California law, can landlord install screen door and not give tenant keys?

[eoforwic]

Our apartment complex installed locking screen doors on the front door of all the apartments but won't give tenants the keys to the screen doors. One of my many neighbors who was refused a key was told that the screen door keys aren't given out because they are in case of eviction. Upon eviction, the screen door will be locked against the evicted tenant.

Problem is, the locks on the doors sometimes stick and tenants can't get in. My neighbor was charged $90 when this happened to her. I have had to tape up the locks on my screen door to prevent being locked out like this. Isn't it illegal for a landlord to not give you a key to all locks on the apartment? This is in San Diego, California.

Please point me to where I can find the applicable law to this situation. My searching has come up empty.

[adamka]

Our apartment complex installed locking screen doors on the front door of all the apartments but won't give tenants the keys to the screen doors. One of my many neighbors who was refused a key was told that the screen door keys aren't given out because they are in case of eviction. Upon eviction, the screen door will be locked against the evicted tenant.

Problem is, the locks on the doors sometimes stick and tenants can't get in. My neighbor was charged $90 when this happened to her. I have had to tape up the locks on my screen door to prevent being locked out like this. Isn't it illegal for a landlord to not give you a key to all locks on the apartment? This is in San Diego, California.

Please point me to where I can find the applicable law to this situation. My searching has come up empty.

A number of things are wrong there. First off, they must provide you keys to locks to your unit. Based on the ignorance of your landlord, my guess is that when you move out and they find that the tape left residue on the door that you'll be charged for that. Second, it is illegal for them to lock out a tenant. There are legal processes they need to go through to have you evicted and removed. Changing a lock, or locking you out, is illegal and they will get in a lot of trouble for doing it.

[bothan]

Feel free to remove the lock and store it in a safe place until you move out. A landlord MUST provide keys to ALL locks in a rental unit. PERIOD. Check with City Hall for a tenant advocate. A call from him or her should square this idiot away pretty quickly.