State Specific Question About: MASSACHUSETTS (MA)

I don't allow it but would like to have a better answer when roommates ask if they can put a lock on their bedroom door.

I tell them it's against fire codes. I don't want them too because they WILL lock themselves out and WILL kick in the door.

They will still kick in the door. It's easier to fix a unauthorized installed lock than a destroyed door and jamb.

If these are roommates....in numbers over two, chances are they share the keys.

I have locks all over the place and have only had one kicked in jamb. That probably happened via an argument and had nothing to do with keys. Roommates lock doors so that when friends of friends come over the rooms are locked, but often the lock is the same key as that of the main entrance.

In your case, I would imagine that these are roommates that don't want to share keys but it may be worth checking.

I can certainly understand the request to have a lock on a bedroom door if there is a house share going on. I may trust my housemates, but not their friends. But everyone should have a place to secure their more valuable stuff. In an apartment building, each apartment has a keyed lock, not just the main door.

I agree, do it on your terms. Sometimes I am not thrilled with some of the things that tenants ask for, but I am glad they asked and try to work with them. So I am not the party of no and they will ask in the future.

Use digital combination locks . If they lock themselves out and can't remember the combination all they have to do is call you and you can tell them what it is .

www.handlesets.com/lockstate-digital-locks-and-deadbolts/c4983

For such requests, we use our Landlordlocks from Ernie. We install the lock correctly and have a masterkey.

No biggie. A little customer service. People want security. Keeps tenants from tearing things up or screwing hasps for padlocks on MY doors.

To be clear, are we talking locks on bedroom doors so that the place is secure when they are GONE -- or do they just want basic locks so that no one walks in on them changing? In other words, do they really want SECURE locks -- or do they want something like a bathroom has?

I allow the bathroom-style ones (i.e. stick something in the hole to unlock it easily) that are more just for privacy no problem.

I assume you must mean that they want something more than that, correct?

- John...

I must have a copy of the key for the bedroom door locks. I think I am going to make a change in policy. No dead bolt locks only door knob locks. I did a plumbing job last week on a rental and the bedroom door had a dead bolt lock in place of the door knob lock. I couldn't secure their cat in the bedroom while I worked easily. I had to rig up a wire from around the dead bolt to the hall cabinet door handle to keep it closed. Since I did not have a key to this lock. PITA.