Does A Landlord Have To Provide A Mailbox Key?

Anytime we move into a new rental property, development, or complex, there are certain things we must figure out. These are the everyday and routine aspects of life. That includes taking out the trash and knowing what day and how trash pickup works. It is the daily routine of checking mail and learning when mail runs and how the mailbox system works. That can include questions such as does the landlord have to provide a mailbox key, or is that the tenant’s responsibility?

Whenever a landlord provides a lockable mailbox, the landlord will typically be required to give the tenant a key. Some properties, however, will require the tenant to contact the US Postal Service for a key. That also means that the landlord does not control the mailboxes or is not the property owner. Additionally, the tenant may also incur a charge for a new mailbox key.

The bottom line is, the tenant should find out beforehand, as in before signing the lease or contract, exactly how the mail system is run. Here is a look at a few scenarios. These include situations when the landlord is required to provide a key, when the tenant is responsible for obtaining a mailbox key, and what you should know about each scenario.

The law in many states requires that the landlord provide tenants with a lockable mailbox. It is common practice for many rental properties to have a set of keys assigned for their lockable mailboxes. In these setups, it is also the landlord’s role to maintain and assign the mailbox keys. That also means the landlord is required to give the tenant a mailbox key upon moving in.

The other common scenario, which can also be the same as above, will more often apply to rental homes, vacation properties, or smaller apartment complexes. In this scenario, the landlord owns the property and is also responsible for providing a mailbox for each. When this case applies, it is again the landlord’s requirement to provide a key to the tenant.

It is also worth noting here that in this scenario, the landlord is also permitted to have a key to the mailbox. This is a fairly common law in many states where the landlord is the property owner. Don’t worry though, in no State and as governed by Federal law, it is never permissible for the landlord to open, go through, or take your mail.

Some apartments and privately owned rental properties simply allow the US Postal Service to handle the responsibilities of the mailbox. In these scenarios, the landlord ( and or property owner) are never given a key. That also means that the locks to these mailboxes are changed by the US Postal Service. For the tenant, that simply means they will need to contact their local Post Office branch to obtain a key.

In cases like these, sometimes the tenant will need to purchase a new key from the USPS. Other lockable mailbox systems, however, will not need the purchase of a new key. In those scenarios, it can require a trip to the local Post Office to pick up the key.

Providing a lockable mailbox and keys aren’t the only requirements placed on landlords by tenant-landlord law. Here are other common obligations that landlords should meet and that tenants should be aware of and know.