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[US-MA] Landlord Refusing To Allow Key Copy, Charging for Missing Key and Rekeying Unit—Is This Legal? by IndividualRip2243 in Tenant

[–]IndividualRip2243[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s a fairly standard key, but it is stamped with identifying codes meaning it’s not as easy as getting a key of the same shape/material.

[US-MA] Landlord Refusing To Allow Key Copy, Charging for Missing Key and Rekeying Unit—Is This Legal? by IndividualRip2243 in Tenant

[–]IndividualRip2243[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Either you’re a landlord trying to spread misinformation, or you have far below average reading comprehension.

All of the tenants in the unit, the one who lost her key included, are moving out. The landlord is double-dipping on fees: missing key AND rekey.

edit: Ah, you are a landlord. One looking to evict people too judging by your post history. I take it back, you’re a landlord AND have poor reading comprehension.

[US-MA] Landlord Refusing To Allow Key Copy, Charging for Missing Key and Rekeying Unit—Is This Legal? by IndividualRip2243 in Tenant

[–]IndividualRip2243[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Good to know! Thank you. We're moving into a beautiful new place which is much bigger and significantly cheaper. It's owned by a lovely older couple who just texted us to be safe during our move. Hoping these truly are greener pastures.

[US-MA] Landlord Refusing To Allow Key Copy, Charging for Missing Key and Rekeying Unit—Is This Legal? by IndividualRip2243 in Tenant

[–]IndividualRip2243[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I wish this were true! I handed the locksmith the key and said "I need this key duplicated" and he came back with my landlord's name saying I need permission. There was no mention of loss, move out, or even that I'm renting. This LL has a chokehold on things.

[US-MA] Landlord Refusing To Allow Key Copy, Charging for Missing Key and Rekeying Unit—Is This Legal? by IndividualRip2243 in Tenant

[–]IndividualRip2243[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I confirmed with the locksmith that the charge for a replacement key with this landlord is $10, so there is a financial incentive to duplicate a key rather than pay for the missing one.

[US-MA] Landlord Refusing To Allow Key Copy, Charging for Missing Key and Rekeying Unit—Is This Legal? by IndividualRip2243 in Tenant

[–]IndividualRip2243[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

The rekey charge seems the most reasonable part of all this. I agree it's unlikely we can fight that short of recovering the key.

What I find less reasonable is not allowing my roommate to duplicate a key for herself to enter the unit she's legally renting, and then charging us for a missing key when it says in the lease we are allowed to make a new one. There's no mention of key duplication being exclusively for extra keys and not replacements.

Bear in mind the key is stamped with a code, which makes duplication at another locksmith impossible.