Are there any laws governing the use of locks in rental properties?

Yes, there are laws in Tennessee that govern the use of locks in rental properties. The Tennessee Residential Landlord and Tenant Act includes various provisions that deal specifically with locks and the use of them. Generally, a landlord must not change or remove any of the locks of the rental unit without either the tenant’s written consent, or a court order. Landlords, however, are allowed to change and re-key locks for legitimate reasons, such as when a tenant moves out, or when the landlord has “reason to believe that the tenant or former tenant has not returned all the keys to the locks”. In addition, landlords are allowed to change the locks if the tenant has failed to pay rent or has violated any other term of the lease. When a landlord changes or re-keys the locks, the landlord must provide a new key to the tenant within a reasonable amount of time. The landlord must also keep a record of all the keys that are provided to the tenant. Furthermore, the landlord is obligated to provide the tenants with a written report of any locks that have been changed and to provide a copy to the tenant of any re-keyed keys. In summary, there are certain laws in Tennessee that govern the use of locks in rental properties, including provisions that state the landlord must not change or remove any of the locks without the tenant’s written consent or a court order. The landlord must also provide the tenant with a new key and a written report of any locks that have been changed or re-keyed.

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Are there any laws governing the use of locks in rental properties?

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