Tenant Turnover Rekey Process: Steps, Rules and Timing
The tenant turnover rekey process comes down to five moves: collect every outgoing key, rekey each exterior lock, cut the keys the new tenant is entitled to, test every lock, and write down who got what and when. Do it before the new tenant moves in, and every key the last resident ever copied stops working. This guide walks through each step, the Florida rules landlords in Miami-Dade should know, when to replace hardware instead, and how to keep records that hold up if something goes wrong.
TL;DR
Rekeying changes the internal pins of a lock so a new key works and old keys do not. The hardware on the door stays.
Florida has no statute that sets a turnover rekey deadline, but the law does require reasonable lock and key provisions in many rentals, and a landlord can face negligence claims if an old key is used in a break-in.
The sequence: collect keys, rekey every exterior door, cut new keys, test, document.
Replace a lock instead of rekeying when it is damaged, worn, or does not meet the function or code the door needs.
Schedule the locksmith the day the unit is vacated, not the day before move-in.
Table of Contents
What rekeying means at turnover
Rekeying changes the pin combination inside a lock cylinder so that a new key operates it and the old key does not. The existing exterior hardware stays in place: the knob, the deadbolt and the strike plate all remain. Only the part that recognizes the key changes.
That is why rekeying is the standard choice between tenants. The door looks the same, the new tenant gets a working lock, and the previous resident, their roommates, their guests and anyone they handed a copy to are locked out.
Replacing a lock is a different job. You swap the whole lockset for a new one. It makes sense when the hardware is the problem, which we cover below. When the hardware is fine and the only problem is who holds keys, rekeying does the job.
Why turnover is the moment to rekey
You cannot know how many copies of a key exist. A tenant may have made spares for a partner, a cleaner, a dog walker or a family member. Some are lost. Some were never returned. The only way to make those copies useless is to change what the lock accepts.
The liability side matters too. A landlord may be found negligent if someone enters with an old key and the new tenant is harmed or robbed. Even where no law demands a rekey, that exposure is a practical reason to treat it as a fixed step on every move-out.
Other situations call for a lock change on top of routine turnover, according to the same guidance: reports of domestic violence, stalking or sexual assault, lost or stolen keys, and broad contractor or vendor access. If a vendor crew had keys to the unit during renovation, rekey after they finish, not before.
The step-by-step turnover rekey process
The sequence below follows the standard turnover practice described by property management guidance: collect outgoing keys, rekey every exterior door, cut the keys the new tenant gets, test everything, and log it. Here is how we run it in the field.
1. Collect and count the outgoing keys
At move-out, gather every key the tenant received: front door, deadbolt, back or patio door, mailbox, gate, garage remote, building fob. Compare the count to what your move-in record says was issued. A shortfall does not change the plan, since you are rekeying anyway, but it tells you whether to add a deduction conversation to the deposit process and whether any key is out in the world.
2. Book the locksmith on move-out day
Do not wait until the unit is cleaned and painted. Lock jobs are short, and booking early avoids the situation where a move-in is two days away and the only open slot is after it. A residential rekey is typically a matter of minutes per cylinder. Our guide on how long rekeying takes per lock gives the ranges, including how fast SmartKey locks can be reset.
One timing point: rekey after contractors, painters and cleaners are finished. Those crews often need access. If you rekey first, you have to hand out new keys to them and rekey again.
3. Rekey every exterior door
Include every door that opens to the outside or to a shared space:
Front entry knob or handle set and deadbolt
Back, side and patio doors
Garage entry door
Gate or fence padlocks you control
Mailbox locks, where you manage them
Utility, storage and laundry room doors tied to the unit
Rekey the deadbolt and the knob together so one key runs the door. Tenants dislike carrying a ring of four keys for one apartment, and mismatched keys are a frequent source of lockout calls on day one.
Interior locks such as bedroom or bathroom privacy locks usually do not need a rekey. Locks on interior storage, a home office or a safe room are the exception.
4. Cut or program the keys the tenant is entitled to
Decide how many keys each tenant gets before the locksmith arrives, so the cutting happens in the same visit. Two or three per adult is common practice. Count every key and label your master set.
If the unit has electronic or smart locks, the equivalent step is changing the access code and removing old user codes. Our guide to rekeying a smart lock explains what a reset covers and what it does not.
5. Test every lock and every key
Before handover, test every lock and key. A key that sticks or a deadbolt that does not fully throw becomes a maintenance call on the first night. Do these checks:
Turn each new key in its lock from outside and inside, three times.
Confirm the deadbolt throws fully into the strike and retracts without force.
Try one old key in each lock. It should not turn. This confirms the rekey took.
Check that the door closes and latches without rubbing.
Verifying that old keys no longer function is the step most often skipped, and it is the one that proves the job is done.
6. Document it
Write down the number of keys issued, the recipient and the date. For long-term rentals, keep a signed log of every physical key copy, including tenant, manager and emergency copies. A one-page form works: unit, doors rekeyed, date, locksmith, keys cut, keys handed over, tenant signature.
Good records pay off in three places: deposit disputes, insurance claims after a break-in, and audits if you manage for owners. If you want a model for how a key log can be structured, these key management procedures show a record-keeping approach built for property managers.
Rekey or replace: how to decide
Most turnovers call for a rekey. Replacement is the better call when the hardware is damaged or does not meet the required function or applicable code.
Situation | Best move | Why |
Lock works smoothly, no damage | Rekey | Fastest way to invalidate old keys |
Lock sticks, wobbles or has worn latch | Replace | Rekeying will not fix mechanical wear |
Deadbolt is missing or weak on an entry door | Install a proper deadbolt | The door needs the function, not just new pins |
Key broke in the cylinder | Extract, then rekey or replace | Depends on cylinder condition |
Outdated or mismatched locks on one door | Replace with a matched set | One key per door |
Tenant wants smart or keypad entry | Install electronic lock | Different hardware, new codes |
Security upgrades are often easier to do at turnover because the unit is empty. If a door needs a new deadbolt or you want to add electronic or digital locks, you can do it without working around a tenant’s schedule.
What the law says: Florida and elsewhere
This is where landlords get confused, so here is the accurate picture.
Florida. Florida Statute 83.51 requires landlords of dwelling units other than single-family homes or duplexes to make reasonable provisions for locks and keys during the tenancy. It does not set a turnover rekey deadline. So there is no Florida rule saying you must rekey within a given number of days, but that does not make skipping it wise, given the negligence exposure described above. We cover the state’s rules in more detail in our post on Florida landlord rekey laws.
Landlord-side lock changes during a tenancy or an eviction are a separate and risky area. If you are dealing with a tenant who has left or been removed, read our guide to eviction lock changes in Florida before you call anyone. Tenants also have their own rights; see tenant lock change rights in Florida.
Other states. Some states are stricter, and if you own out-of-state property they matter:
Texas: under Property Code § 92.156, landlords must rekey key, card or combination-operated security devices at their own expense no later than the seventh day after each tenant turnover date.
Illinois: under 765 ILCS 705/15, in counties with more than 3,000,000 residents, the lessor must change or rekey the immediate access to a dwelling unit on or before the day a new lessee takes possession.
Most of the country: no statute requires a landlord to change or rekey locks between tenants.
Industry practice sits above the legal minimum. The NAA sample lease says keyed locks will be rekeyed after the prior resident moves out, either before the new resident moves in or within 7 days of move-in. And the NAA’s apartment make-ready guidance treats changing the lock as part of the standard make-ready process.
Check your own lease language. If it promises a rekey, you are bound by that promise whatever the statute says. For legal questions about a specific dispute, talk to a Florida landlord-tenant attorney.
Who should do the rekey
A locksmith or a landlord with a rekey kit can both do the work. A kit is fine for one unit and one lock brand if you are patient. For property managers, a licensed locksmith wins on three counts:
Speed across many doors. A trained locksmith rekeys a full unit in one visit and cuts keys on the spot.
Brand coverage. Different locks need different pinning tools and keyways. A mismatch means a return trip.
Accountability. You get a named vendor, a receipt and a record for your key log.
For a portfolio, set a standing arrangement: one vendor, one price per door, same-day or next-day scheduling after every move-out. Units sit empty less, and nobody scrambles on the last afternoon.
What it costs
Rekey pricing depends on the number of cylinders, the brand and grade of the locks, whether you need new keys cut or smart-lock codes reset, and how urgent the visit is. A unit with two cylinders is a smaller job than a house with five doors and a garage. We do not publish a flat rekey rate, because the door count changes the quote. Tell us how many locks and what kind, and we quote before we start.
One thing worth budgeting for: it is cheaper to rekey on a planned schedule than to rush a rekey after a break-in or a tenant complaint. The cost of a lock service is small next to a vacant unit, a deposit dispute or a negligence claim.
Our perspective: treat rekeying as part of make-ready, not an extra
We work with homeowners, tenants, property managers and business owners across Homestead, Cutler Bay and the rest of Miami-Dade, and the pattern is consistent. The landlords who have trouble are not the ones who skipped an expensive step. They are the ones who skipped a cheap one and had no paper trail.
Here is how we advise managers. Put the rekey on the make-ready checklist next to cleaning and paint, with a named person responsible. Book it for the day the unit is vacated. Keep the key log. And when a lock is worn, replace it now rather than patching it for another tenant.
We also see how stressful a missed key handover is. A new tenant arrives with a truck full of furniture and a key that sticks. That lockout is avoidable with a 30-second test before handover. When it does happen, we answer 24/7, in English and Spanish, and our target is to reach you in 20 to 30 minutes. Our guide to what to do if you are locked out of an apartment is worth sharing with new tenants in the move-in packet.
— Julio Borroto
Rekey support for Miami-Dade landlords and property managers
Progressive Locksmith handles residential and commercial rekeying, lock repair, deadbolt and door lock installation, key duplication and electronic lock work for properties in Homestead, Cutler Bay, Florida City, Kendall, Palmetto Bay, Doral, Coral Gables and nearby areas. We are licensed and insured, and we quote the job upfront.
If you have a unit turning over, tell us the number of doors and the move-in date, and we will schedule the rekey and key cutting in one visit.
See our residential and commercial locksmith services or call us to book a turnover rekey. For the commercial side, we also cover rekeying after an employee leaves, which follows the same logic as a tenant move-out.
A turnover rekey checklist you can copy
Count and collect all outgoing keys, fobs and remotes.
Compare with the move-in key record.
Book the locksmith for move-out day.
Wait until contractors and cleaners are finished.
Rekey every exterior door, keyed to one key per door.
Reset codes on any electronic or smart lock.
Cut the agreed number of keys.
Test each lock, each key, and one old key per lock.
Log keys issued, recipient and date.
Get the tenant’s signature at handover.
If you manage many units, also set a rule for shared codes. Our post on the door code reset schedule covers the triggers that should prompt a change. And if the unit is a house you are moving into yourself rather than renting, rekeying after moving has a 48-hour plan.
FAQ
Do I have to rekey locks between tenants in Florida?
Florida law does not set a turnover rekey deadline. Section 83.51 requires reasonable provisions for locks and keys in covered dwellings during the tenancy. Rekeying at every turnover is still the standard practice, it protects you from negligence claims, and your lease may promise it.
Is rekeying cheaper than replacing the locks?
In most cases, yes, because you keep the existing hardware and only change the pins and the keys. Replacement costs more because you buy new locksets. It is the right call when the lock is damaged, worn, or lacks the function the door needs.
How long does it take to rekey a rental unit?
A typical unit with two or three cylinders takes one short visit, since each lock takes minutes rather than hours. Our post on rekey times lists the ranges. Book it on move-out day so the schedule is never tight.
Can a landlord rekey the locks themselves?
Yes. A landlord with a rekey kit can do it, as can a locksmith. A locksmith is the better option for several units, mixed lock brands, or when you want a documented vendor and keys cut on site.
What should I record after rekeying?
Record the number of keys issued, who received them and the date. For longer rentals, keep a signed log of every physical copy, including tenant, manager and emergency keys.
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