Lock changes between tenants: a checklist for Amsterdam landlords and property managers
A lock change between tenants means replacing the cylinders of a rental property when one tenant leaves and before the next one moves in, so that every key issued to the previous tenant, their visitors and their contractors stops working on the day of handover.
A tenant hands back two keys at the final inspection. You gave out three, and over four years they had copies made for a partner, a cleaner and a parent. Nobody did anything wrong, yet an unknown number of working keys to your property is now in circulation.
A lock change between tenants is the only way to reset that count to zero. For landlords and property managers in Amsterdam, it pays to make it a fixed step rather than a judgement call.
Why it belongs in every handover
The new tenant has a right to a home that only they can open. If a previous tenant or one of their contacts lets themselves in, the landlord faces the questions. A fresh cylinder removes that risk and the awkward conversation about whether every copy came back. It also gives a clean record: on the day of handover, these keys were issued and no others exist.
The checklist
- Count the keys issued at the start of the tenancy and the keys returned. Any difference is a reason on its own.
- Replace the cylinder of the front door of the unit, and of any storage, bike cellar or shed that belongs to it.
- Decide what to do with the shared entrance. If the building uses a master key system, the unit cylinder can be replaced while the shared door stays as it is.
- Fit the same quality of cylinder on every door, with anti snap protection where the door is reachable from outside.
- Issue a fixed number of keys to the new tenant and record it in the handover report.
- Keep one key in a secure place and note who holds it.
- Ask for the invoice to be made out to the company name, so it sits with the property file.
When the tenant lost the only key
Sometimes the handover is forced: the tenant has lost the keys, or cannot be reached and the unit needs to be accessed. Then the cylinder is replaced at the same visit as the opening. The tenant side is described in our blog about losing the only key to a rental flat; for the landlord the sequence is the same, plus documenting the access.
Planning the work around turnovers
For a single unit, a cylinder change is a short visit between the final inspection and the cleaning. For a portfolio, agree a standard: the same cylinder type across all units and one call per turnover; if you want one key for your own staff, ask about a master key system.
Locksmith Amsterdam works day and night, so a handover at six in the evening or on a Saturday is handled like one on a Tuesday morning. Our lock replacement service and the other our locksmith services are set up for this.
What you get from us
One call, a price for the whole unit, a technician who replaces every cylinder in the same visit and new keys in the number you specify. If you manage several buildings, keep a record of which cylinder type is fitted where, so the next turnover is a phone call rather than a site visit.
Frequently asked questions
Should I change the locks every time a tenant leaves?
Yes. It is the only way to be sure that copies made during the tenancy no longer work.
Do I need to replace the whole lock?
No. The cylinder is replaced and the lock case and fittings stay. New keys come with the cylinder.
What about the shared entrance door?
With a master key system the unit cylinder can be changed without touching the shared door. Otherwise the shared door is a separate decision for the building.
Can the invoice be on the company name?
Ask for it when you call. An invoice made out to the company can be filed with the property.
Can you handle turnovers in the evening or at the weekend?
Yes. Locksmith Amsterdam works 24 hours a day, every day, and a handover outside office hours is booked the same way.
Turnover coming up? Call Locksmith Amsterdam on +31 (0)20 210 1986. We replace every cylinder of the unit in one visit and issue the keys you specify, with the price confirmed before we start.
