Locksmith South Dallas

WHO IS AUTHORIZED TO CHANGE LOCKS

We have all heard the horror stories of people getting locked out of their homes without warning by a roommate, landlord, spouse, or other co-habitant who changes the locks while they’re out. But who is really authorized to change the locks? Can a wife do it to her husband? Can a landlord do it to a tenant? Locksmith South Dallas wants to set the record straight so that you know who is and who is not allowed to take action when it comes to changing locks.

TENANTS & PROPERTY OWNERS

Tenants must have permission from the property’s owner to change locks of their residence. This is not widely done, but there are instances that may warrant a tenant changing the locks, like if there has been some sort of altercation between the tenants and one has an order of protection against the other. The tenant must discuss the situation with the property owner, get permission to change the locks, and then provide the owner with a key once the locksmith is finished with the change.

Property owners have a bit more flexibility about changing the locks but not much. Because a tenant is paying to live there and has an agreement to do so, the property owner does not have the right to change the locks at any time without notifying the tenants. However, in extreme cases such as when the tenants are significantly behind in payment and have refused to make their payments current or vacate the property, changing the locks can be a last resort. An important distinction to make here is that the landlord is not always the property owner. Both tenants and landlords, even if they’re acting on behalf of the property owner, need to have permission from the owner before changing the locks.

Tip: Be prepared to tell the locksmith the reason behind the lock change and show permission from the property owner before the locksmith will change the locks.

PROPERTY MANAGERS IN COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS

Property managers can authorize changes to the locks in the buildings that they manage. Usually in commercial settings, the property owner has developed a relationship with a trusted locksmith in the area near the building. That locksmith is familiar with the building’s lock-and-key systems and knows the property manager. Therefore, the locksmith can verify that the lock change request is legitimately from the proper person. Locksmith South Dallas has this relationship with businesses throughout the Dallas area and can provide expert service that protects businesses in commercial buildings, giving owners of both the business and the building peace of mind.

A business owner in a commercial building does not have the right to just come in and have the locks changed when they take over residency in a building. Permission must be obtained from the property owner. However, it’s common practice to allow a business to change the locks when they move in if they want as an added security measure for their business. If that’s important to you as a business owner, make sure you have that discussion with the property manager prior to signing a lease for your new office space. The property manager must have a key to access the building and offices at all times so there must be an extra set of keys available once the locksmith has finished changing the locks.

Tip: Allow the property manager to handle lock changes. Because it’s likely that the manager already has a trusted relationship with a locksmith, the process will be much easier. But business owners should be there when the locks are changed so they have immediate access to the building when the job is complete. In this case, a reason behind the lock change is also important as there might be different building rules for different situations. For example, changing the locks for a new business might have a different protocol or require different authorizations than if there has been a security breach in the building.

HOME & VEHICLE OWNERS

Homeowners and vehicle owners generally have the right to change the locks of their place of residence or car whenever they want. However, a locksmith must still take precaution and verify that he/she has the permission of the person who actually owns the vehicle or home before taking action.

There are situations when changing the locks is really important for safety reasons, like when you first take ownership and move into your new home or when the relationship changes between the people that live there and it becomes volatile or unsafe. But even in those situations where time is of the essence, a locksmith still has the responsibility to make sure to have the right permissions before doing the job. If it’s the locks on a house, you may need to show a deed and have all owners present. If it’s a car’s locks that you need to have changed, you may need to show the vehicle’s registration and get verification from each party. If a court is involved in a situation, then you may be required to show proof that a judge has allowed the locks to be changed in your car or home without the other person’s knowledge or consent.

Tip: Be prepared to show all necessary identification and paperwork that proves ownership and, if necessary, permission for you to change locks on your home or car.

Reputable locksmiths will not take just anyone’s word for it and change a lock without having the right permission, whether it’s for a residential home, an office building, or a car. Locksmiths have a big responsibility when it comes to changing locks. They need to make sure that they’re consulting with the correct person and have the correct permissions before they proceed. Hiring a trusted locksmith like Locksmith South Dallas that follows protocols and considers your safety and security to be a top priority is critical so that you know that the job is being done right from beginning to end.