Lock Rekeying in Lansing, MI

When a Lansing house gets rekeyed

Rekeying changes the pins inside a cylinder so the old keys stop working while the lock stays on the door. It fits three situations: a purchase closes, a tenant moves out, or a key goes missing. A buyer cannot know how many copies earlier owners and contractors kept, so rekeying every exterior cylinder on move-in day is common.

Rental turnover under Lansing's code

Lansing Code Section 1460.44 requires a rental other than an owner-occupied single-family dwelling to be registered with the city within 30 days of being offered for occupancy. Section 1460.49 bars occupancy without a certificate of compliance, and a building with three or more rental units must display it in the front entrance area. The gap between leases is the natural point to rekey, before the new tenant receives keys.

For an occupied unit, state law applies too. Michigan Compiled Laws 600.2918(2)(c) lists changing, altering or adding to locks without immediately giving the person in possession keys as unlawful interference, and a tenant can recover actual damages or a statutory minimum, whichever is greater, for each occurrence. Subsection (3) sets out exceptions, including temporary interference needed for repairs or inspection as provided by law. A landlord who rekeys an occupied unit should hand over new keys at once, and a tenant who wants a rekey should get the landlord's written agreement first. This is general information, not legal advice.

Doors that get missed

• Rear garage service doors. Design Lansing describes ranch and Minimal Traditional homes with rear garages in Pleasant View/Risdale Park and Gier/Paulson Park. The walk-in door on a garage like that can have its own key.
• Shared entries. In a house converted to apartments, one entry cylinder may be keyed to every unit. Rekeying it cuts off every tenant until each has a new key, so coordinate first.

Listing the cylinders

Count the cylinders on each door, say whether you want them all on one key, and how many copies you need. Landlords should note whether the unit is occupied. If a key sticks or a lock is worn, rekeying may not be enough; see lock replacement. The lock rekeying page explains the service, and the Lansing page summarizes the rental rules.