Texas Property Codes
If you are a Houston Rental Home – this is great information that you need to know – whether you are managing your own rental property or you choose Real Property Management Houston for your Houston Property Management needs.
Texas Property Code Chapter 92 is a wonderful resource for landlords or Property Management Companies regarding locks on your Houston Rental Property. Click here to see Texas Property Code Chapter 92.
Here are some guidelines regarding Security devices:
- Install new locks on all exterior doors when you have a new tenant.
- Add security devices to exterior doors, sliding glass doors and locks on windows
Very important****Landlords / Property Management companies must “re-key” any exterior doors within 7 days from the time the new tenant takes residency.
Exterior Doors:
- Must have keyed lock and deadbolt.
- If you have a 1-sided deadbolt, make sure it is just from the inside of the property. (An acceptable substitution would be a ring bolt, a drop bolt or a metal bar across the door). This is again for securing an exterior door from inside the property.
- Must have a door viewer or “peep hole” so that the tenant can see who is at the door. (An acceptable substitution would be a 1-way mirror or a clear glass pane on the door).
Unacceptable forms of security hardware for exterior outside access doors from inside the property, these are not considered as secure and would not be acceptable per the guidelines of the Texas Property Code.
- Chain latch
- Flip latch
- Barrel bolt
Here are some exceptions to requiring key-less deadbolts inside the dwelling on an exterior access door :
- If the dwelling is part of a multi-tenant complex where the majority of the tenants are 55 years of age or have a physical and/or mental disability
- (Similarly) If the tenant is occupant is over 55 years of age or has a physical and/or mental disability
- If the landlord would be required or permitted to check on tenant or occupant as part of a written agreement
- If you have French doors each door actually has an identifying name. There is a primary and a secondary. These are usually not going to be the main entrance doors but since they would most likely be a side exterior access door, they have special requirements. Regarding the primary door you must have acceptable lock hardware on that door. (please refer to outlined notes from page 1). Regarding the secondary door, it must have a bolt that secures into the header (top of door – frame over the door). It must also have a bolt that would secure into the floor. This is to ensure extra stability and safety.
- If you have sliding glass doors, there are 2 things you must have, a working latch or security bar and a pin lock. The pin lock must be mounted no higher than 48 inches high for a child to be able to reach in the event of a fire or immediate emergency. Windows are fairly simple, all windows must be able to lock with a latch to prevent being opened from the outside.
Watch the Video below on “re-keying” your Houston rental property. Call Real Property Management Houston for all your Houston Property Management needs. We are here to help! Visit us online at www.HoustonRPM.com today and allow us to take the stress out of your life.