Rekey and new keys after tenant changeover
A Step That Shouldn't Be Optional
For landlords and property managers across Ottawa, rekeying between tenants should sit in the same category as cleaning the unit or checking smoke detectors: a standard, non-negotiable part of turning over a rental property, not an optional extra to skip when trying to keep costs down. The reasoning is straightforward. You have no reliable way of knowing how many copies of the previous tenant's key exist, who they gave copies to, or whether all of them were returned at move-out.
Who Might Still Have a Key
A departing tenant may have given copies to a partner, roommate, family member, dog walker, or friend who stayed over occasionally, none of whom are obligated to return anything to you. Even tenants who genuinely intend to return every key sometimes simply forget one exists, whether it's in a coat pocket, a junk drawer, or with someone they lent it to months earlier and never thought to retrieve. None of this reflects poorly on any specific tenant. It's simply how keys accumulate over the course of any tenancy.
The Legal and Liability Angle
Beyond the practical security concern, failing to rekey between tenants carries real liability exposure for landlords. If a security incident occurs and it's later determined that a previous tenant, or someone who received a key from them, still had working access, a landlord's failure to rekey can become a significant factor in any resulting legal or insurance dispute. Treating rekeying as standard practice protects both your current tenant and your own liability position.
Cost Compared to the Risk
Rekeying a rental unit is a modest cost, especially compared to the potential cost of a security incident, a damaged landlord-tenant relationship, or a liability claim down the line. For landlords managing several units across Ottawa, building this into the standard turnover budget, alongside cleaning and any necessary repairs, keeps the cost predictable and the practice consistent across every property.
Rekey or Replace: What Makes Sense for Rental Units
In most cases, rekeying is sufficient for a routine tenant turnover, provided the existing locks are in good working condition. If a unit's locks are outdated, showing signs of wear, or a landlord wants to upgrade to a smart lock system that allows codes to be changed remotely between tenants without a locksmith visit each time, turnover is also a reasonable moment to consider that investment, particularly for landlords managing multiple properties who want to streamline the process going forward.
Smart Locks for Multi-Unit Landlords
For landlords managing several rental units, smart locks with code-based entry can meaningfully simplify the turnover process. Rather than scheduling a locksmith visit for every single tenant change, a landlord can simply generate a new code remotely once a unit is vacated, at a fraction of the ongoing cost and hassle of coordinating rekeying visits across a portfolio of properties. This is worth discussing with a locksmith familiar with property management needs, since not every smart lock system is well suited to rental turnover management.
Documenting Your Process
For landlords managing multiple properties, keeping a simple record of when each unit was last rekeyed protects you in the event of any future dispute and helps ensure the practice stays consistent across your entire portfolio, rather than depending on memory for each individual turnover.
Final Word
Rekeying between tenants is a small, predictable cost that protects both your tenants and your own liability position as a landlord. Treating it as a standard step in every turnover, not an optional extra, is one of the simplest ways to manage risk across a rental property or portfolio.
Can-Lock Security helps Ottawa landlords and property managers rekey rental units efficiently, serving Kanata, Nepean, Barrhaven, Stittsville, Orleans, Arnprior, Renfrew, and the GTA including Toronto, Mississauga, and Markham. Ask us about streamlined rekeying and smart lock options for multi-unit properties.
Ottawa: 613-908-8815 | Toronto/GTA: 647-975-1702
Suggested internal links: Rekeying, Commercial Locksmith, Smart Lock Installation, Lock Replacement, Residential Locksmith
FAQs
Open a question for a short answer.
Requirements can vary, and it's worth confirming current obligations with a property law professional, but regardless of specific legal requirements, rekeying is widely considered standard best practice for landlord liability and tenant security.
Costs vary by the number of locks involved, but rekeying is generally an affordable, predictable expense that fits easily into a standard turnover budget.
Rekeying is usually sufficient if the existing locks are in good condition. Replacement makes sense if the locks are outdated or you're upgrading to a new system like smart locks.
Often, yes, particularly for landlords managing multiple units, since codes can be changed remotely between tenants without a locksmith visit for every single turnover.
Beyond the direct security risk to your new tenant, failing to rekey can become a significant factor in any resulting liability or insurance dispute.