Locksmith for Landlords & Property Managers — Denver Metro

What Landlord-Focused Locksmith Service Actually Means

It is not just discounted rates. Landlord-focused service is structured differently from one-off residential work in five ways:

• Net-30 invoicing instead of pay-on-completion. We bill monthly with itemized service tickets per property, per unit, per service date. Compatible with AppFolio, Buildium, Yardi, Rent Manager, and QuickBooks workflows.
• Master key system design and maintenance. Two-tier (single building) and three-tier (portfolio with sub-master) systems with restricted keyways for security.
• Predictable tenant-turnover pricing. Flat-rate per unit so your make-ready budget is reliable.
• Eviction lockout assistance. Following Colorado eviction law (writ of restitution required), we can re-key after legal lockout to prevent re-entry.
• After-hours emergency response. 7 AM to midnight, seven days a week, with portfolio rates that do not surge on weekends or holidays.

Tenant Turnover Rekey — The Core Recurring Service

Every tenant move-out should trigger a rekey before the next tenant moves in. Reasons:

• The outgoing tenant may have made copies during their lease (Colorado law does not prohibit this).
• Roommates, partners, family members, dog walkers, and cleaning services may all have keys you do not know about.
• Your liability exposure is significant if a former tenant or their associate enters the unit and harms the new tenant or property.

Tenant turnover rekey pricing (Denver metro portfolio rate):

• 1–3 cylinders per unit (front, back, mailbox): $85–$125 flat per unit.
• Multi-unit building same-day batch (4+ units same day, same property): $65–$95 flat per unit.
• Add-ons: replacement cylinder if existing is damaged ($35–$65 cylinder), additional keys cut ($3–$8 per key).

Service ticket includes itemized line items, before/after key codes, and tenant-acceptance signature line for your records.

Master Key Systems for Multi-Unit Properties

A master key system lets you (or a property manager) open every unit with one master key while each tenant's key only opens their own unit. Properly designed, it does this without compromising tenant security.

Two-Tier System (Single Property, 2–24 Units)

One master key (yours), one change key per unit (tenant's). Works for duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, small apartment buildings.

Setup cost: $385–$685 for a 4-unit building (depending on existing hardware), $1,285–$2,485 for a 12-unit building.

Three-Tier System (Portfolio with Multiple Properties)

Grand master key (you, the owner), sub-master keys (each property manager or each building), change keys (tenants). Works for property management firms with multiple buildings or owners with portfolios.

Setup cost: $1,985–$4,485 depending on portfolio size and number of cylinders.

Restricted Keyway Option

For master systems that hold sensitive value, we recommend Medeco or Mul-T-Lock restricted keyways. Tenants cannot duplicate their keys at hardware stores; only authorized signers on file at our shop can order copies. This eliminates the "tenant made 14 copies during their lease" problem.

Premium for restricted keyway: approximately $35–$55 per cylinder over standard hardware.

Eviction Lockout Service (Following Colorado Law)

Colorado eviction law (Title 13, Article 40) requires a writ of restitution from the court before a landlord can change locks on an occupied unit. Once you have the writ and the sheriff has executed the eviction, we can rekey or replace the locks immediately so the former tenant cannot re-enter.

What we provide:

• Same-day or next-day service after sheriff execution.
• Rekey of all entry-point cylinders (front, back, garage, mailbox).
• Optional cylinder replacement if existing hardware was damaged during eviction.
• Service ticket with timestamp and photo documentation for your eviction file.

Pricing: $185–$285 for a typical single-family rental, $245–$385 for a multi-cylinder unit.

Important: we will not change locks on an occupied unit without a writ of restitution. This protects you from a wrongful-eviction lawsuit and protects our license.

Lost-Key Callouts and Mid-Lease Emergencies

When a tenant locks themselves out at 11 PM, you get the call — and you need a vendor who can dispatch quickly without surge pricing.

• Tenant lockout response time: 25–40 minutes typical in Denver metro core; 35–55 minutes in outlying areas (Aurora, Centennial, Westminster, Parker).
• Tenant lockout pricing (portfolio rate): $65–$95 service call + $25–$45 entry labor. Tenant pays directly; you are not invoiced unless you choose to subsidize.
• Mid-lease lock failure: if a deadbolt or lever fails during a lease (mechanism wear, frozen cylinder, broken key), we repair or replace at portfolio rate and invoice you.

Compliance and Liability Topics

• License: Colorado does not require a state locksmith license, but we are bonded and insured at $2M general liability + $1M auto. We can provide certificates of insurance for your file.
• Lead paint: for properties built pre-1978, we follow EPA RRP rules when drilling or modifying door jambs.
• Tenant access during service: we comply with Colorado's 24-hour notice requirement for non-emergency entry.
• Key tracking: we maintain a key bitting database per property so master systems can be expanded without compromising existing assignments.

Onboarding Process

1. Portfolio walkthrough call (free, 15–20 minutes). We learn property count, unit types, current lock conditions, tenant turnover frequency.
2. Service agreement. Standard rates, response times, invoicing terms, scope. Signed by both parties.
3. Initial property survey. First service visit — document existing hardware, photograph keying, identify hardware needing replacement.
4. First service month. Run as scheduled. We invoice at month-end; you pay net-30.
5. Quarterly review. What worked, what we should change, any portfolio additions or sales.

Service Areas We Cover

Denver metro and surrounding: Denver, Highlands Ranch, Centennial, Lone Tree, Castle Rock, Castle Pines, Parker, Englewood, Greenwood Village, Littleton, Arvada, Lakewood, Westminster, Ken Caryl, Colorado Springs (scheduled service only).

Get Started

Call (720) 299-9964 for a portfolio walkthrough call. No commitment, no high-pressure pitch — we will tell you what we can do and what fair pricing looks like for your situation.

Related Services

• Master Key System Design — full residential and commercial details
• Commercial Rekeying — for multi-tenant office and retail
• Commercial Locksmith — pillar service overview
• Rekey vs Replace Guide — when each is appropriate
• High-Security Locks — Medeco / Mul-T-Lock for restricted keyway systems