Texas Landlord Guide: Rekeying Between Tenants and Handling Lockouts
By Right Choice Locksmith · October 2026
If you own or manage rental homes or apartments in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas law sets specific rules for locks and security devices. Here's what the Texas Property Code says about rekeying between tenants and required hardware, plus practical tips for turnovers and tenant lockouts.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws change, so check the current statute or ask a Texas real estate attorney about your situation.
The Seven-Day Rekey Rule
Under Texas Property Code Section 92.156, a landlord must rekey a security device operated by a key, card or combination, at the landlord's expense, no later than the seventh day after each tenant turnover date. There's an exception when a tenant moves out in breach of a written lease. The section doesn't cover locks on closet doors or other interior doors.
In practice, that means the locks on each unit's exterior doors need new keys within a week of every move-out, and the incoming tenant shouldn't be relying on keys a previous tenant could still have.
See our Lock Rekeying service →When Tenants Ask for Rekeys
The same section says a landlord must also rekey or change security devices when a tenant asks, at the tenant's expense, and a tenant can make an unlimited number of those requests. Rekeying to set up or change the landlord's own master key is the landlord's expense.
Required Security Devices
Texas Property Code Section 92.153 lists security devices a rental dwelling must have, at the landlord's expense, while a tenant is in possession. They include:
- A window latch on each exterior window.
- A keyed deadbolt or doorknob lock on each exterior door.
- A keyless bolting device and a door viewer on each exterior door, with some exceptions in the statute.
- A pin lock plus a handle latch or security bar on each exterior sliding glass door.
French doors and certain exemptions have their own rules, so read the full section if your property has unusual doors.
Making Turnover Rekeys Easy
- Book the rekey with the move-out inspection so it's done before the seven-day window closes, and well before new tenants arrive.
- Rekey instead of replacing when the hardware is in good shape. It's usually faster and cheaper, and the existing locks stay. Our rekey vs. replace guide explains the difference.
- Keep a simple key log: which units were rekeyed, when, and how many keys were issued.
- Ask about master keying if you manage several units and want one key for maintenance while each tenant's key opens only their own unit.
Handling Tenant Lockouts
Lockouts happen at all hours. A little planning keeps them quick and safe:
- Spell out in the lease how lockouts are handled and whether there's a fee.
- Make sure whoever lets a tenant in confirms they're on the lease, for example by checking ID.
- Give tenants an after-hours number, whether that's your maintenance line or a locksmith you trust.
- If a tenant calls a locksmith directly, the locksmith should ask for proof that they live there before opening the door.
Managing Rentals in Dallas-Fort Worth?
Right Choice Locksmith rekeys units between tenants and helps with lockouts, 24/7. Call or text with the property address and how many locks need work.
📞 Call (469) 640-6420Related: Lock Rekeying · Commercial Locksmith · Rekey vs. Replace