I rent an apt in MA, do i, by law, have to give a key to my landlord? Can i change the locks without approval?

Answer 1

Your answer is the same as the answer to this question:

Who owns the property you occupy -- you (the renter) or the landlord.

The property owner, by law, must be able to access his property at all times. If you are on good relations with your landlord, this should pose no problems.

Answer 2

Yes, you have to give your landlord a key.

If he has to break the door down because there is a flood in your bathroom while you are not home, you will be charged for the door to be replaced. If you don't want to give him a key because you think he will enter without your permission while you aren't home, make sure your lease states that the landlord is only to enter the premises in the event of an emergency. If you don't want to give the landlord a key because you are doing something in your apartment that is, shall we say, less than legal, well, then, that's YOUR problem, not his.

If you change the locks, and don't give him a key, you are setting yourself up for more grief than it's worth.

Answer 3

The landlord needs to have a key and you can't change the locks without approval. The landlord needs to be able to enter for emergencies and needs to notify you for non emergencies. read your lease.

Answer 4

The first several people who responded are correct. Please don't trust the answer given by "de bossy one," since it is absolutely incorrect.

Your landlord must always have a key to your apartment, and you may not change the locks without the landlord's permission. Ever.

Answer 5

If it were a Christian owned progression on church resources for certain Christian use...i.e. less costly housing for Christian households or singles, and so on, then no i does no longer employ to them via educate makes use of placed aside for the progression, and really depending upon the religion of the congregation. i'd experience undesirable that i might want to no longer help them, and would probable attempt to deliver them someplace that would want to. If it were a non church progression, no longer on church resources...then regulation does no longer enable race, non secular determination or life variety alternatives to be a decision of client's rights...and having a Wiccan tenant isn't any distinct than having a practising Mormon, Orthodox Jew, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or Zoroastrian. What someone does of their abode is subject to the guidelines that save on with to all tenants. non secular freedom is what makes this usa no longer like the vast majority of the international. hence i'd be at liberty to get to understand them and attempt to be the perfect landlord they'd ever had. the owner of the progression has the right to apply the progression as a public or inner most corporation i'd imagine depending upon the zoning for that resources, and that's utilization is determined previously even starting the doors. no matter if it really is public, then it really is open to equivalent danger in accordance to the regulation, and any proprietor knows this previously, or might want to. If any proprietor/landlord had a situation with renting to each person for inspite of the actuality that reason, they could continually promote the progression if it grew to develop into an situation with them via point of their faith. no matter if it really is a private corporation...as I suggested...specifically determined and dedicated for a non secular function, then it truly is the purely way someone will be denied utilization depending upon their non secular determination or life variety alternatives....race isn't an situation. So all in all, it isn't even an situation till someone makes it one by doing away with the right to non secular freedom...attempting to rigidity a non secular starting up to break faith with the intention to administration human being who does no longer believe that faith.

Answer 6

You don't own the property so you can't change it without the owner's permission or knowledge. The landlord has a right to enter without consent if his/her property is at risk...ie a fire, or leaking water, etc...They have a right to protect their property. If it isn't property threatening, they have to give 24 hr notice to enter. They don't need permission, just need to give notice. It is their property and their interest

Answer 7

what an outrageous idea. why would you allow anyone access to your apartment if you didn't approve of it? you are renting it, not borrowing it. you have the right to prvacy both of and to your property. allowing an owner free access to your personal property would be giving him/her free access to your property without any control over who can and cannot enter. i know of no state which requires a rentor to allow uncontrolled access to a rental property without permission of the rentor and that is what you are suggesting the owner have.