Rekeying Between Tenants: A Murray Landlord's Turnover Checklist

A tenant moves out, hands back two keys, and says that is all of them. Maybe it is. But most rentals have been through a few tenants, a cleaning crew, a carpet company, a handyman, and maybe a dog walker. Nobody can say for sure how many copies of that front door key are out there.

That is why we recommend rekeying between every tenant. It is one of the most common calls we get from landlords and property managers in Murray, where older duplexes, fourplexes, and single-family rentals sit close to State Street, Intermountain Medical Center, and the TRAX line. Matt Johnson started GoKey Locksmiths in Riverton in 2015 after the Marine Corps, and turnover rekeys are a big part of what we do for local owners. Here is how to handle it without slowing down your next move-in.

Why rekey every time, not just “when needed”

Collecting keys at move-out is a good habit, but it does not prove much. Keys get copied at hardware stores for a few dollars, roommates come and go, and a key handed to a friend two years ago rarely comes back. You cannot tell by looking at a key how many copies exist.

Rekeying fixes that in one step. A locksmith changes the small pins inside each lock cylinder so the old keys no longer turn it, then cuts new keys to match. The lock hardware stays on the door. Only the key changes.

For a landlord, a rekey also does three practical things:

• It protects the new tenant. They move in knowing that no past resident, contractor, or friend of a past resident can open the door.
• It protects you. If something goes missing after move-in, you can show that the locks were changed before the new tenant got the keys.
• It resets your key records. You start each lease knowing exactly how many keys exist and who has them.

Before you set your own policy, check your lease language and current Utah landlord-tenant rules, or ask your property manager or attorney. Many owners simply make “rekey at every turnover” part of the standard move-out checklist.

Rekey or replace?

For most turnovers, rekeying is the right choice. If the locks work well and you are happy with the hardware, there is no reason to buy new locks just to change the key. Our rekeying vs. changing locks guide explains the difference in detail.

Replacement makes more sense when:

• The deadbolt is sticky, worn, or hard to turn.
• The locks are mismatched brands, and you want one key for the whole unit.
• A tenant damaged a lock, or there are signs of a forced entry.
• You want to move to a keypad or smart lock so you can change codes instead of keys at future turnovers. We install those too.

Matt’s general advice to owners is simple: keep good locks, rekey them, and only replace what is actually failing.

Which locks to include

The front door is obvious. The others are easy to forget. When we rekey a rental, we go through every lock that an old key could open:

• Front door deadbolt and knob or handleset. Both should be keyed alike so the tenant carries one key.
• Back door or patio door. Sliding doors with a keyed lock count too.
• Garage side door and the garage-to-house door. These two are the ones owners skip most often, and an old garage remote plus an old house key is all someone needs.
• Storage units, sheds, and gates that use keyed locks.
• Mailbox locks, if your property uses keyed mailboxes. Check who maintains the mailbox lock before you plan this one.
• Laundry rooms or shared doors in a duplex or small multi-unit building.

If you own more than one unit, talk to us about a master key setup. Each tenant gets a key that opens only their unit, and you or your property manager carry one key that opens them all. Our commercial locksmith team sets up and maintains master key systems for small rental properties as well as businesses.

What a turnover rekey costs

Rekeying is one of the least expensive security steps you can take on a rental. As our Salt Lake locksmith cost breakdown shows, rekeying a single lock typically runs about $50 to $150, depending on the lock type. A full home with five or six locks usually lands around $250 to $400. That is much less than buying new hardware for every door.

If a lock needs replacing instead, a new deadbolt installation is usually about $100 to $300, including the lock and labor. Calls outside regular business hours add about $50 to $150, so it pays to schedule turnovers during the day when you can. We always give you the price before any work starts.

How to time it with the rest of the turnover

The best time to rekey is after the old tenant is fully out and after your contractors finish, but before the new tenant gets keys. A simple order that works for many owners:

1. Move-out walk-through. Collect all keys, garage remotes, and access fobs. Note any lock damage.
2. Cleaning, paint, carpet, and repairs. Give contractors a temporary key or a lockbox code, and expect that some of them may copy it for convenience.
3. Rekey last. Once the work is done, have all the exterior locks rekeyed so the contractor keys stop working too.
4. Label and count the new keys. Write down how many keys you made and who has each one.
5. Hand over keys at move-in and have the tenant sign for the number of keys they received.

If you are on a tight turnover, with one tenant out on the 31st and the next in on the 1st, you can schedule the rekey for the same day. A typical home takes about an hour or two, depending on how many locks are involved.

A few landlord habits that save money later

• Keep spare cylinders on hand. Some larger owners keep a few pre-keyed cylinders so a fast swap is possible between leases. We can help you set that up.
• Use restricted or coded keys where it makes sense. These keys cannot be copied at most hardware stores, which slows down unauthorized copies.
• Do not keep the old keys “just in case.” Once a lock is rekeyed, old keys only cause confusion. Toss them or mark them clearly.
• Fix sticky locks right away. A tenant who struggles with a lock in January is a tenant who calls you at night when it finally fails.

Rekeying rentals in Murray

Whether your rental sits near Murray Park, along State Street, or in the older neighborhoods off 4500 South, our Murray lock rekeying service covers houses, duplexes, and small multi-unit buildings. We also serve landlords in nearby Taylorsville and Midvale, and you can learn more about how the process works on our lock rekeying page. If you just bought a rental and want the locks reset before the first lease, our post on rekeying before the first night covers that case too.

Contact GoKey Locksmiths

Getting a rental ready for a new tenant? Call GoKey Locksmiths at (801) 512-4658. We are licensed and insured, based in Riverton, and serve Murray and the rest of the Salt Lake Valley. We will walk through every lock on the property with you and give you the price before any work starts.