What Makes a Rental Property ‘Reasonably Secure’?
Part of the Landlord’s or Property Manager’s obligation is to ensure they provide the tenant with a “reasonably secure” property.
“Reasonably secure” may relate to
- the risk to a tenant’s personal safety
- the ability of a tenant to obtain home contents insurance
- the likelihood of break-ins
- local community standards about adequate security for properties
- the physical characteristics of the property and adjoining areas
This includes supplying and maintaining all locks and providing the tenant with keys. Keys include electronic key cards, swipe cards and remote controls.
Other keys the Landlord/Property Manager must also provide:
- each person named on the tenancy agreement with a set of keys to enter the property
- a single set of keys for any lockable areas (e.g. buildings, security gates, rooms, sheds, lockable cupboards and mailboxes)
- rooming accommodation tenants with a room key and, if necessary, to the house or apartment building
In the case of changing locks, this can only be done if the tenant and Landlord/Property Manager are both in agreement, if there is an emergency or by QCAT order.
At the end of the tenancy, all keys, including any copies made, must be returned to the Landlord/Property Manager.
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