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Who is responsible for the mailbox key in a single family rental property?

We recently moved in a new resident in the Sacramento area that insisted we provide them a mailbox key. The mailbox is in a cluster of boxes that the post office puts next to the sidewalk and holds about 10 neighboring mailboxes.

Our position is that this type of mailbox is the property of the post office and the relationship is between the occupant and the postal service. The landlord does not receive mail there and should direct the tenant to go direct to the postal service with their rental agreement. The post office will then issue a key to them.

Much like electric service, it is the responsibility of the tenant to make arrangements to get their mail.

www.HomePointe.com

Posted by Robert Machado, CPM MPM Sacramento Area Property Manager and Property Management on 09/30/2008 11:17 PM

Comments (13)

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Originally posted at: Property Management and Investor Information: Who is responsible for the mailbox key in a single family rental property?

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13 Comments on Who is responsible for the mailbox key in a single family rental property?

SEP

2008

In Hawaii, the mailbox (and key) is assigned by the post office. It sounds like it's the same where you are. Hope this helps.

Robert you bring up a good point. Here in Florida I've been involved with a couple of condominiums and the landlords have always provided the mailbox key. When a prior tenant has taken off without returning the key, the landlords have bought the $5.00 lock and installed the lock. I'll find out from the local post office what their responsibility is. I'm involved in rentals in these buildings and who's actually responsible is good to know.

I sold a home that had that problem and they took their HUD-1 to the post office and they gave them a new key. Hope this helps

OCT

2008

Great point. I have not ran into this yet. The only mailbox key I have had to hand over at a sale was my own, and I did.-Dinah @ NowYouAreLiving.com

I sell in a condo conversion projectand the upon the sale it is the responsibility of the owner to get a key from the post office, because the post office won't even give a key to anyone other than the owner of the mailbox. I'm guessing that would be the same for a rental!

Our local post office's position is that it is the tenant's repsonsibility to provide a lease to get a mailbox key (if the owner or property manager did not provide one). There is, however, a fee for rekeying the lock.

Robert, it sounds like what we do here is pretty much what you're doing. It's all taken care of by the Post Office.

If the homeowner has a key they hand it over if not they go to post office and get one.

Robert - we always have the buyer go directly to the post office. You are right about the boxes being the property of the US Postal Service and in a lot of areas of Sacramento, the post office insists that the new buyer come in to receive a new key if they want to start their mail service at the new address.

My thoughts are how much is a stupid key? Why not go the extra mile, buy the key and make a client satisfied??? Just a thought!!!!!

Kelly Willey Christian Realtor harford County Maryland reo

Robert - We had this come up in a subdivision with a mailbox situation like yours. I believe the post office was in charge of the keys... :)

I believe it's the same everywhere that there are cluster boxes on the street. Those cluster boxes are like mini-post office boxes, and the USPS controls the keys.

OCT

2008

Kelly, We rent 60 houses a month and going to the various post offices 60 times is a lot of customer service! It is the tenant's responsibility!

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