Alarm System - Leave On Premises or Remove When Tenant Moves In?

[Pamela Gordon]

Hi BP's need your advice.  I recently put a SimpliSafe alarm system, in one of my vacant properties, of course for security and so that I can set up self guided tours but wanted to know what do you do after you get a tenant.

1) Do you remove the alarm system altogether?
2) Do you leave it and tell the tenant it's not activated?  *Document this in the lease*
3) If you leave it and the tenant activates it, can you legally ask them for their access code?  If not, how would you get access to the home if the tenant is not there?  Of course this would only apply in emergency situations
4) Do you leave it activated and provide them with an access code?  This option seems like one more thing to worry about, which I'm not sure if I want to.

Your thoughts, advice is needed.

Thank you in advance.
Pam

[Jake Wiley]

Probably a depends answer.

1)Can you economically take it and use it somewhere else?    If so, sure, if not go with #2.

2) Seems like a great option.

3) If you are giving notice to the tenant, then you likely don't need the code, they could meet you there or arrange to leave it off.    If its an emergency - its an emergency, the alarm going off is the least of concerns.    I wouldn't want the code unless it's a one-time or special use code that you can tell explicitly that you used it.   See below.  

4). Don't like this one, I'd avoid anything where you have added potential liability to you/your business surrounding safety, etc.    What happens if something bad does happen and the alarm didn't work, they may be after you.    What if you are the only other person with the code, so they say, and someone deactivated the system and allegedly took things from the property.    Don't sign up for that.