There are laws and regulations set forth by the Tribunal regarding the locks and keys of tenanted homes. This is to ensure the safety of both current tenants, and those who come after. These laws must be followed to the letter, by both parties involved in a rental agreement. http://www.positionone.com.au

1. Laws Regarding Locks and Keys for a Rental Property
Because the safety of landlord and tenant is paramount at all times, the laws and regulations regarding
the locks and keys for a rental property are clear, concise and detailed. Brisbane property management
companies, and the tenants who rent from them, are required to follow these rules to maintain the
safety of all parties involved in the rental agreement in a manner that, as often as possible, also respects
the privacy and the accessibility of all sides.
Locks in rental properties are required by law to be safe and secure, and properly maintained by
Brisbane real estate representatives. This is to ensure that the people living within the apartment or
home do not have to fear for the safety of their property or person. After all, locks are often the only
things standing between the renters and anyone who wishes access to their home. Building agents,
lessors or management personnel are required to provide locks for tenants, as well as maintain the
security of the building, insofar as they can. Locks for rental properties may only be changed if both the
lessor and lessee agree; the only exceptions to this rule are emergencies or a ruling made by the
Tribunal.
Keys are also provided by management, agents or lessors to the renter, or renters. For each person
named on the lease for a rental property, a set of keys that allow entrance into the home or apartment
is required; if there are 4 people on the rental agreement, four sets of entry keys should be provided.
These keys can be standard metal, remote controls, swipe cards and electronic keys. Furthermore, if
there are any additional keys needed by the household, such as those for other locked areas including
storage areas, laundry rooms, sheds, gates or lockers, at least one set for the entire property must be
provided. The same goes for people who are merely renting a room; they must have a key for the room
and one for the building, as necessary.
Just as it is the responsibility of the Brisbane property management agent, lessor or property
management personnel to ensure the proper working use of locks, so too is it the responsibility of
tenants to ensure that at the expiration of their contract, if no extension or new contract is signed, to
return each and every key provided at the time of move-in. If the residents made any copies of any keys,
for any reason, these too must be turned in to the agent. Failure to do so poses a security risk for future
tenants and will require changing of all locks the tenant had keys for; this cost is generally charged to
the tenant who failed to return the keys. So, ensuring that you always know where your keys are, and
return them when you move out of the property, can save you much time and expense. Respect for
safety and security is required on both sides of a tenancy agreement, and locks and keys are an integral
element thereof.
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