Why Phoenix Landlords Should Rekey After Every Tenant Move-Out
As a landlord in Phoenix, you already juggle enough: maintenance requests, rent collection, lease renewals, property inspections… the list goes on. But if rekeying the locks isn’t part of your tenant turnover checklist, you could be leaving your property—and your next renter—at risk.
Whether you manage a single rental in South Mountain or a full portfolio in Arcadia, rekeying your property after each tenant move-out is one of the most affordable and effective ways to maintain safety, reduce liability, and ensure tenant peace of mind.
Let’s break down exactly why rekeying matters for Phoenix landlords and how it protects your investment and reputation.
What Is Rekeying?
Rekeying is the process of adjusting the internal pins in a lock so that it works with a new key—and old keys stop working immediately. It doesn’t require replacing the entire lock; you keep your hardware and get a fresh start.
For landlords, this means you don’t have to buy expensive new locks each time a tenant leaves—just reset the access.
Why Rekeying After Move-Outs Is Critical
1. You Can’t Control Who Has Copies
Even if your departing tenant returns all their keys, you can’t know for sure:
- How many copies they made
- Who they gave copies to (friends, family, roommates)
- Whether a spare was lost or forgotten
We’ve worked with landlords in Midtown, Deer Valley, and Biltmore who skipped rekeying—and later had new tenants report unknown visitors entering with an old key. It’s not worth the risk.
2. You’re Responsible for Tenant Safety
If someone with a copy of the old key accesses the property and causes harm, you may be liable. Protecting access is part of your legal and ethical duty as a landlord.
Rekeying ensures:
- Only the new tenant has keys
- You’ve taken reasonable security precautions
- You’re compliant with best practices and expectations
3. It’s More Affordable Than Replacing Locks
Replacing all the locks at every turnover can cost hundreds per unit. Rekeying achieves the same security outcome—at a fraction of the cost.
At Affordable Security Locksmith And Alarm, we offer:
- Flat-rate pricing per lock
- Multi-unit and multi-property discounts
- Key matching (one key for multiple doors)
- Mobile service throughout Phoenix
This makes rekeying the smart choice for long-term property managers in neighborhoods like Roosevelt Row, Estrella Village, and North Gateway.
4. It Builds Tenant Trust
New tenants feel safer when they know no one else has keys to their new home. When you include rekeying as part of your standard move-in prep, you’re showing them you care about their safety—not just their rent.
Bonus: It helps improve your reviews, reputation, and lease renewals.
Common Pushbacks—and Why They Don’t Hold Up
“The old tenant returned all the keys.”
That doesn’t mean there aren’t duplicates. Rekeying guarantees control—don’t gamble with guesswork.
“It’s too expensive to rekey every time.”
Rekeying costs a fraction of lock replacement, and protects you from much bigger losses (like break-ins or lawsuits).
“I’ve never had a problem before.”
Security isn’t about reacting—it’s about preventing problems. All it takes is one issue to create major stress and liability.
When to Rekey as a Landlord in Phoenix
✅ After a tenant moves out
✅ After an eviction
✅ If a roommate moves out mid-lease
✅ After any key is reported lost
✅ After unauthorized guests stayed for long periods
✅ After contractor access during renovations
Rekeying for Single-Family Rentals vs. Multi-Unit Properties
Whether you own one rental in Camelback East or an apartment complex in Downtown Phoenix, we can rekey:
- Individual unit doors
- Shared gates
- Mailboxes
- Garage or storage doors
- Office entry points
We also offer master keying systems if you want access to multiple units with one master while tenants have their individual keys. This is ideal for fourplexes, duplexes, and small multifamily properties in Central City South, Eastlake Park, and Paradise Valley Village.
What to Expect During the Rekeying Process
Rekeying a rental property is fast and simple:
- You schedule a time with our team
- We arrive on-site (even same-day)
- We rekey selected locks and test them
- We issue brand-new keys to you or your new tenant
We can also make extra key copies on-site for backups or co-tenants.
Most jobs take less than an hour per unit—and we’ll leave your hardware clean, tested, and ready for move-in.
Add Rekeying to Your Turnover Checklist
Here’s a simple move-out checklist for Phoenix landlords:
✅ Final walkthrough
✅ Clean/repair unit
✅ Change air filters
✅ Paint or patch walls
✅ Rekey locks
✅ Document new key issuance
Add rekeying right between repairs and new tenant orientation. It keeps you protected, your tenant protected, and your property secure.
Protecting Your Investment = Rekeying Regularly
Don’t wait for a problem to force a security upgrade. Rekeying is preventive, practical, and part of being a responsible landlord—especially in high-turnover areas like Grand Avenue, Ahwatukee, and Willo.
Learn more about our Phoenix lock rekeying service here, or call now to set up your next turnover.
One Tenant Out, New Keys In—Simple as That
When tenants move on, don’t hand the next one old keys. Rekeying is affordable, fast, and the right way to protect your Phoenix rental property—every time.
Affordable Security Locksmith And Alarm – Phoenix
📞 (602) 854-2766
🌐 affordablesecurityphoenix.com