When you move into a rental, you have no idea how many keys to your front door are out there. The last tenant, their roommate, the dog walker, the cleaner, the contractor who did the floors. Rekeying the locks is the simple fix, and it is one of the most common jobs we do in Broward. The question renters ask first is who should pay for it.
Does the landlord have to rekey between tenants?
Florida does not have a statewide rule that says a landlord must rekey between tenants, the way some other states do. So it comes down to your lease and your landlord. Plenty of Broward landlords and property managers rekey on every turnover as standard practice. Others do it only if you ask. Some leave it to the tenant.
The practical step is to ask in writing before you move in: "Have the locks been rekeyed since the last tenant moved out?" If the answer is no, ask whether the landlord will arrange it or whether you can have it done and deduct it, or simply split it. Get the answer in an email or text so there is a record.
This is general information, not legal advice. If your situation is complicated, a Florida landlord-tenant attorney or the county's tenant resources can tell you where you stand.
Can you rekey without asking?
Read your lease first. Most leases say the tenant cannot change or add locks without permission, and most require the landlord to keep a working key for emergencies and repairs. Changing the locks and not handing over a key can put you in breach of the lease even if your intentions were good.
The clean way to do it: get permission, have the locks rekeyed, and give the landlord or manager one of the new keys. Everyone who held an old key is locked out, and the landlord still has access.
Rekey or new locks?
For most move-ins, rekeying is the right answer. The lock stays on the door, the pins inside are changed, and every old key stops working. It costs less than new hardware and it does not change how the door looks, which matters to landlords and HOAs.
New locks make sense when the existing hardware is worn, corroded or cheap enough that it is not worth working on, or when you want something different, like a keypad lock. Keypads are popular with landlords because codes can be changed between tenants without a visit, but check with your landlord before you swap hardware on their door.
Do not forget the other locks
- Back and side doors, including the door from the garage into the house.
- Sliding patio doors, which often have weak latches. A bar in the track is a cheap extra layer.
- Gates and sheds if they are part of your rental.
- Mailbox locks. In many condo and apartment buildings these belong to the association or the building, so ask management rather than calling a locksmith first.
- Garage door openers and keypad codes. Reset these too, or the rekey does not do much.
For Broward landlords and property managers
Turnover rekeys are routine work for us. If you have several units, we can schedule them in one visit, which is cheaper than separate trips. If you manage a lot of doors, ask about a master key system so one key opens everything you need while each tenant's key opens only their unit.
What it costs
KSB's starting price is $59 per cylinder to rekey. A front door with a knob and a deadbolt is two cylinders. Every job is quoted before work begins and the quote is what you pay, with no dispatch fee. KSB serves Broward County only. Call Joe at 954-994-1984 Sunday to Thursday 9 AM to 7 PM, Friday 9 AM to 5 PM or Saturday 9 AM to 6 PM.