Changing Locks After a Georgia Eviction: Rules and Timing

One of the most common questions landlords ask after winning a dispossessory is: when can I change the locks? The answer is specific, and getting it wrong can expose you to serious legal liability.

The Rule: No Lock Changes Until the Writ Is Executed

Under Georgia law, you cannot change the locks on a rental property until the writ of possession has been formally executed by the county marshal or sheriff. This applies even if:

• You have a judgment in your favor
• The writ has been issued
• The tenant has not paid rent in months
• You believe the tenant has already left

Changing the locks before the marshal executes the writ is considered a self-help eviction — an illegal act in Georgia that can expose you to significant liability, including damages to the tenant.

What Is a Self-Help Eviction?

A self-help eviction is any action a landlord takes to remove a tenant or deny them access to the property without going through the legal process. In Georgia, self-help evictions include:

• Changing the locks before the writ is executed
• Removing the tenant's belongings without the marshal present
• Shutting off utilities to force the tenant out
• Physically removing the tenant yourself

Georgia courts take self-help evictions seriously. A tenant who is the victim of a self-help eviction can sue the landlord for damages — potentially including the cost of alternative housing, emotional distress, and attorney's fees.

When You Can Change the Locks

You can legally change the locks immediately after the marshal executes the writ of possession on set-out day. The sequence:

1. Marshal arrives and oversees the set-out
2. Tenant and belongings are removed from the unit
3. Marshal declares the writ executed
4. You change the locks — this is the moment

Have your locksmith on-site and ready to change the locks the moment the marshal declares the writ executed. Do not wait — you want the property secured immediately.

What If the Tenant Has Already Left?

If the tenant vacated voluntarily before the set-out date, you still need to confirm with the marshal's office before changing the locks. In some counties, the marshal will formally execute the writ even if the property is vacant. In others, they may allow you to take possession without a formal set-out if the tenant has clearly vacated.

Contact the marshal's office to confirm their procedure. Do not change the locks based on your assumption that the tenant has left — get confirmation from the court or marshal first.

Lock Change Best Practices

Change all exterior locks — Replace every exterior door lock, including any garage door codes or keypad entry systems.

Document the condition — Before and after changing the locks, photograph and video the condition of the unit. This protects you if the tenant later claims property was damaged or missing.

Keep the old hardware — Some landlords keep the old lock hardware in case of a dispute about when the locks were changed.

Notify your property management system — Update any digital access systems, key fob records, or property management software to reflect the new tenant status.

W.D.S. Handles Same-Day Lock Changes

W.D.S. Eviction Service coordinates lock changes as part of our complete set-out service. Our locksmith is on-site on set-out day and changes the locks immediately after the marshal executes the writ — no waiting, no scheduling a separate vendor.

Call us at (404) 795-5069 to discuss your case.