
For instance, if a landlord doesn’t want their tenant to install their security equipment, this must be made clear in the contract signed by both parties. If a landlord is okay with a tenant putting in their measures but would like the property returned at the end of the agreement without such equipment, it must be stated.
Typical security equipment used in rental properties is similar to that used in owner-occupied homes. To enhance the security of their property, a landlord might install the following measures:
- * Five lever mortice lock for external timber doors, or a three multi-point locking system for PVCu external doors.
- * Window locks on all windows are easily accessible from outside (except designated escape windows).
- * Door chains.
- * Burglar alarms, defender alarms, nightlights and spy holes.
In particular, locks and lights make life difficult for burglars and should help tenants feel safe and secure in their rental property. These are basic measures that should be installed in all rental properties.
If a landlord doesn’t want to install an alarm, they should allow their tenant to put one in themselves. However, there are key points to remember:
- * Make sure you know the access code. If a tenant changes the code, a clause must be written in the tenancy agreement requiring them to tell you the new code.
- * Ensure you know how to use the system.
- * If you want the property returned after the term has ended without the alarm, you must also write this into the tenancy agreement.
The same goes for changing the locks on doors. If a landlord doesn’t want a tenant to change the locks, a clause must be added to the tenancy agreement that prohibits this. If a landlord doesn’t specify whether tenants can or can’t change the locks, they typically can.
It’s also important to state in the agreement that if a landlord does allow their tenants to change the locks, they must give them a key – that way, it’s a violation of the contract if they don’t.
Between tenants, landlords aren’t legally required to change the locks on their property, but they might want to consider doing so; even if their previous tenant returned the keys to them, they don’t know for sure that they didn’t make extra keys. Changing the locks is the only way to keep a property truly secure.
If landlords don’t want to change the locks before a new tenant moves in, it’s a good idea to allow them to do so, as this will help them feel safer in their new home – make sure they give you a key.
When tenants remove security equipment installed by their landlords, the tenancy agreement will typically state that the property must be returned to the landlord in the same condition as it was let in – this means that tenants cannot remove any equipment without the landlord’s consent.
Any property changes–added by the landlord or tenant – must be recorded and agreed upon by both parties.
Safety and security are paramount for private tenants and should be for their landlords, but all parties must understand their rights when installing security equipment.