Why landlords need a locksmith relationship, not just a phone number
Most people call a locksmith once, in a bad moment. A landlord or property manager is in a different position. You have doors turning over, keys scattered among tenants, contractors and past occupants, and a stream of small hardware problems that never quite stop. Handling that one call at a time, with whoever comes up first in a search, is how keys end up in places you can't account for.
What works better is having one company that knows how you run your properties. When we know your standard hardware, your keying approach and who is allowed to authorize work on which door, a call at 9 p.m. about a stuck deadbolt takes a lot less explaining. You're not re-describing the building every time, and nobody is guessing about which keys should open what.
This page is written for owners of single rentals, small multifamily buildings, and managers with a handful or a full portfolio of doors. It covers the recurring work: what to do with locks between tenants, how a master key system fits a small property, how to set a lockout policy that doesn't cause arguments at midnight, and what drives the cost of all of it.
What should happen to the locks at every tenant turnover?
The short answer: the old tenant's keys should stop working before the new tenant's keys are handed over. You can't know how many copies a former tenant made, who they lent one to, or whether one is still in a drawer somewhere. Rekeying removes that question without replacing the hardware.
Rekeying means changing the internal pin configuration of the existing lock so it works with a new key and the old keys no longer do. The lock, the finish and the look of the door stay the same. For most turnovers it's the usual, more economical route compared with swapping every lock. We cover how it works in more detail on our lock rekey page.
- Collect every key you can at move-out and note how many came back. A mismatch from what you issued is useful information even if you can't resolve it.
- Inspect the lock itself. If a deadbolt is sticking, a latch is worn, or a handle is loose, decide whether the lock is worth rekeying or has reached the end of its life.
- Rekey the entry locks, and any secondary locks that share the unit's keys, so one new key set operates the whole unit.
- Cut and test the new keys on the door before anyone leaves the property. A key that works at the bench but binds in a swollen or misaligned door is a problem you want to find now.
- Log the turnover: date, which locks were done, how many keys were issued. A simple record saves real time when a dispute comes up later.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
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Call (213) 577-1366When rekeying isn't enough
Sometimes the lock itself is the problem. A worn cylinder, a deadbolt that no longer throws cleanly, or hardware that was damaged during a lockout or a break-in attempt should be repaired or replaced, not just rekeyed. If you're upgrading across a building for consistency, replacing to a single standard may be easier to manage long term. Properties that want keypad or app-based entry can look at smart lock installation, which removes physical key hand-off altogether, though it brings its own questions about batteries, codes and who manages them.
How do master key systems work for a small portfolio?
A master key system lets one key operate multiple locks, while each lock also keeps its own individual key. For a landlord, that typically means a key that you or your maintenance person carry that opens every unit, while each tenant's key opens only their own door. For a multifamily building, it can also include shared doors like a laundry room, a storage area, or a utility closet.
The tradeoff is real and worth stating plainly. Every master system adds a measure of complexity and a small reduction in security compared to unique, unrelated keys, because the master level is another path into each lock. Done well, with a sensible hierarchy and disciplined key control, that tradeoff is worth it. Done carelessly, with a master key copied freely, it's a liability. We'll tell you if a system doesn't make sense for the size of your property.
If you're considering one, our master key system page explains the planning side. The decisions that matter most are who gets the master, how it's tracked, and whether you want key blanks restricted so copies can't be cut at a hardware store.
- Decide up front how many levels you need: individual units, building-wide, or property-wide.
- Keep a written record of who holds each master and sign keys out rather than handing them over casually.
- Consider restricted keyways so duplicates can only be made through an authorized source.
- Plan for change. When a master key is lost, the fix is rekeying the affected locks, so the cost of a lost master grows with the size of the system.
What's a sensible lockout policy for tenants?
Lockouts are the most predictable emergency a landlord faces, and the ones that go badly are almost always the ones with no policy. A tenant calls at 1 a.m. and nobody knows who is supposed to respond, who pays, or whether the tenant is even allowed to call a locksmith on their own.
A good policy answers four questions in writing, before anyone is locked out: Who does the tenant call first? Do you keep a spare key or lockbox on site, and who has access? If a locksmith is needed, who authorizes it and who pays? And what proof of residence do you or we need to see before opening a door?
That last one matters. We verify that the person asking for entry has a legitimate right to be there, usually through ID and a connection to the unit or authorization from you. We'd rather ask an awkward question than open the wrong door. For specifics on how we handle these calls, see our apartment lockout page.
We aren't lawyers, and rules about landlord entry and lock changes in California are specific. Check current landlord-tenant requirements or talk to your attorney, then write your policy to match. We'll work within whatever policy you set.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What recurring work can we take on for your properties?
Beyond turnovers and lockouts, a rental property has a long list of small lock and hardware needs. Having one company for all of it keeps your records consistent. The usual list looks like this:
- Rekeying and key duplication for units, with a clear record of how many keys exist.
- Deadbolt and entry hardware repair or replacement when a lock wears out or is damaged.
- Mailbox lock replacement for tenants who lose mailbox keys or buildings with worn cluster boxes.
- Gate lock repair and keypad service on driveway and pedestrian gates.
- Broken key extraction when a key snaps in a lock mid-turnover.
- Installing or upgrading hardware after a break-in, a repair, or a renovation.
What affects the cost for landlords?
We don't quote numbers on a web page, because the honest answer depends on the job. What we can do is tell you what moves the cost so you can budget and compare fairly.
The biggest factor is how many locks and doors are involved. Rekeying one door is a different job from rekeying a whole building, and doing several at once in a single visit is usually more economical than separate trips. The type of hardware matters: standard residential deadbolts are simple, while high-security cylinders, restricted keyways and smart locks involve more parts and more time.
Condition counts too. A lock that rekeys easily is quick; one that is corroded, swollen into the door, or damaged needs more work or replacement. Timing plays a role, since after-hours and emergency calls cost differently from scheduled work. Planning turnovers ahead gives you the lighter-cost option. Finally, distance and access matter: gated properties, difficult driveways or hard-to-reach units can add time.
If you're running a portfolio, tell us your schedule and volume. Predictable recurring work is easier to plan around than a scramble, and we'll explain how we'd price it before work begins.
What's different about managing locks in Malibu?
Malibu isn't a typical rental market, and the property mix affects how you should think about locks. The housing stock includes beachfront homes packed along Pacific Coast Highway, hillside and canyon estates on large lots, and long-standing mobile-home communities such as Paradise Cove and Point Dume Club. Gated enclaves include Serra Retreat and the guard-gated Malibu Colony. The ZIP codes you'll be working across are 90265 and 90263.
The salt air is the first thing to plan around. Persistent marine layer, fog and salt corrode locks, hinges and other exterior metal noticeably faster than inland, and damp conditions can swell wood doors. For an oceanfront rental along Pacific Coast Highway, that means a deadbolt that sticks or a key that binds may be corrosion, not tenant misuse. Budget for earlier hardware replacement than you would inland, and ask about finishes and cylinders suited to the conditions. Inspect hinges at turnover, because a corroded hinge can make a door drag and a lock misalign.
Canyon properties off Latigo and Corral Canyon roads often depend on gates and keypads. A gate that stops working is not an inconvenience for a tenant, it's a locked driveway. Having gate and keypad service handled by a company that also knows your door hardware keeps those problems from falling between vendors.
Short-term rentals near Zuma Beach have their own pattern: frequent guest turnover and codes or keys that need changing between stays. If that's your model, see our page on Airbnb and vacation rental locksmith work.
Then there are the rebuilds. Repeated wildfires, including the 2018 Woolsey Fire and the January 2025 Palisades Fire on the city's eastern edge, mean a meaningful share of homes are recent rebuilds with new door and lock hardware. If you own or manage one, new hardware is a good time to set up your keying properly. Construction crews and contractors may have had keys during the build, so rekeying to a clean set before a tenant moves in is a sensible step. Canyon mouths also channel hot, dry Santa Ana winds that drive fire risk, which is a reminder to keep spare keys and gate codes somewhere you can reach quickly if an evacuation happens.
We're based at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood, about 17 miles from Malibu, and our mobile vans come to you. You can see how we cover the area on our Malibu service page.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Why property managers call Wilshire Lock & Key
We've been in business since 1987, and we serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. We have a storefront and mobile service vans, so we can cut keys and prepare hardware at the shop and do the work at your door. When you call, you reach us, not a national dispatch center that sells your job to whoever is available. That means the person who knows your account is the one working on it.
David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work. For a landlord, that matters most when something unusual comes up: a master key question, a damaged door, a tenant dispute over a lockout. There's someone accountable who understands the trade.
We also want to be straightforward about licensing. California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS locksmith company (LCO) license, and you should ask any locksmith you hire for their license number before work starts. That applies to us and to everyone else. Our license number is being added to this site, and you're welcome to ask us directly.
Our line, (213) 577-1366, is answered 24 hours a day, every day of the year. If you want to set up a recurring arrangement, or just talk through a building, reach out through our contact page or call.
Frequently asked questions
Should I rekey or replace locks between tenants?
Rekeying is usually the more economical route, because it makes old keys useless without replacing the hardware. Replace instead when a lock is worn, corroded, damaged, or when you want to standardize hardware across units. We can look at the lock and tell you which makes sense.
How often should I change locks at my rental property?
At every tenant turnover is the standard approach, and any time a key goes missing, a tenant leaves under difficult circumstances, or a contractor has held keys for a long project. It's the cleanest way to make sure only current occupants have working keys.
Can you set up one key that opens every unit in my building?
Yes, that's a master key system. Each unit keeps its own key, and one master opens them all. It adds convenience for you but also a bit more risk if the master key is lost, so it needs good key control. We'll tell you whether it fits your property.
Do coastal conditions in Malibu really wear out locks faster?
Yes. Marine layer, fog and salt air corrode locks, hinges and other exterior metal noticeably faster than inland, and damp air can swell wood doors. Oceanfront rentals along Pacific Coast Highway should expect to inspect and replace exterior hardware sooner than a property farther from the coast.
What should I do about a tenant who locks themselves out after hours?
Have a written policy before it happens: who the tenant calls, whether you keep a spare, who authorizes a locksmith and who pays. We answer around the clock at (213) 577-1366, and we confirm the person has a legitimate right to enter before opening a door.
Do you work with short-term and vacation rental owners?
Yes. Frequent guest turnover means keys, codes and locks need attention more often. We handle rekeying and lock service for vacation rentals, including properties near Zuma Beach. Our vacation rental locksmith page goes into more detail.
I manage a recently rebuilt home. Do I need to rekey it?
It's worth doing. New hardware doesn't tell you who held keys during construction, so rekeying before a tenant moves in gives you a clean starting set. It's usually a quick job compared with replacing locks that are already new.
How do I know a locksmith is legitimate?
California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS locksmith company license. Ask for the license number before work begins, and be cautious of anyone who won't provide it. Also be wary of quotes given with no explanation of what drives the cost, and of dispatch services that don't tell you who will actually arrive.
More locksmith help in Malibu
Locksmith for Landlords & Property Managers near Malibu
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.