Rekey every unit between tenants and after any unreturned key. It costs a fraction of replacing hardware, takes minutes per door, and removes the risk that a former tenant, their roommate or a contractor can still walk in. We handle single units, whole buildings and portfolios across San Diego County, with keyed-alike and master key options so you carry fewer keys.
What you get
- Turnover rekeys scheduled around move-out inspections
- Master key systems: one key for you, individual keys for tenants
- Per-door pricing for buildings and portfolios
- Invoices with unit numbers and key counts for your files
- Same-day service in most cases when a tenant leaves unexpectedly
Why rekeying between tenants is standard practice
California does not have a statewide statute that forces landlords to rekey between tenants, but the practice is standard for good reason. You cannot know how many copies a departing tenant made, and a claim that a former tenant re-entered the unit is not a conversation any landlord wants to have.
What the state does require, under Civil Code section 1941.3, is a working deadbolt on the main entry door and working locks on windows. Turnover is the natural time to check both. We rekey, confirm the deadbolt throws fully, and flag anything that needs replacing. For the full picture read rekeying between tenants in California. This is general information, not legal advice; check your lease and current local rules.
A turnover workflow that does not slow you down
Most managers fold us into the move-out routine:
- Tenant returns keys at the move-out inspection.
- We rekey the same day or the next, while cleaners and painters are on-site.
- New keys go to your office or the lockbox, tagged by unit.
- You hand the incoming tenant keys that have never existed before.
If a tenant vanishes or the keys never come back, we treat it as a same-day job. Summer turnover season near SDSU and in Pacific Beach is busy; book ahead when you know the dates.
For what a turnover rekey typically runs, see what rekeying costs in San Diego. Buildings are quoted by unit count; the per-cylinder rate is on our pricing page.
Need landlord & turnover rekey today?
Call or text with your address and door count. You get a firm price before we roll.
Master key systems for multi-unit buildings
In a master key system, each unit has its own change key that opens only that door, and you hold a master key that opens every door. It works by adding a second shear line in each cylinder with master pins. Every lock in the system needs to share a keyway, most often Schlage SC1 or Kwikset KW1, and every cylinder must be a conventional pin cylinder: Kwikset SmartKey cylinders cannot be master keyed, so we swap those out.
We design the system around how the building is run: a manager master, optional sub-masters for a maintenance tech or a leasing office, and change keys per unit. When a unit turns over, we rekey only that cylinder to a new change key; the master keeps working. The commercial rekey and master key page goes deeper on levels and restricted keyways.
Keyed alike for duplexes, ADUs and small portfolios
For a duplex, a house with an ADU, or a handful of single-family rentals, a full master system is overkill. Instead we key each property so one key opens every door on that property, and you carry one key per address. Tenants get copies of their own property key only.
Common in City Heights, Lemon Grove and National City, where many lots have a main house and a back unit. See keyed alike rekeying.
Keypads and smart locks for rentals
A keypad deadbolt ends the key-return problem entirely. Each tenant gets a unique code, you delete it at move-out, and no rekey is needed. Wi-Fi models let a manager issue a code to a contractor for one afternoon and revoke it from a phone.
We install them and set up the codes, with the physical key cylinder rekeyed to your master where the model allows. For long-term rentals start with keypad locks that need no app; for furnished and short-term units see smart locks for vacation rentals.
Records, invoices and key control
Every job comes with an invoice that lists the property, the units, how many cylinders were rekeyed and how many keys were cut. Keep it with the tenant file; it documents that the unit was rekeyed before the new lease started.
A note on key control: a "Do Not Duplicate" stamp is a request, not a rule, and most hardware stores will copy the key anyway. If you need keys that cannot be duplicated without your authorization, ask us about restricted keyways, where blanks are only available to the issuing locksmith.
Where we work with landlords
All of San Diego County, from student rentals in the College Area to military-heavy rental markets in Oceanside and Chula Vista, and older multi-unit buildings in Hillcrest, North Park and El Cajon. Portfolio owners with properties spread across the county get one point of contact and one invoice format. Send your unit list with a quote request.
Landlord & Turnover Rekey: common questions
Am I legally required to rekey between tenants in California?
There is no statewide California statute that requires it, but it is standard practice and the simplest way to show you took reasonable steps to secure the unit. Civil Code 1941.3 does require a working deadbolt on the main entry door. Check your lease and any local ordinance, and treat this as general information rather than legal advice.
Can you rekey a whole building in one visit?
Yes. We schedule building-wide rekeys as a block, work unit by unit, and hand over tagged keys at the end. A typical eight to twelve unit building with one exterior lock per unit is a few hours. Larger properties are split across days so tenants are not locked out.
Can I keep my master key when a unit is rekeyed?
In a properly set up master key system, yes. We rekey the unit cylinder to a new change key and re-pin it so your existing master still opens it. If your building does not have a master system yet, we can build one the next time several units turn over.
Do you need the old keys to rekey?
No. Rekeying does not depend on the old key at all, which is exactly why it works when a tenant leaves without returning one. We remove the cylinder, pin it to a new key and cut fresh copies.
What if a tenant changed the locks without permission?
We can rekey or replace whatever they installed once you show you are the owner or manager and have the right to access the unit. If the tenant is still in residence, follow California notice rules before entering; we can meet you at the scheduled time.
How do you handle billing for property management companies?
We invoice per property with unit numbers, cylinder counts and key counts, so the cost can be charged back or filed per unit. Multiple properties on the same day are billed on one invoice broken out by address.
More answers on the FAQ page. Not sure what your door has? Send us a photo and we will tell you.
Where we do this
We do this everywhere in San Diego County, same day in most cases. Some of the places we cover:
Related guides
- Rekeying Between Tenants in California: What Landlords Should Know – California has no statewide law forcing landlords to rekey between tenants, but deadbolt rules, liability and cost point the same way. A San Diego guide.
- How Much Does It Cost to Rekey a House in San Diego? (2026) – 2026 San Diego rekey costs: service call, per-cylinder fees, keyed alike, examples for a condo, house and rental, and how to avoid surprise pricing.
- HOA and Condo Lock Rules in San Diego: What You Can Change – Which locks a San Diego condo owner controls, what the HOA can restrict, how to get a smart lock approved, and what fire-rated doors mean for your options.
- Can a Tenant Change the Locks in California? – What California renters can and cannot do about locks: lease consent, Civil Code 1941.3, domestic violence lock changes, landlord entry and co-tenants.
Ready to get it done today?
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