Full question:
I have rented my house to a family in Montana. Recently I went to the rental property to inspect and make small repairs. I noticed that the tenant had changed the main lock of the house, without informing me. Can I ask the tenant to provide me with a duplicate key?
- Category: Landlord Tenant
- Subcategory: Repairs
- Date:
- State: Montana
Answer:
In Montana, per 70-24-312 (5), MCA, a tenant is not permitted to “remove a lock or replace or add a lock” without providing a key to the landlord. At all times, the landlord is entitled to have access to the rental property. 70-24-312 (5), MCA reads:“A tenant may not remove a lock or replace or add a lock not supplied by the landlord to the premises without the written permission of the landlord. If a tenant removes a lock or replaces or adds a lock not supplied by the landlord to the premises, the tenant shall provide the landlord with a key to ensure that the landlord will have the right of access as provided by this chapter.”
The tenant may be asked to provide a key to the changed lock so that the landlord can access the rental property.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.
