Tenant Kept the Keys After an Eviction? What Alpharetta Landlords Can Do

Once a court has issued a writ of possession and the tenant has been legally removed, you have the right to retake control of your property — and that includes the locks. Georgia law does not require you to wait for keys to be returned before you rekey or replace the locks on a unit. In fact, leaving the original locks in place after a contested eviction can expose you to liability if the former tenant re-enters or allows someone else in using a retained copy. Document everything: keep your writ of possession, note the date the unit was vacated, and photograph the condition of all entry points before any work begins.

One important distinction: self-help eviction — changing locks on a tenant who has NOT yet been legally removed — is illegal in Georgia and can result in serious penalties for the landlord. The steps in this article apply only after the eviction process is fully complete and lawful possession has been restored to you. If you are unsure where you stand legally, consult a Georgia real estate attorney before touching the locks. Once you have legal clearance, the physical security of the unit becomes your immediate priority.

Rekeying is the most common solution after a tenant eviction. A skilled locksmith resets the internal pin configuration of an existing lock cylinder so that every previous key — including any unauthorized copies — becomes permanently useless. The lock hardware itself stays in place, which keeps costs reasonable and preserves the finish and hardware that is already installed. Rekeying is highly effective for standard door knob locks, deadbolts, and most modern lock sets that are still in good mechanical condition.

Full replacement makes more sense in a few specific scenarios: the lock is visibly damaged, worn, or low-grade hardware the tenant may have tampered with; you want to upgrade to a higher-security option; or the unit has a mortise lock that requires more involved internal service. A mortise lock — the rectangular, multi-component lock body that installs directly into a pocket cut into the door — is common in older Alpharetta rentals, commercial storefronts, and multi-family buildings. Mortise lock service is more technical than a simple deadbolt rekey, and it calls for an experienced commercial locksmith who carries the right parts and understands the internal mechanism. Our team handles mortise lock rekeying and full replacement routinely and can advise you on the spot about which option makes sense for your specific door and frame.

Move quickly but methodically. On the day you regain legal possession, walk every entry point: front door, back door, side gate locks, garage locks, and any interior doors with separate keyed cylinders. Count the number of lock cylinders that need attention — landlords are sometimes surprised to find secondary locks, patio door locks, or storage room locks that were added by the tenant without permission. Photograph each one before the locksmith arrives so you have a pre-service record.

Next, call a locksmith Alpharetta trusts for after-hours and same-day response. Waiting even a day or two after an eviction leaves your unit vulnerable, and it can complicate your insurance position if something happens in that window. When you call (770) 562-7746, our team will ask about the lock types on the unit, the number of cylinders, and your location so we can give you a confirmed, up-front price before any work starts — no surprise charges after the job is done. The factors that shape your quote include the type of hardware involved (a standard door knob lock versus a mortise lock, for example), the number of entry points, the time of day, and travel distance to your property. We are a 24/7 mobile locksmith, so we come to you wherever your rental is located in the Alpharetta area.

Knowing when to call an emergency locksmith versus scheduling routine service can save you money and stress. An emergency call is warranted any time the security of an occupied or soon-to-be-occupied unit is in immediate jeopardy — for instance, if you discover the former tenant returned to the property after the eviction, if a lock is visibly damaged or forced, or if you need to hand keys to a new tenant the same day. Alpharetta Locksmith Key operates around the clock precisely for these situations, and our mobile team can typically reach most Alpharetta locations — from the neighborhoods near Avalon to the communities along Old Milton Parkway — without the long wait times that come with scheduling days out.

A note on what locksmiths can and cannot open: our team carries the tools and training to service the overwhelming majority of residential and commercial locks, including high-security cylinders, mortise lock systems, and multi-point locking doors. There are a small number of specialized, ultra-high-security locks designed by manufacturers to be highly resistant to any form of service without original credentials or codes — in those rare cases, we will tell you honestly before we start, explain your options, and never attempt a method that could damage your door or hardware. Transparency is part of how we work.

A locksmith call-out fee — sometimes called a service call or dispatch fee — is the base charge for a technician traveling to your location and being ready to work, separate from the labor and parts for the actual job. Not every locksmith structures pricing the same way, so it is worth asking directly before you agree to anything. At Alpharetta Locksmith Key, we confirm the complete price for your specific job before a single tool comes out of the van. The variables that affect your total include the type of lock being serviced (a simple door knob lock rekey versus a full mortise lock replacement), the number of cylinders, whether parts need to be sourced or are on our truck, and the time of day you call. There are no hidden fees added after the work is complete.

Regarding credentials: Georgia does not currently require a state-issued license to work as a locksmith, though this is a topic of ongoing discussion in the industry. What matters practically is that the technician who shows up is trained, experienced, insured, and willing to verify their identity and provide an itemized quote before starting. Our team meets all of those standards. We are insured, and we are happy to answer any questions you have about our experience or approach before we begin. Asking these questions is smart practice for any landlord hiring any service provider — and a qualified locksmith will never hesitate to answer them.

Whether you manage one rental property or a portfolio of units, here is a snapshot of the work our mobile locksmith team handles across the Alpharetta area: residential lock rekeying after tenant turnover, mortise lock service and replacement, deadbolt installation and upgrade, door knob lock replacement, high-security lock installation, master key system setup for multi-unit buildings, smart lock and keypad installation, commercial door lock service, access control consultation, garage door lock service, gate lock and padlock service, lock repair after attempted break-in, stuck or frozen lock service, broken key extraction, key duplication for property managers, mailbox lock replacement, interior door lock installation, patio and sliding door lock service, storage unit lock service, lock-out response for landlords locked out of vacant units, car lockout service for property managers who lock keys in their vehicle on-site, ignition lock service, transponder and key fob programming, safe lock service, and after-hours emergency locksmith response for any of the above. Every service comes with a confirmed price before work starts — no exceptions.