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Move-Out Lock Security Checklist for Renters and Landlords

A tenant-turnover checklist for what to rekey between renters in Cupertino. No fake phone, fake storefront, fake rating, or unverified hours have been added.

Guide illustration

Planning a lock changeover between tenants

Every tenant who has lived in a unit may still have a working copy of the key, and copies made without permission are common. A rekey between leases resets that risk for the next tenant without needing to track down old keys.

Priority points for a rental turnover are the main unit entry door, any interior door to a garage or shared hallway, and a mail or storage locker if one was assigned to the unit. Common-area doors shared across multiple units are typically handled separately from individual unit rekeys.

If the unit has a keypad or smart lock, plan to clear old codes and remove any departing tenant's paired app access as part of the same turnover, not as an afterthought after move-in.

Before requesting a turnover rekey, have the unit address, the number of doors involved, and the target move-in date ready so scheduling lines up with the lease turnover window.

Questions

Should a landlord rekey between every tenant?

Rekeying between tenants is standard practice so a departing tenant's key no longer works. It is faster and less costly than full hardware replacement when the existing locks are in good condition.

Who is usually responsible for the rekey cost, landlord or tenant?

That depends on the lease terms and local rental rules. This page does not give legal advice; confirm responsibility in the lease agreement or with a property manager.

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