What Locks Does a Detroit Rental Need to Pass Inspection?

Detroit's rental inspection asks for two things on locks. Item 12 of the city's 15-point checklist says all entry doors into individual dwelling units have a working lock, and item 11 says all windows that are designed to open are in working condition and have locks. A door that will not latch, a deadbolt that does not throw, or a window with a missing sash lock can each keep a unit from passing.

That matters more this fall than usual. On September 15, Michigan Public reported that only about 14% of the roughly 85,000 rentals in Detroit hold a certificate of compliance, that the Detroit Tenants Union is suing the 36th District Court over evictions on uncertified rentals, and that the city aims to bring 9,000 more properties into compliance within a year. A lot of landlords are scheduling inspections, and a lot of tenants are asking what the inspector should be looking at.

What the Checklist Says About Locks

• Item 12, entry doors. All entry doors into individual dwelling units have a working lock. In a house that is the front and back doors. In a two-flat or an apartment building it is also the door from the shared hall or stairway into each unit.
• Item 11, windows. All windows that are designed to open are in working condition and have locks. A window that opens needs a lock, and the window itself has to open, close and stay put.
• Item 10, egress. All rooms used for living need proper egress, including attics and basements. A bedroom window that is painted shut, screwed closed or blocked so it cannot be opened from inside works against you here, even if it is locked.

The full checklist also covers heat, water, wiring, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, plumbing, pests and paint. The city publishes it in its landlord guide at detroitmi.gov/rental.

What a Working Lock Looks Like in Practice

The checklist does not name a brand or a lock type. In our experience getting doors ready for a walkthrough, these are the things that make a lock read as working:

• The bolt throws all the way. Close the door and lock it. The deadbolt should slide fully into the frame without pushing, lifting or slamming the door. If it stops short, the strike plate is out of line or the door has sagged.
• The door latches on its own. Let the door swing shut. The latch should catch and hold. A door that drifts open or only stays shut when locked is a fail waiting to happen.
• The key works from outside. The tenant needs a key that turns smoothly. A worn copy that only works with jiggling is a common problem on older Detroit houses.
• Nothing is loose, broken or missing. A wobbling lock body, a cracked frame around the strike, a missing thumb turn, or an empty hole where a lock used to be all stand out.
• Every window that opens has a sash lock that catches. Check every window, including the back bedroom and the basement. Old double-hung windows often have the lock missing or painted over on one or two.

Between Tenants: Rekey the Locks

The checklist asks for a working lock, not new keys. But if the last tenant, a contractor or a property manager still has keys, the lock works for them too. Rekeying between tenants changes the pins inside the lock so the old keys stop working, and it keeps the hardware you already have. Our rekey vs. change locks guide explains when rekeying is enough and when the lock itself should go.

Once a tenant has moved in, Michigan's anti-lockout law (MCL 600.2918) bars a landlord from changing or adding locks without immediately giving the tenant the keys. Plan lock work for the turnover, or coordinate it with the tenant and hand over keys the same day.

Not in the City of Detroit?

Warren, Southfield, Dearborn and many other Metro Detroit cities run their own rental registration and inspection programs, with their own checklists. Working locks on entry doors and windows that open and lock are on most of them, but check with your city before you book the inspection.

Getting a Rental Ready

If you have a walkthrough coming up, test every door and window on the list above a week before, not the morning of. Most lock problems that show up at inspection are small: a strike plate that needs moving, a missing window lock, a deadbolt that needs a new cylinder, or keys that need cutting. Our lock rekeying and residential locksmith services cover rental houses, two-flats and apartment buildings across Metro Detroit.