We handle the lock side of property management across San Diego County: turnover rekeys scheduled in batches, keyed-alike units under a property master key, restricted keys that cannot be copied at a hardware store, keypad locks that turn a turnover into a code change, and mailbox and common-area doors on the same visit. Every invoice lists the unit address and key count. Ask about portfolio pricing and monthly invoicing.
What you get
- Turnover rekeys batched by property and scheduled around move-outs
- Keyed alike per unit with a property master key where the cylinders allow it
- Restricted keyways so tenant keys cannot be copied without your sign-off
- Keypad locks that make the next turnover a code change
- Unit address, cylinder count and key count on every invoice
Turnovers, scheduled in batches
Managing more than a few doors means turnovers arrive in clumps: end of month, end of semester, end of summer. We work from your move-out list rather than one call per unit.
Send the addresses and dates as you get them. We group units by property and by day, rekey while your cleaners and painters are in the unit, and drop tagged keys at your office or the on-site lockbox you name. A unit that turns over unexpectedly, or a tenant who leaves without returning keys, gets a same-day slot in most cases.
August and September are the crunch around SDSU in the College Area and in Pacific Beach, where whole buildings turn in a week. Book those blocks as soon as lease end dates are set. The single-unit version of this routine is on our landlord turnover rekey page.
Four ways to key a building
Most portfolios end up with a mix. Here is how the options compare from the manager's chair.
| Individual keys | Keyed alike per unit | Master key system | Keypad lock | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tenant carries | One key per door | One key for all doors in the unit | One change key for their unit | A code, plus a backup key |
| You carry | A ring for every unit | One key per unit | One master for the property | A programming code and the master key |
| At turnover | Rekey each door | Rekey the unit to a new key | Rekey the unit; master still works | Delete the old code, add a new one |
| Hardware needed | Any | Same keyway across the unit | Conventional pin-tumbler cylinders | Keypad deadbolt per door |
| Best for | Scattered single units | Houses, duplexes, ADUs | Buildings and larger portfolios | High-turnover and furnished units |
Keyed alike is explained on our keyed alike page. The next two sections cover master systems and keypads as they apply to rentals.
Need a turnover rekey or key system today?
Call or text with your address and door count. You get a firm price before we roll.
Master key systems and the Kwikset SmartKey problem
A master key system gives each tenant a key that opens only their unit while your master opens every door on the property. It is built by adding master pins to each cylinder, so every lock needs to share a keyway and be a conventional pin-tumbler cylinder.
That matters in San Diego because so many rentals have Kwikset SmartKey hardware. SmartKey cylinders are handy for a quick user rekey, but they cannot be master keyed; there is no place in the mechanism for master pins. A SmartKey building has two choices: stay on individual or keyed-alike unit keys and rekey at each turnover, or move the exterior cylinders to conventional Schlage or Kwikset cylinders, or to a restricted keyway, and build the master from there.
We chart the system with a manager master, optional sub-masters for maintenance or leasing staff, and spare change keys for future units. The mechanics are on our commercial rekey and master key page.
Key control: keys that cannot be copied at a kiosk
A "Do Not Duplicate" stamp on a standard Kwikset or Schlage key is a request, and most hardware stores and key kiosks will copy it anyway. If you need to know exactly how many keys exist, especially for a master, the answer is a restricted keyway.
Restricted and high-security cylinders from Medeco, Mul-T-Lock and Schlage Primus and Everest 29 use key blanks that are not sold through retail channels. New keys are cut only for people on the authorization list you give us, and we keep the list. A lost tenant change key then affects one door; a lost master is still serious, which is why many managers put only the master level on a restricted keyway and leave tenant keys on standard cylinders.
Ask us which level of key control fits the property before we pin the system, because changing keyways later means new cylinders.
Keypad locks: a code change instead of a rekey
On a unit that turns over every year or two, a keypad deadbolt pays for itself quickly. Each tenant gets a code, you delete it at move-out, and the next tenant gets a new one. No rekey, no key return to chase.
For long-term rentals we usually recommend a keypad lock with no app and no Wi-Fi, programmed at the door: the Schlage keypad deadbolts and the Yale Assure Lock 2 in keypad form are the common picks, and the Kwikset SmartCode line works where the building is already on SmartKey. Details on keypad locks.
Keep the key cylinder in the system where you can. Keyed keypad models still have a keyway; where it is a conventional cylinder on the property's keyway, the backup key can be your property master, and the tenant still receives a physical key alongside the code.
Short-term rental portfolios
Managers running licensed units under the City of San Diego STRO program want remote codes, scheduled guest access and an entry log, which means a connected lock rather than a plain keypad. See smart locks for vacation rentals and check current STRO rules for the tier your units fall under.
Common areas, laundry rooms, mailboxes and ADUs
A turnover visit is the time to catch the doors that are not the unit door.
- Common-area doors. Lobby, laundry room, pool gate, trash enclosure and storage. We put them on the property master and, where tenants need access, on a shared tenant key or a keypad code.
- Mailboxes. The departing tenant still has the mailbox key. On property-owned cluster boxes and wall-mount boxes we replace the compartment lock and cut new keys; the USPS arrow lock is federal property and we leave it alone. See mailbox lock replacement.
- ADUs and detached units. Lots in City Heights and Chula Vista often have a main house and a back unit on one parcel. Each unit gets its own key or code while your master covers both; the smart locks for ADUs guide covers the layout questions.
Documentation and what California asks of landlords
Every invoice lists the unit address, the doors rekeyed, cylinder counts and how many keys were cut and handed over. Keys are tagged by unit. Photos of the new hardware are available on request.
General information, not legal advice: no California statute forces a rekey between tenants. Civil Code 1941.3 does require a deadbolt on main entry doors and working locks on windows that open, so a turnover is the moment to confirm both. Civil Code 1941.5 and 1941.6 require prompt lock changes for tenants who are victims of domestic violence and provide the required documentation; we treat those calls as urgent. Check current rules and your lease. The rekeying between tenants in California guide has the detail.
We work with managers from the multi-family blocks of North Park and University City to single-family rentals in Escondido. Ask about portfolio pricing and monthly invoicing when you send your unit list through the quote form.
For Property Managers: common questions
Can you rekey units at several properties on the same day?
Yes. Send the unit list with addresses and dates and we route them as one batch, grouped by property. Each property gets its own invoice broken out by unit, so costs can be charged back or filed per tenant. Large buildings are split across days so nobody is locked out.
Can Kwikset SmartKey locks be master keyed?
No. SmartKey cylinders rekey with the old key and a tool, but the mechanism has no room for master pins, so a true master key system is not possible. A SmartKey building either stays on individual unit keys and rekeys at each turnover, or moves the exterior cylinders to conventional Schlage or Kwikset cylinders, or a restricted keyway, so a master can be built.
How do I stop tenants from copying keys?
Use a restricted keyway. Blanks for Medeco, Mul-T-Lock and Schlage Primus or Everest 29 cylinders are not sold to hardware stores or kiosks, and we cut new keys only for names on your authorization list. A "Do Not Duplicate" stamp on a standard key does not stop anyone and should not be relied on.
Are keypad locks a good idea for apartment turnovers?
For most long-term units, yes. A keypad deadbolt with no app lets you delete the old code and add a new one in minutes, with no rekey and no key to chase. Keep the key cylinder on your master, give the tenant a physical key as well, and choose a connected model only where you need remote codes or an entry log.
Am I required to rekey between tenants in California?
There is no statewide statute that requires it, but it is standard practice and the simplest way to show the unit was secured. Civil Code 1941.3 requires a deadbolt on main entry doors and working window locks, and 1941.5 and 1941.6 cover lock changes for tenants who are domestic violence victims. General information, not legal advice; check current rules.
Do you replace mailbox locks at turnover?
Yes, on property-owned cluster box units and wall-mount mailboxes. We replace the compartment lock and cut new keys in the same visit as the unit rekey. The USPS arrow lock that opens the carrier door is federal property and stays untouched. Older boxes that USPS itself owns are serviced by the post office.
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.
- Smart Locks for ADUs and Granny Flats in San Diego – How to lock a San Diego ADU or granny flat: its own key or code, garage conversion and junior ADU doors, Wi-Fi reach, gates, rental rules, owner access.
- 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.
Ready to get it done today?
Call or text for a straight answer and an upfront price. Mon–Fri 7am–8pm · Sat–Sun 8am–6pm.