Has anyone used the new type of landlord lock? kwikset Smartkey Deadbolt. What is the function key to start with?

I've used them for several years. Yes, they do fail occasionally and you have to be careful to get the key fully seated in the lock when you rekey or it will set the keyway to the partially inserted key when you turn the knob. But, they are very economical to buy. I will spray a little houdini on it and if it doesn't straighten out then I just chunk it and replace. A new deadbolt is less than $25 at the big box stores. If I averaged it out, I probably get about 5-6 years of service on average from a lock.

I know some have shied away because technically a tenant could change the key but I can tell you in the 15 years or so of using them I have had zero tenants rekey. I have had them replace the whole lock but never rekey.

I just created a sequential number on a bunch of different keys, I have the key cutter stamp the key number on them when I replenish my stash and keep a log of which key number has been used in which property. It takes less than a minute to rekey them.

I use the landlordlocks on my rental properties, however, my mom had been using the Kwikset Smartkeys on her rental properties.

On the last rental, two of the locks once reset to a new key quit working. I went onto Youtube and found a video on how to take them apart and get them working again. It took a little bit of time, but since I'm retired except for the rentals, I found it fun to try. As a result, both of the locks are working just fine.

Here are 2 links to Youtube videos for getting those Kwikset Smartkey locks working again for anyone interested:

youtube.com/watch?v=advYvGgMzhA

Actually there are 2 versions of the smart key system. The one I use has a single cylinder that you can easily rekey but does not have a master key.

They make a series that has two cylinders of the smartkey type where you can rekey each one separately. Only one is visible, you have to turn the brass cover to reveal the 2nd cylinder used by the landlord. Either cylinder with the right key can open the lock. The concept is to rekey the hidden cylinder all to the same key thus it mimics the concept of a master key. Then use the other cylinder for the tenant's key. I have seen them demonstrated but I have never used them. Also, very few box stores carry them in stock and they are twice the price of the standard single cylinder smartkey lock. If you are picky about the finish, those only come in a couple of colors (brass and brushed nickel I think).

Again, the only real advantage I see of the 2 cylinder version over a standard SFIC core that locksmiths sell is that you can simply buy the lock and rekey it without the expense of a locksmith including the master key cylinder. That would make it easier if your master was stolen and you needed to change the master key. You could accomplish that by visiting each lock and doing the 1 minute rekey procedure on the landlords cylinder.

When Kwickset first produced the first smart key lock, it was made with some plastic parts. With a screw drive and wrench you could defeat the lock. Hard to pick but easy to open.

I should also say there are strategies to deal with no master key that works pretty well.

We have been using Kwikset Key Control Deadbolts for 6 plus years with very few failures. Love this lock.

MikeA mentions this type of lock. We purchase for $40-$50 each

They allow a LL to have a Master key for all units. Both cylinders can be rekeyed less than a minute.

The black landlord cylinder is normally hidden and it requires a different key than the standard KW1.

I will try to post link from factory Kwikset info and how to.

Kwikset® 816 Key Control Single Cylinder Door Deadbolt featuring SmartKey® This is the series we use.

This is available to True Value, Ace, Do-it Best and of course big box stores.

Kwikset® 816 Key Control Single Cylinder Door Deadbolt featuring SmartKey® This is the series we use.

This is available to True Value, Ace, Do-it Best and of course big box stores.

Maybe the KwikSet Smartkey locks are better than a few years ago when I dealt with them.

I have had a couple that failed. One was at a business. They called me to say they were locked out. I said just use an adjustable wrench and destroy the lock. All their tools were inside the building.

The other was a failure at a residence.

Because of these two failures I do not trust the locks. I use KwikSet on all my properties but not the smart key.

Interesting about the master key being lost. I have stopped master keying the places because of laziness, but I had not considered someone getting my key and having access to all the units.

We have LL Locks master keys: I keep one on each set of car keys, as does DH. And one extra in the key box for DSs. We never give it to anyone but family - for contractors we would put a different core in there, leave a key for them, then change the core again when job is done to the new tenant core and keys.

I've been using the kwikset ones for quite a few years now. I always was hoping they would get a "master key" system. I had no idea that they did.

When I'm changing out any locks now I'll definitely look for them.

Homedepot sale for $37.02. is this the right one? It single single cylinder, but look like two cylinder.

CJ, It is a 2 cylinder lock. Top cylinder black, bottom cylinder brass or satin.

CJ,

Those locks have been around for years.

Not for me. We LLs have enough trouble staying in control of our properties. Smartlocks take away the LL's control and give the resident control of the locks. LLs cannot enter in an emergency nor when the res leaves.

I spend a few more bucks for commercial quality iCore deadbolts from LandlordLocks.com. 3 seconds to swap out the core and use it on another home.

We use several hundred without a single error.

NEVER install cheap parts that are used frequently in a rental unless you love service calls.

BRAD

Brad2000 please explain what you wrote...Smart Locks take away the LL's control and give the resident control of the locks. LLs cannot enter in an emergency nor when the res leaves.

I believe Brad is referring to the fact that a tenant can rekey the locks very easily.

He either uses special headed bolts or purposely cross threads them in an effort to thwart the swap out of entire locks.

With the smart key system all they need is the original key, a new key and the small tool to reset the pins.

I have one tenant right now that swapped locks on me. She got her key stuck and it wouldn't come out so she had her dad buy a new set of locks and swapped them. She tossed the old locks, which were better than the Defiant junk she bought. She did let me know she did it and gave me a spare key.

We had tenant replaced my landlord lock with different lock. Does Brad mean tenant can disable master key without changing the lock?