Keys that change hands

Renters are the majority in Norfolk: 56.0 percent of occupied homes are rented in 2024 Census estimates, against 32.9 percent across Virginia. Each lease that ends leaves a key with a former tenant, and each sale leaves one with a former owner, a cleaner or a contractor. Rekeying replaces the pins inside the cylinder so the old keys stop working, while the lock body, trim and door stay in place.

It is the usual step for:

a buyer who cannot tell how many keys the seller gave out
a landlord between tenants
a tenant who lost a key and has the landlord's written approval
a household that wants every door on one key, when the locks share a keyway

What Virginia's landlord and tenant act says

Va. Code § 55.1-1221 lets a local governing body require, by ordinance, that landlords renting five or more units in one multifamily building install deadbolts on exterior swinging entrance doors. It applies only where a locality has adopted such an ordinance.

Under § 55.1-1230, a tenant who holds a family abuse protective order, or an order under § 20-103(B) that grants possession to the exclusion of a co-tenant, may give the landlord a copy and ask the landlord to install a new lock on the exterior doors, or to permit the tenant to do so. The landlord keeps duplicate keys and may not give one to the excluded person. Ex parte orders are not covered. This is general information, not legal advice.

Older cylinders in Norfolk homes

About four in ten Norfolk homes predate 1960, at 42.5 percent in the same Census figures. The older doors among them may be cut for mortise locks, and a mortise cylinder can usually be rekeyed like any other as long as blanks for the keyway are still made. A cracked or seized cylinder is a case for lock replacement.

Details to include

how many exterior doors, and whether each has a deadbolt, a knob or lever lock, or a mortise lock
whether every door should work on one key
the brand stamped on the key or the lock face
for a rental, the landlord's approval

For the service itself, go to lock rekeying; Norfolk has the neighborhood notes.

At the door

What lock rekeying covers

Changing the pins inside your existing locks so old keys stop working, without replacing the hardware.

An inspection of each lock to confirm it can be rekeyed
Re-pinning each cylinder to work with a new key
New keys cut for the rekeyed locks

ID and proof you may access the property are checked before any work.

Lock Rekeying in Virginia

Sources

Public records and references this page draws on. They are outside USA Locksmith Pros and open in a new tab.

Lock Rekeying in Norfolk, VA