Roommate Moved Out? Why Rekeying Your Phoenix Home Should Be Your First Step
Living with roommates is common in Phoenix—whether you’re a student at ASU Downtown, a young professional in Midtown, or sharing a rental home in Garfield or North Encanto. It’s affordable, social, and often the best way to split the rent in an ever-growing city.
But when a roommate moves out?
It’s time to rekey.
Even if things ended on good terms, rekeying your locks is the only way to ensure your space is private, secure, and fully under your control.
In this post, we’ll explain why rekeying your Phoenix home after a roommate leaves is a smart move—and how to do it quickly, affordably, and with minimal disruption.
Why Rekeying Is Critical When a Roommate Moves Out
Living with someone means sharing access. Even if they gave back the key, you can’t know:
🔑 If they made a copy
🏠 If they ever gave your key to a guest, friend, or significant other
📦 If they’ll return after they’ve moved
😬 If there’s tension, awkwardness, or unresolved issues
Rekeying gives you a clean slate.
It ensures that only current residents (and trusted parties) have access to the space—nothing more.
Who Needs to Rekey After a Roommate Leaves?
✅ College students sharing off-campus housing
✅ Professionals sharing condos, apartments, or houses
✅ Anyone in a co-living arrangement (with shared leases)
✅ Renters or owners splitting space with friends, partners, or subletters
✅ Homeowners who had someone temporarily renting a room
Whether you’re near Roosevelt Row, Ahwatukee, Tempe, or Downtown Phoenix, rekeying gives you back your privacy.
Shared Space = Shared Access = Shared Risk
Here’s what you may have forgotten to change when a roommate leaves:
- Front door key
- Back door access
- Garage door keypad
- Alarm code
- Smart lock app login
- Wi-Fi cameras or doorbell viewer
- Bedroom locks (in some cases)
It’s not just about the front door—it’s about full control over your entire living environment.
What Rekeying Does
Rekeying:
- Keeps your existing locks and hardware
- Changes the internal pins in each lock
- Makes all previous keys completely useless
- Issues a new set of keys to current residents
- Can match all locks to one master key (optional)
It’s fast, safe, and affordable.
Can I Just Ask for the Key Back?
Sure—but here’s the problem:
🚫 You don’t know how many copies they made
🚫 They may have shared access with a partner or guest
🚫 Emotions can shift after a move-out
🚫 Tension, breakups, or disputes can lead to unwanted visits
Don’t take the risk. Rekeying is more reliable—and puts you in control.
What About Smart Locks?
If you’re using a smart lock (like Kwikset Halo or Schlage Encode), you also need to:
✅ Remove old app users
✅ Reset digital passcodes
✅ Reprogram Wi-Fi access (if shared)
✅ Disable physical backup keys by rekeying the cylinder
We can handle all of this in one visit.
When Should You Rekey After a Roommate Moves Out?
You should rekey:
- The same day your roommate leaves (ideal)
- Within a few days, especially if they had guests or access to shared keys
- Immediately after a tense or awkward split
- After ending a roommate agreement early or unexpectedly
- If you’re taking over the lease alone
Even if you’re not sure—better safe than sorry.
What to Expect During a Rekey Appointment
We make it easy. Here’s how it works:
- We arrive at your Phoenix home (house, condo, or apartment)
- We walk through and inspect all relevant locks
- We rekey the locks to a new key
- We cut and test new keys on-site
- We reset any smart locks, if needed
- We clean up, confirm functionality, and you’re all set
Most rekeying jobs take 30–60 minutes, depending on how many locks you have.
What If I Rent?
Even if you’re not the homeowner, you still have the right to feel safe.
📌 If you’re the only tenant left on the lease, ask your landlord to rekey—or offer to pay and get approval.
📌 If your name is on the lease with others, agree as a group to rekey after anyone leaves.
📌 If you’re subletting, talk to the primary leaseholder about rekeying after a guest or subletter departs.
We work with renters across Phoenix and provide documentation for landlords or management offices if needed.
Pricing for Roommate Rekeying
| Property Type | Avg. Cost |
|---|---|
| Apartment (1–2 locks) | $50–$75 total |
| Small house (2–3 locks) | $75–$100 total |
| Smart lock reset | +$15–$30 (optional) |
| One-key system setup | Included (if compatible) ✅ |
We’ll also match keys for multiple doors and provide duplicates on-site.
We Rekey Shared Homes Across Phoenix
We regularly rekey for roommates in:
- Garfield
- Tempe
- Midtown Phoenix
- Roosevelt Row
- North Mountain
- Encanto
- ASU Downtown
- Desert Ridge
…and everywhere in between.
📞 Schedule rekeying now or call (602) 854-2766 to lock it in.
Final Thought: A Safer Home Starts with a Simple Change
You shared space, bills, maybe even friendships—but that doesn’t mean your old roommate should still have access.
Rekeying isn’t about drama—it’s about boundaries.
Whether the move-out was smooth or rocky, protecting your home is never a bad idea.
Roommate Out? Lock It Down.
We’ll rekey your Phoenix home quickly, affordably, and respectfully—so you can enjoy peace of mind and full privacy in your space.
Affordable Security Locksmith And Alarm – Phoenix
📞 (602) 854-2766
🌐 affordablesecurityphoenix.com