What lock change services are
A lock change is how you take control of keys after vacancy, surrender, or a setout. It is not how you end a tenancy.
Key facts
- Lifecycle stage: Inspections / securing.
- EvictIQ field operations: Georgia (metro Atlanta). We do not operate field crews in every state.
- Exact claims only: 10,000+ completed evictions; 72-hour service of tenant after filing on average (Georgia service).
- Not a law firm. Not legal advice. No date guarantees. No price list on this page.
What this service is
Owners search “lock change” after a break-in, a fired manager, or a setout. The legal question is the same every time: do you already have the right to exclude everyone who had a key? If not, you need the court process.
This page covers the lawful job. Post-eviction lock changes are the after-writ subset. Locksmith coordination is the setout-window subset. EvictIQ is not a lockout service.
When this step is needed
You need a lock change when you already have the right to exclude everyone who had a key — after a writ, a documented surrender, or a vacant REO order.
You do not need one because the lease says you can lock out after five days of non-payment. That clause does not beat the statute.
How the process usually works
- Write down the lawful basis for excluding prior keyholders.
- Rekey or replace as scoped, including secondary entries.
- Document key control to the owner.
- Do not start if anyone still has legal possession.
- If this is a setout, time the locksmith to the officer.
Courts and executing offices set their own calendars. These are operational steps, not a guaranteed timeline.
What this step usually covers
- Confirmation of lawful vacancy or post-writ possession
- Rekey or replace as scoped
- Secondary doors and garage entries
- Key control documented to the owner
These are the jobs the step exists to do. They are not a nationwide menu EvictIQ staffs in every county.
What you must verify locally
- Who is still entitled to a key (roommate, occupant, HOA)
- Master-key or community rules
- Whether an officer must be present after a writ
We do not publish a stale per-state timetable. Statutes change.
What this does not include
- Legal advice, courtroom representation, or an attorney-client relationship
- A guaranteed hearing date, writ date, or setout date — courts and executing offices set their own calendars
- Self-help lockouts, utility shutoffs, or removal of belongings outside a court-issued writ
- A published price. Scope and price are written after intake, before work starts
Georgia we can handle. Elsewhere we route.
If the property is in Georgia, EvictIQ can take this step end to end. If it isn't, we'll tell you what to look for in a local attorney or service — we do not operate field crews in every state.
Related services
All eviction services — the full catalog, grouped by category on the hub.
Post-Eviction Lock Changes
New locks after possession is restored — same day as the setout whenever the window allows.
Locksmith Coordination
The unit is not recovered until it is secured — same day, same window as the crew.
Board-Up Services
Securing openings after break-in, fire, or vacancy — only when it is lawful to enter and close the building.
Related guides
Common questions
The lease says I can lock out after five days of non-payment. Can I?
Lease language does not override the statute. Self-help lockouts are illegal in U.S. residential practice. File the case.
Do you change locks nationwide?
No. Georgia we can discuss. Other states: a local locksmith after you confirm you have the right to exclude.
Need help with this step?
Tell us where the property is and where the case stands. Georgia we handle; elsewhere we route.
- A coordinator reviews it, usually the same business day
- You get a written scope and price before anything is filed
- Georgia hire on local-eviction.com
We'll tell you so rather than take the lead. What to look for locally: a provider who knows which office executes writs in your county, who gives you cycle-time variance rather than an average, and who refuses to guarantee a completion date.
Working a real case?
Georgia we handle end to end. Anywhere else, we'll tell you what to look for in a local provider.