Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Oklahoma

Grounds for entering property

Tenant has replaced the lock with a dead bolt without consent and in violation of the lease agreement. They are currently vacationing in another state. There has been a newborn kitten in the window sill which is also in violation of the lease. In our signed lease agreement, the ''right of access'' clause includes a statement that reads ''management may enter at any time to prevent damage to property''. The tenant will not respond to emergency voice messages left on their cell phone. Do I have legal grounds to hire a locksmith to gain entry, change the locks, and/or remove the pet? What can I do? Please help.


Asked on 6/12/02, 4:30 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Hunt John Urgentlegalcare.com

Re: Grounds for entering property

Thank you for your question. It sounds to me like you would have a right to and perhaps and obligation to to get inside and rescue the kitten. In that regard I would call the society for perevention of cruelty to annimals, the animal shelter, police, sheriff or all of them and try to arrange for someone to be there to take the kitten. Which would also provide you with a witness as to what the situation was. Sounds like you need to file to evict these people for the lease violation. I dont know if I would change the lock or not. Sorta depends on what you decide to do about their lease violations. Unless the police are brought in to monitor what you are doing concerning the cat, I would not want to get myself in a position where someone could try to say you went in and took something.

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Answered on 6/12/02, 7:00 pm


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