Why turnover is the natural moment to reset keys
A tenant who moves out takes belongings, but the keys they once held do not vanish. Some are returned at the final walkthrough, some are copied along the way, and a few are simply never seen again. Nobody can say with certainty how many exist.
The unit is empty and the next tenant is not yet in. That gap is the easiest moment to change what the locks respond to, because nobody's daily routine is disrupted and nothing personal is in the way of the work.
Resetting the keys does not imply that the previous tenant did anything wrong. It is a matter of procedure, the same way a hotel does not wonder whether a past guest is trustworthy before changing the card codes. The next tenant deserves to know that only the current set of keys works.
For a landlord, there is a practical side as well. A clear key history reduces disputes, simplifies insurance conversations, and makes it easier to show that you took sensible care of the property. Think of it as housekeeping for security. You clean the carpets, patch the walls, and replace the batteries in the smoke alarms between tenants. Resetting the keys belongs on the same list, and it takes far less effort than many owners expect. Many owners also find that a consistent routine reduces arguments. When every turnover follows the same steps, nobody has to guess what was done last time, and a new manager can pick up the process without a long explanation.
Rekey, replace, or leave alone: choosing the right response
Rekeying changes the inside of the cylinder so old keys stop working while the hardware stays in place. For most rental doors that are in decent condition, it is the practical choice, since it costs less effort than new locks and keeps the look of the door consistent.
Replacement is better when a lock is worn, loose, corroded, or of poor quality, or when you want a different grade of hardware. Coastal humidity and salt air in South Florida are hard on lower grade finishes, and a deadbolt that sticks every damp morning is a complaint waiting to happen. Our comparison of rekeying versus replacing sets out the tradeoffs.
Leaving locks alone is rarely wise between tenants unless you have just changed them. Even then, make a note of the date so you know the state of every door.
If you want to understand what actually happens inside the lock, the explanation in how rekeying works is a gentle introduction. A useful rule of thumb is to ask what the lock would look like to a stranger. If the finish is flaking, the key goes in with a grind, or the bolt drags against the frame, the hardware is telling you something. Listen to it before the next resident has to. If you are unsure, ask the technician to show you the difference between a cylinder that is simply tired and one that is worth keeping. Seeing the parts makes the decision far easier than guessing from the outside of the door.
Doors and openings to walk through before the locksmith arrives
Start with an honest walk around the unit, noting every opening that locks. The front door is obvious. Less obvious are a patio door, a balcony entrance, a garage entry door, a side gate, and any storage room that belongs to the unit.
Look closely at each one. Does the door close without being pushed? Does the bolt extend fully? Is the strike plate loose? Small faults are simpler to fix when you catch them between tenants than when a resident reports them at an inconvenient time.
Sliding glass doors deserve particular attention in Broward County, where they are common and often protected by only a basic latch. Our guide to sliding glass door locks explains the options.
Do not forget the mailbox. In many buildings the mailbox lock is a separate issue with its own rules, and the page on mailbox lock replacement explains where responsibility usually lies. Take a moment with the windows too. Window latches loosen with age and are sometimes painted over during refreshes. A latch that no longer closes firmly is not a locking problem a rekey can solve, but you can note it for a repair visit. Our article on window locks and security upgrades is worth a read.
- Front entry door and deadbolt.
- Patio, balcony, and sliding glass doors.
- Garage entry door, side gate, and storage areas.
- Mailbox and any shared or amenity access.
- Windows with locks that the previous tenant may have adjusted.
A step by step order for the day of the work
Begin with the doors that people use most, then move outward to the less obvious ones. Having the technician work in a set order means nothing is skipped, and it lets you tick off each opening as it is completed.
Collect every old key you can find before the work begins. Gather what the departing tenant returned, anything from the office drawer, and any copies held by cleaners or maintenance. Seeing the full pile tells you how many keys were in circulation.
Once the cylinders are rekeyed, test each new key in its own lock. Then test the deadbolt from both sides, close the door, and check that it latches naturally. The finished work should be tested with you before anyone leaves.
Finally, label the new keys. A simple tag or coded marking, kept separate from the address, lets you identify which key belongs to which unit without advertising it to anyone who finds it. Plan for a pause after the work. Let the technician finish, walk the unit with them, and only then release the keys to cleaners or the incoming tenant. It sounds slow, but a short pause at the right moment prevents the common problem of old and new keys getting mixed together on the same ring. Put the order of work on paper before you start, even if it is only five lines. Writing it down makes it easy to hand the task to someone else if you are unavailable, and it makes later questions about what happened much easier to answer.
Handling keys: counts, copies, and who holds what
Decide in advance how many keys each tenant will receive. A single unit with two adults might need two or three, but every extra copy is an extra risk. Write the number in the lease paperwork or move in checklist and have the tenant sign for them.
Think about your own copy. Many landlords keep a master set for entry in emergencies and for maintenance. Keep that set in a secure place, track who borrows it, and rekey if it goes missing. The practical advice in our article on where and how to duplicate keys helps you avoid casual copying.
If you manage several units, consider keeping a coded ledger that matches key numbers to unit numbers. It should live somewhere other than the key box, otherwise a lost box reveals everything at once.
Remind tenants that they should not copy keys without telling you. Most agreements say so, but a friendly reminder at move in sets the tone. If a key is lost in the middle of a tenancy, treat it as a mini turnover. Rekey the affected lock, issue replacements, and update your record. Tenants are usually grateful to see the problem handled promptly and clearly, and it keeps small incidents from becoming larger ones.
Keypad deadbolts and smart locks for turnover
Some landlords prefer to remove keys from the picture altogether. A keypad deadbolt lets you issue a code to each tenant and delete it when they leave, with no metal key to chase. For rentals with frequent turnover, this can save a great deal of effort.
Electronic locks come with their own routine. Codes should be changed at every turnover, batteries should be checked, and a mechanical key should be kept somewhere safe in case the electronics misbehave. Our article on keypad deadbolts for rental turnover explores the details.
Short term rentals have different needs again. If you host guests for brief stays, you may want codes that change often and a way to see when the door was used. The discussion in smart locks for short term rentals covers those considerations.
Whichever you choose, keep the mechanical backup in mind. Humidity, storms, and power cuts do happen in South Florida, and a working key remains the simplest fallback. Think about the end of the tenancy too. With a keypad system you can remove a code the moment a lease ends, which is useful when a tenant leaves before the final walkthrough. With metal keys you rely on handover, so make the key return part of the move out checklist. Another point to weigh is who manages the electronic side. Someone has to delete old codes, replace batteries, and answer questions from tenants who forgot their code. If that person is you, build the task into your turnover list so it never gets missed.
Condo units, HOA communities, and shared entrances
Many Broward County rentals sit inside condominiums or managed communities, where some locks belong to you and others belong to the association. The front door of the unit may be yours to change, while the building entrance, gate, or amenity access is not.
Rules about what you may modify, and who must be told, vary from one association to another. Check your governing documents or ask the property manager before changing hardware that faces a common area. Do not assume that what worked at a previous building will be accepted at the next one.
Some communities require that the association keep a copy of every unit key, or that locks be of a certain type. Others have no such rule. Because requirements differ, the safest approach is to ask before you schedule the work. Our page on condo and HOA lock changes offers more background.
If a gate fob or building key is part of your tenant's access, add it to the checklist. Deactivating an old fob is as important as changing the unit lock. Rental turnover in apartments often involves a property manager who coordinates several trades. If that applies to you, share the checklist with them so there is one clear plan. Everyone benefits when it is obvious who orders the work, who attends, and who holds the finished keys. If your unit is on an upper floor of a building, ask whether a fob, a garage remote, or a pool key also belongs on the list. These extras are easy to overlook, and a former tenant who keeps one still has a way into a shared area.
Communicating with the incoming tenant
Tell the new tenant that the locks have been reset before they arrive. It builds confidence and answers an unspoken question many renters have: who else might have a key? A short sentence in the welcome message is usually enough.
Hand over keys in person if possible, or use a method that you can document. Count the keys out loud with the tenant, and have them confirm that each one opens the door. Disagreements about what was received are much easier to resolve when both sides watched the count.
Explain what to do if they lose a key or get locked out. Tenants who understand the process are less likely to call at a bad moment, and those who do call know the sequence. Our guide for renters who are locked out may be a useful link to share.
Be clear about charges and responsibilities in the lease, not in the middle of a lockout. Surprises create friction, and friction rarely improves a landlord and tenant relationship. A friendly tone matters here. Tenants who feel respected are more likely to follow the rules about keys, report problems early, and return everything at move out. A clear welcome packet that covers locks, spare keys, and contact steps often prevents a surprising number of difficulties. Where tenants share a lease, make sure each adult understands who is responsible for the keys. A shared lease with several keyholders needs a clear plan for what happens when one person leaves early, because the remaining tenants may reasonably want the locks reset.
Keeping records that protect you
A simple record is enough. Note the date of the rekey, the doors that were included, how many keys were produced, and who received them. A photograph of the key tags and the signed handover form completes the picture.
Records pay off in unexpected ways. If a tenant claims they never received a key, you have a signature. If a break in occurs, you can show the locks were reset at turnover. If you sell the property, you can show a buyer that the security was well maintained.
Keep documents in a place that is not the rental unit. A shared folder, a property management system, or a binder in your own office is fine. What matters is that you can find it a year from now.
For landlords with several properties, the principles discussed in our piece on tenant turnover rekeying for property managers extend naturally to a portfolio approach. Look over the records once a year. A brief look across your properties shows which doors have been rekeyed recently and which are overdue, and it helps you spot patterns such as a unit that loses keys often. Small habits like this turn security from a reaction into a routine.
Finding help and planning the schedule
Turnover is often busy. Cleaners, painters, and repair people all want access to an empty unit, and the locks are one of many tasks. Put the rekey early on the list, before extra keys are handed to other trades, so that you only issue the new set.
When you call, describe the number of doors, the type of locks if you know it, and anything unusual such as a gate or a sliding door. The work and price are explained before it begins, and the finished locks are tested with you.
Our page on house lockouts and rekeying describes the service in general terms, and the area pages for Miramar and Lauderhill offer general guidance for owners in those communities.
If you also want to understand how often a home should be rekeyed beyond turnover, the article on how often to rekey a home gives a useful rule of thumb. Last, do not feel pressured to handle every door in a single visit if the schedule is tight. Prioritise the entrance and any door that opens straight to the outside, then arrange the remaining items. A partial plan carried out thoughtfully is better than a complete plan skipped. Treat your checklist as a living document. After each turnover, add anything you wished you had remembered, whether it was a gate remote, a laundry room key, or a storage cage. Over a few cycles it becomes a dependable guide that fits your own buildings.