Most landlords consider it routine to re-key the locks before renting an apartment to a new tenant. However, this isn't always the case. Maybe the landlord insists that all the keys to the apartment were turned in... but how can you be sure? I heard a humorous story about a man (we'll call him Bob) who lived in a complex which didn't re-key the locks. Bob had lived in the same apartment for several years, and while he was there, he made a copy of the key for his friend (we'll call him Joe). Bo.