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Can The Owner Demand to Have Their Tenants Alarm Code?

The better question should be, "Does the owner want to have the alarm codes?"

My answer is an emphatic no. The landlord/owner should not be giving the tenant any reason to blame them for lost items in the tenant's rental dwelling. Having access codes will put the landlord on the short list of suspects.

If you need to get into the property, give proper notice and go in. If there is an alarm you might need to notify the police in advance where a forced entry is needed (which is very rare).

If you don't know what a proper notice is in your state, check with a property manager or the local rental housing association.

Posted by Robert Machado, CPM MPM Sacramento Area Property Manager and Property Management on 09/22/2009 10:13 AM

Comments (14)

Notice to Enter in the ActiveRain Channel

notice to enter

Originally posted at: Property Management and Investor Information: Can The Owner Demand to Have Their Tenants Alarm Code?

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14 Comments on Can The Owner Demand to Have Their Tenants Alarm Code?

SEP

You're right. In CA tenant's rights include a 24-hour advance notice. It's not always convenient, but I deal with in on a regular basis.

I wouldn't want my tenant's alarm code. In a true emergency, let the alarm go off.

I'm with YOU on this.... even with annual municipal safety inspections of apartments, we request the tenants have someone on the premises to allow entrance.

Diane

I control my tenants' alarm codes and the master password.....property managers can establish this tier and the read-out will show what code was entered when...if the tenant wants to be away when entry notice has been given, I can enter with repairman and my code shows on the alarm display.....it has never been a problem.

SEP

Wallace: We have had our tenants accuse us AND the repairmen of theft of personal property, as a result of us/them entering in WITH PERMISSION of the absent tenant. We have learned our lessons and will not take these risks again! We know a lawsuit when we see it!

I never ask the tenant for the alarm code I always make arrangements before so that someone is there to let the repairmen in.

Diane - the code read-out from the alarm company shows what code was used for entry at a specific time and that our code was not used for the supposed entry.....in 45 years, I have NEVER had a tenant accuse me or a repairman of taking their belongings.....never.

The alarm systems I deal with are owner/developer installed, state-of-the-art with multi-tier authorization...I keep control of the codes and can order a print out of entry codes used at any time...

SEP

Alarms do fall behind the times and must be kept up to the current technology. Not all owners are willing to do this and not all tenants want to pay the fees. Another property management hassle.

SEP

Wallace: The "accusers" were "hunting" for an opportunity.... (I'll have to write a blog on this one)... anyway, of course they FOUND their loot that THEY had misplaced, but this one incident awakened us!! (We have inherited tenants that we did not place... and find out what they are up to later on down the line.)

SEP

Even tenants you place may be crooks. None of us is immune.

LOL, lol, roflol at Robert!..... you are Soooooo right on that one!!!

SEP

I used to think that my decision we all good and everyone was happy with the end result. Then I came back to work the second day and found out that staying in this business means minimizing mistakes and working it out with unhappy people. What does roflol mean?

LOL LOL LOL!!!!!!!!!!! ROFLOL means:

Rolling On Floor Laughing Out Loudly!

OCT

Oh, I thought it was Rolling On Floor Laughing Out Loud.

Thanks for clearing that up!

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