Units keys

[Reggie Maggard]

What does everyone do about the keys when a renter leaves? Do you change the locks when the tenant leaves? Crazy question, how do u know a tenant doesn't make a copy of keys and break in and steal stuff later? I know, major paranoia.

[Michael Herr]

I buy a double set of two-packs of locks at Lowes to get 4 locks all keyed the same.  They come with a 4 digit number on the key and I engrave the same 4 digit number on the lock. 

4 locks covers pretty much any house,  3 entry doors and a garage door. 

When a tenant moves I replace all the entey locks. (takes only 5-10 min per door) 

I then put all the locks I removed in a ziplock bag on a shelf and reuse them eventually. 

Some people re-key,  but these locks are so cheap and quick to replace,  that's  what I do.