Button Locks & Deadbotts

We have a property with both deadbolts and button locks on the front and back outside doors, and front/ back doors of the inside units in this duplex.

Hubby was there last week putting a new deadbolt in. The tenant downstairs rented the unit as a single working person a few years ago. She is now retired and has been taking care of her grandson for a couple years. Now is taking care of his brother, too, born recently. Out of the blue, tenant started in on my husband about how the button locks are not safe now that the first grandson is tall enough to reach and lock them. I never gave button lock keys to tenants as they aren't helpful for security, you can get in them with a credit card. She wants keys to the button locks. Group help needed here. Would it be better to give her keys or change the door knobs to regular doorknobs, leaving only deadbolts? Either way I look at it there are pros or cons...or other suggestions? Who should foot the bill? (Not sure if we got/have keys for the button locks when we purchased the place.) And why? I don't have children so am not thinking as a parent and beyond.

--23.227.xxx.xxx

Button Locks & Deadbotts (by Carolyn [MO]) Posted on: Sep 21, 2021 10:01 PM
Message:

I always have a deadbolt plus a regular door knob without a lock. I started doing that many years ago when I was getting calls from tenants who had accidentally locked themselves out.

Something I generally don't do, but is possible, is to take the knob lock and fix it so the lock part doesn't work. --136.34.xxx.xxx

Button Locks & Deadbotts (by Ray-N-Pa [PA]) Posted on: Sep 21, 2021 10:15 PM
Message:

landlord locks --24.101.xxx.xxx

Button Locks & Deadbotts (by small potatoes [NY]) Posted on: Sep 21, 2021 10:21 PM
Message:

I personally want all the locks I can get, which is what I did for the units as I went through them. But folks here have mentioned how tenants lock them selves out w/ the doorknob, and It has happened to my tenants a couple of times. So now I am swapping out keyed door knobs for passage knobs.

I have noticed that most of the knobs are levers now and wonder if that's a trend w/ senior accessibility in mind. --24.194.xxx.xxx

Button Locks & Deadbotts (by Bonanza [NC]) Posted on: Sep 22, 2021 4:51 AM
Message:

I'd accommodate her request and put a passage knob on the door

$25 each from landlordlocks

Arrow Passage knob RK01 in chrome

examples even cheaper from big box stores.

--65.188.xxx.xxx

Button Locks & Deadbotts (by Steve [MA]) Posted on: Sep 22, 2021 6:22 AM
Message:

Since I started using dead bolts & passage sets for entry doors, I've only had 1 tenant look themselves out. They lost their keys while out shopping.

IMO if your units have both a deadbolt & a keyed knob, your tenants are entitled to have a key(s) that work both locks. --71.184.xxx.xxx

Button Locks & Deadbotts (by Roy [AL]) Posted on: Sep 22, 2021 8:33 AM
Message:

I started using passage knobs on front/back door with deadbolts keyed the same 10 years ago. So much easier now.

I just swap out the deadbolts are turnover. --68.63.xxx.xxx

Button Locks & Deadbotts (by gevans [SC]) Posted on: Sep 22, 2021 9:37 AM
Message:

Another vote for passage knobs plus deadbolts. Not a single lockout on those I ahve converted.

--158.115.xxx.xxx

Button Locks & Deadbotts (by Pat [CA]) Posted on: Sep 22, 2021 10:39 AM
Message:

I am in the middle of a turnover and need to rekey or replace locks on doors. Is a deadbolt lock and a locking door knob required on doors for tenants safety? Or is a deadbolt lock and a passage knob considered sufficient? --66.74.xx.xxx

Button Locks & Deadbotts (by WMH [NC]) Posted on: Sep 22, 2021 12:06 PM
Message:

We've replaced all locks on all doors with passage locks and Landlord Locks deadbolts. Not one person has asked, "Where's the twist-knob lock?" --50.82.xxx.xxx

Button Locks & Deadbotts (by Vee [OH]) Posted on: Sep 22, 2021 12:07 PM
Message:

The deadbolt does the work, consider the length of the throw, closet or passage knobs are all I have used for at least 8 years - no ruling about this anywhere except there is a -texas deadbolt- with only a internal thumb size handle but I would question the ability for fire dept to get in without damaging a lot of the door when the tenant can not see the handle to let themselves out. --76.188.xxx.xxx

Button Locks & Deadbotts (by Robert,OntarioCanada [ON]) Posted on: Sep 22, 2021 12:57 PM
Message:

Convert over to passage locks then the deadbolts can be mastered keyed along with additional safety as in fire the tenant can not lock themselves out. It is easier to upgrade then amortize the cost of upgrades into higher rent so the upgrade is paid for. I remember where repairs where made to the apartment building where went for above guideline rent increases under rent control where they tried to appeal rent increases then lost where one January five apartments they moved where one ad rented all the apartments then never heard another complaint about rent. For a common area the deadbolt locks should be commercial grade 1 or 2 which have fire rating. Oh it is not fair that we the tenants have to pay for repairs on the apartment building as they called the building inspector so they could appeal the rent. The extreme leftist tenancy advocates are not going to sell the houses they own for repairs. --99.236.xxx.xxx

Button Locks & Deadbotts (by Nicole [PA]) Posted on: Sep 22, 2021 1:15 PM
Message:

why wouldn't the tenant have a door key? I go out A LOT and don't lock the deadbolt on my house.

I have been switching over like man above - key for deadbolt only. Tenants all HATE it but I do it anyway.

The older lock sets, deadbolt and knob for both doors (total of four locks) are all the same. --98.237.xxx.xx

Button Locks & Deadbotts (by Barb [MO]) Posted on: Sep 22, 2021 5:41 PM
Message:

Another vote for passage knobs/levers and deadbolts. We've gone to levers in most places. Easier to open than a knob. Particularly for arthritis. --149.76.xxx.xx

Button Locks & Deadbotts (by Barb [MO]) Posted on: Sep 22, 2021 5:44 PM
Message:

Nicole - your tenants hate it? Mine LOVE it!

All a matter of how you sell it! We sell it as "No worries about locking you keys inside by accident - you need your key in your hand to lock the door."

On some, we have been installing electronic locks. Love the August ones, that we can pair with a keypad and an app for the smart phone.

Mine are all set up on my account, and then we share a keypad code and the app with tenants for our short term/travel nurses. If they have a friend over, they can request a temp code or hand out their own code. --149.76.xxx.xx

Button Locks & Deadbotts (by Lucy [IN]) Posted on: Sep 22, 2021 11:05 PM
Message:

I seem to be doing the opposite of ya'll. I give a key to a button lock, but not to the deadbolt. I tell them the deadbolt is for your personal protection. You should have renter's insurance to protect your stuff. We do have a few lockouts but with a $25-35 charge to unlock, it generally only happens once. Then they find a way to have the spare somewhere.

This also allows me to only change one lock between tenants and not the button lock and the deadbolt. --64.184.xx.xx

Button Locks & Deadbotts (by RentsDue [MA]) Posted on: Sep 26, 2021 9:52 AM
Message:

I haven’t given a tenant a key in years. Everything is keyless entry. They get a code to put into the keypad on the lock. Only problem I had is when one kid gave the code out at school. --68.191.xx.xx

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Button Locks & Deadbotts

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