Late Night Tenant "Emergency"

One of my tenants called me at 10:45pm last night, and I answered reluctantly because I knew there must be a problem. She's never called me late before.

Sure enough, she apologetically explained that her son had locked them all out of the house accidentally - the only key was still inside.

I had been cleaning and reorganizing like a crazy person (for once in my life) and was ready to fall into bed and cram in 6 hours of sleep before getting up early for a 6:00am yoga class.

Exhausted and annoyed, I ran through a short list of options. Couldn't they break in somehow? Weren't there any windows unlocked? Didn't somebody else have a copy of their key? No, no, and no.

She apologized profusely and offered to come meet me to get a key so I wouldn't have to drive all the way out there. I sighed, debating. I'd have to drive out there myself, unlock it, and drive back. I couldn't let her come get my only key - could I?

Turns out that I could. I agreed to let her come get my only key, on the condition that she bring it back to me by noon today.

Twenty minutes later I met her - and her carload of kids - in the parking lot of a nearby Wal-Mart (I didn't want to tell her where I lived). And let me just tell you we fit right in. I was wearing an old t-shirt and workout shorts and flip flops - not my best "professional landlord" look. She of course didn't care, and introduced me proudly to her kids as "the lady that owns the house we live in." Which would have made me feel weird if I wasn't so tired. One kid then asked if I drove a hummer. I wondered if for some reason he associated hummers with home ownership, but I simply shook my head no.

They were all wearing those sleeveless undershirts sometimes referred to as "wife-beaters." My tenant pointed out the child who had locked the door and told me I could yell at him if I wanted to. I laughed and said I was sure she was mad enough for the both of us.

When I got home my sister told me in her lease it specifically states that being locked out does not qualify as an "emergency" and that if it happens to you at night or over the weekend you have to wait until business hours to call about it.

I considered this point, but couldn't justify it in my situation. I suppose I should outline some sort of policy and look into the cost of emergency locksmiths in case I am not available in the event this ever happens again.