Why property owners need a locksmith on call, not just in a crisis
A single-family rental, a fourplex and a thirty-unit building all produce the same steady stream of lock work. A tenant moves out and the old keys are still floating around. A deadbolt starts to stick. A mailbox lock jams. A resident is locked out late at night. A side gate stops latching. None of it is dramatic on its own. The real cost comes from treating each item as a fresh scramble with a different vendor every time, and from never knowing who holds keys to which door.
Wilshire Lock & Key has served Los Angeles and Ventura counties since 1987, and landlords and managers are a regular part of that work. This page explains how we work with owners in San Dimas on turnover, key control, lockout policy and recurring service. The idea is that you decide what to put in place before the next vacancy, not in the middle of it.
What should happen to the locks every time a tenant moves out?
The old tenant's keys should stop working. You can never be sure how many copies exist. Roommates, relatives, a former partner, a dog walker and a contractor may all have had one. Rekeying is the usual answer: we change the internal pins so the old keys no longer turn the lock, and the hardware stays on the door. It is generally the more economical route compared with swapping hardware, and it is the core of our lock rekey service.
Replacement is the better call when a lock is worn out, loose, corroded, or when you want to upgrade at the same time. If you are changing several doors on a unit anyway, our change locks service covers that. A typical turnover visit looks like this:
- You send the address, unit numbers and move-out date, or call (213) 577-1366 and talk it through with us.
- We check every lock on the unit: entry deadbolt, knob or lever, patio slider, back door, mailbox and any gate or side door.
- We rekey the hardware that is sound and flag anything worn, loose or damaged, so you can choose between repair and replacement before we touch it.
- We cut new keys. If you want the front and back doors on one key, or every door on a property on one key, we plan the keying that way.
- We test each lock with the new keys, with the door open and closed, and hand the keys over or leave them according to your instructions.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Do you need a master key system for your rental buildings?
A master key system lets one key open every lock in a defined group, while each tenant's key opens only that tenant's door. For an owner with several units plus a laundry room, storage areas, a trash enclosure or a gate, it replaces a heavy ring of separate keys with a clear structure. We lay those out in our master key system work.
It is not right for every property. A handful of scattered single-family rentals is usually better served by simple keyed-alike sets per property. Before you commit to a master system, these are the decisions that matter:
- How many levels of access you need: tenant, building manager, maintenance, owner.
- Who actually carries the master key, and how you will track it.
- Whether you want restricted keys that cannot be copied at a hardware-store kiosk.
- What happens if a master key is lost. The honest answer is that the affected group has to be rekeyed, so fewer master keys in circulation is better.
- How you will record which key opens which door, so the system is still understandable after a change in management.
How do you write a lockout policy for tenants and staff?
A lockout policy answers the questions you do not want to improvise when a call comes in late at night. We help managers think through these before anything happens:
- Who is authorized to call us and approve the work, and how do we reach them.
- How we verify the person at the door really lives there or has authority from management.
- Who pays: the tenant, the owner, or a split that depends on the circumstances. Your lease and your attorney decide this, not us.
- Whether you keep spare keys or a lockbox on site, and who has access to it.
- What happens after repeated lockouts at the same unit, for example a rekey or a different lock type.
How we open a door for a tenant, and why we ask for proof
When a resident is locked out, our apartment lockout service works to open the door without damaging it wherever the lock allows. Before we start, we ask for proof the person lives there, or authorization from the manager or owner. That can feel like friction when someone is standing in the hallway, but it protects you. A locksmith who opens any door for anyone who asks is a liability for a property owner.
Rules about when a landlord or manager may enter a tenant's unit, and what notice is required, are legal questions. We are tradespeople, not lawyers, so confirm those with your attorney or property association.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366How recurring service works with us, step by step
Recurring service does not need to be complicated. It means we know your properties before the call comes in. David, who owns the company and leads the technical side, oversees how we set this up. Here is the usual sequence:
- You give us a list of properties: addresses, unit counts, and what each one has, such as deadbolts, patio doors, mailboxes, gates and shared doors.
- We agree on who is authorized to approve work and how we confirm it is really them.
- We agree on a keying plan for each property: keyed alike, master system, or restricted keys.
- We set standing instructions for turnover, for example rekey by default and report anything that looks worn.
- When something comes up, you call (213) 577-1366 at any hour, and a mobile van heads out. More on that in our mobile locksmith service page.
- After each visit you get a clear record of what was done at which door, so your files stay accurate.
Are smart locks and keypads worth it for rentals?
Some owners switch to keypad or smart locks so they can issue and cancel codes instead of handing out and recovering keys. That removes the rekey step at turnover, since you simply delete the old code. It also helps with contractors, cleaners and showings. Our smart lock installation work covers this.
There are tradeoffs, and we would rather you know them. Batteries need to be replaced, and a dead battery at the wrong moment creates its own lockout. Some models depend on a Wi-Fi connection or phone app, and tenants vary a lot in how much they want that. Most still need a mechanical key as backup. For a single-family rental or a small building with frequent turnover, they can make sense. For an older building with a mix of tenants and a tight budget, a good rekey routine is often the lighter-cost option.
What affects the cost of locksmith work for rentals?
We do not publish numbers on a web page because every property is different, but these are the factors that move the total up or down:
- How many locks are done in a single visit. Batching several units together generally makes for a more efficient visit than separate trips.
- Rekey or replace. Rekeying existing hardware usually costs less than new hardware, as long as the lock is still in good shape.
- Hardware grade. A basic builder-grade lock and a high-security cylinder are very different products.
- Complexity of the keying, such as a multi-level master system or restricted keys.
- Urgency and hour. Work scheduled during the day is usually the more economical route compared with an unplanned call at night.
- Condition of the lock. Corroded, dusty or damaged hardware takes more time to repair.
- Distance to the property and access to the unit, including whether someone can let us in.
- The cost of key blanks and cutting, especially if keys are restricted.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Why landlords and managers call Wilshire Lock & Key
We have been in business since 1987. Our storefront is at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood, and our mobile vans do the work at your property. One company answers the phone, does the job and stands behind the invoice. We do not pass your call to a dispatch service that sends whoever is closest. David oversees how the work is done, and the phone is answered around the clock, every day of the year, at (213) 577-1366.
San Dimas is about 40 miles from our Westwood base, so we are straightforward about it. For scheduled work such as turnovers, we plan visits so we can handle several doors in one trip. For urgent calls, we tell you the actual timing when we talk with you, rather than quoting a number we cannot be sure of.
One more thing every property manager should do: California requires locksmith companies to hold a license from the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, known as a BSIS LCO license. Ask any locksmith you hire for the license number, check it with the state, and keep the details with your vendor records.
What do rentals in San Dimas ask of their locks?
San Dimas is dominated by suburban tracts built in the 1960s through the 1980s. Locks on homes of that age have often been through several owners and tenants, so nobody can say for sure who holds a key. That is the case for a rekey at every turnover, and we look at each door instead of assuming. ZIP code 91773 covers the city, and our work runs along the Foothill Boulevard (Route 66), Lone Hill Avenue and Arrow Highway corridors as well as the neighborhoods off them.
The Via Verde planned community, in the southwest near Puddingstone Reservoir, adds townhomes, condos and golf-course homes. Home rekeys there are a typical request. Townhomes and condos usually share walls and common doors, so check what rules apply to exterior hardware before you change a finish or style. Several mobile home parks sit along Arrow Highway. Doors on those homes can differ from site-built houses, so we inspect them in person before recommending hardware.
In the northern canyon areas, larger-lot and equestrian properties have barn, tack-room and gate locks that take more abuse than a typical front door. If you manage or own one near San Dimas Canyon, our gate lock repair service is the place to start. Canyon winds carry dust into exterior hardware, and that is one reason latches and cylinders on these properties wear faster.
Heat matters here too. The inland valley has summer highs well above the coastal basin, and in late summer door expansion and sticking latches are routine. A latch that binds in August is not always a failed lock. Sometimes the door has swollen in the frame. We check that during turnover so you do not replace hardware that only needs adjusting.
If you own ground-floor commercial space in the western-themed downtown on Bonita Avenue, older storefronts often carry legacy commercial hardware. Our storefront lock repair service handles that kind of equipment. And for tenants who commute from the San Dimas A Line park-and-ride, or who spend a day at Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park or Raging Waters, we also handle car key replacement and vehicle lockouts, so a resident call about a car does not turn into a second vendor for you.
Frequently asked questions
Can you rekey several units in a single visit?
Yes. When turnovers or rekeys are scheduled together, we can handle multiple units in one trip, and that is usually a more efficient way to work. Send us the addresses and unit numbers, or call (213) 577-1366, and we will plan the visit around your schedule.
Do you set up standing arrangements for property managers?
We can agree on authorized contacts, a keying plan for each property, standing turnover instructions and per-unit records. Call us to talk through how you would like it to work, and we will tell you plainly what is practical.
Who pays when a tenant is locked out?
That depends on your lease and your policy, and your attorney should confirm it. We bill whoever authorizes the work. It helps to decide in advance who pays and who can approve a call, so nobody is arguing about it at the door.
Can you open a unit if the manager asks and the tenant is not home?
We need to verify that the person asking has real authority over the property. Rules about entry and notice to tenants are legal matters, so please confirm them with your attorney first. We will not open a door unless we are comfortable that the request is legitimate.
Should I rekey or replace the locks between tenants?
If the hardware is in good condition, rekeying is usually the more economical route and still cuts off the old keys. If the lock is worn, damaged or outdated, or you want to upgrade security, replacement makes more sense. We look at each door and tell you which applies.
What happens if a master key is lost?
Anyone holding that key can open every lock in its group, so the affected locks need to be rekeyed. This is the main reason to keep the number of master keys small and track who holds them. We can help plan the system to limit the damage.
Do you handle mailbox locks, gates and common-area doors?
Yes. Mailbox locks, gate latches, laundry or storage room doors and other shared hardware are part of the work we do for multifamily owners. Tell us what the property has and we will include those doors in the plan.
Do you work outside San Dimas and at night?
We serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, so if you own properties in more than one city, one company can cover them. Our phone, (213) 577-1366, is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round.
More locksmith help in San Dimas
Locksmith for Landlords & Property Managers near San Dimas
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.