What is the law for people who rent?

Question

In NJ- What is the law on if you rent an apartment - does the landlord HAVE TO have a key to your apartment if you change the locks?

Answer 1

Unfortunately, yes. But by law they are SUPPOSED to give you 24hr notice before coming in for any reason whatsoever(barring police warrant, fire, etc.) I.E. reason they are supposed to have a key

Answer 2

Here in NH I believe the landlord has to have a copy of the key.

My landlord charges $25 per lockout and has one master-key for all the apartments for the maintenance guy. My landlord needs to be contacted if I change the locks because of the master-key setup they have so they can put one of their locks in place.

Landlords can go into the apartment in an emergency like flooding, fire, etc. without notice. They HAVE to give 24 hours notice to enter your apartment for non-emergency issues and legitimate issues too. Every state has a Housing Law resource center. Here in NH it's called Legal Advice and Referral Center.

Answer 3

In NJ, absolutely not, and even if it says in your lease that the landlord must have a key, you can challenge this as a safety issue.

I live in NJ and went through this myself. My former landlord was entering my apartment while I was at work and going through my drawers. I changed the locks. He demanded a key. I said no way. He tried to evict me using this as one of the reasons since it said in my lease that he must have a key.

The Judge agreed with me, and I signed an agreement that said if I was unavailable and the door had to be broken down in case of a real and valid emergency (fire, etc) that I would pay for the new door. I also said that I would make myself available within reason for repairs if needed, with a minimum of 24 hours notice.

I know two other woman who were robbed without forceable entry (presumably by the super or owner) who changed their locks and refused to hand over new keys. Both of them won in court also.

You cannot be forced to compromise your own safety.

Answer 4

Not that I'm aware of. I rent in Pa and changed the locks on my apartment. My landlord does NOT have a key to my apartment. If your landlord is asking for a key to your apartment, its likely he/she wants to snoop around when your not there. I would not trust something like that.

Answer 5

yes the landlord does have to have a key even if you change the locks just in case of an emergency, he does own the place.

Answer 6

usually yes...but check your lease and also most of the information as far as renters rights is concerned can be found on the web or from a local agency...but most of the time like 99.9% of the time absolutely. you could move out and how would he enter, there could be an emergency, or and this it most of the time its so they can do inspections and gain access when your not home...most of the time they must give 24 hour notice but still its so they can gain access when your not there.

PS i work for a company that handles rentals and we have evicted ppl for changing locks and not providing keys so you can try it but be careful they do have the right to evict you if you don't provide them with a copy.

Answer 7

Legally yes...but in order for them to find out that you changed the locks, they have to give you an advanced notice of when the will be stopping by. Don't play that game though...just mail them a new key at your "earliest convience".

Answer 8

If pipes break while you are not home the maintenance man has to be able to have access. Fire codes also require that someone has access.

If you want to live where you are the only one with a key, you need to own.

Answer 9

To find out more about your rights as a tenant, contact your local Tenants Union in your area or the Attorney Generals Office.

Answer 10

Check with your local department of housing on the web usually you can send them an email and they will respond back.....GL