TL;DR
Report it the same day, then rekey the lock or rotate the code without waiting for the key to turn up. Rekeying a residential lock generally runs $15 to $40 per cylinder in parts, plus a locksmith call of roughly $50 to $150, which is small against an access question you cannot otherwise close.
Step 1: Report It the Same Day
Tell the company as soon as you know, and ask them to check vehicles, bags, and the previous property on the route. A high proportion of missing keys are found within a day, most often in a vehicle or mixed in with another household's set.
Same-day matters for two reasons. It gives the search the best chance, and it starts a documented timeline, which matters if the situation turns out to be more than a mislaid key.
Ask for a written response confirming what was searched and when. That is not adversarial. It is the record both sides will want if the key never appears.
Step 2: Decide Whether to Rekey or Rotate
If a physical key is missing, rekey rather than wait. A key that cannot be accounted for is an open question, and no amount of confidence in the people involved closes it, because a key can be copied without anyone knowing.
If a code is the concern, change it immediately and check the access log for entries outside the schedule. Codes are the easy case: rotation takes a minute and costs nothing, which is one of the strongest practical arguments in lockbox compared with a smart lock.
Rekeying is cheaper than most people assume. Many locks can be rekeyed rather than replaced, keeping the existing hardware and changing only the pins, and some consumer deadbolts are rekeyable at home with a manufacturer kit. Parts commonly run $15 to $40 per cylinder, with a locksmith visit adding roughly $50 to $150 depending on the number of locks and the time of day.
Source: locksmith industry service and pricing surveys
What Should You Rekey, Exactly?
Rekey every exterior lock the missing key opened, and any lock keyed alike to it. Then handle the non-key credentials in the same pass: change the alarm code, the garage keypad code, and any building fob registration if the missing item could be linked to your address.
The address link is the part that decides urgency. A bare key with no tag and no address is a much smaller exposure than a key on a ring with a fob, a loyalty card, or an address label. If anything identifying was attached, treat it as urgent.
While you are there, take the opportunity to remove keys that should not exist. Most households have accumulated copies over the years that nobody can account for anyway.
Step 3: Write Down What Happened
Create a short written record: the date the key or code was issued, the date it went missing, when you reported it, what the company said, what you changed, and when. Half a page is enough.
Keep it with your service agreement. If a claim, an insurance question, or a dispute follows, a contemporaneous note is worth far more than a reconstruction weeks later.
Note also who currently holds what. A key inventory is the single most useful document in this whole area, and it is the thing that makes the closing sequence in returning keys and codes when service ends fast rather than uncertain.
Who Pays for a Rekey?
There is no universal answer, and it depends on the agreement and the circumstances. Some cleaning companies cover rekeying when a key issued to them cannot be accounted for. Some do not, and some address it through their insurance rather than directly.
Ask what the policy is, calmly and early. Ask whether the company will cover it, whether it wants to involve its insurer, and what documentation it needs. Then rekey regardless of the answer, because your security should not wait on a billing conversation.
If the company disputes responsibility, keep your record, keep the receipts, and escalate through the company's own process rather than arguing on the day. Insurance and liability questions are for the company's carrier and your own, not for a crew member at a door.
Preventing the Next One
Prevention is mostly structural. Move away from physical keys where the door allows it, use a dedicated revocable code, and give it an expiry so stale access removes itself. That setup is described in how to set up a guest door code.
Where a key must exist, tag it with nothing. No address, no name, no unit number, and no second key on the ring. A found key with no context is a piece of metal rather than a way into a home.
Keep an inventory and review it twice a year. Households that know exactly how many keys exist and who holds each one almost never have this problem, and those that do resolve it in an afternoon.
Finally, ask about handling policy when you first book. A company that can describe how it stores, labels, and tracks keys has thought about it, which sits alongside background-checked crews as a signal worth weighing when hiring a cleaning service. Households arranging recurring house cleaning services should settle the key or code question before the first visit rather than after an incident.
FAQ
What should I do if my cleaner lost my house key?
Report it the same day and ask the company to search vehicles, bags, and the previous property on the route, then rekey the affected locks without waiting for the key to appear. Write down the timeline, and ask the company what its policy is on covering the rekey.
How much does it cost to rekey a lock?
Parts commonly run $15 to $40 per cylinder, with a locksmith visit adding roughly $50 to $150 depending on the number of locks and the time of day. Some consumer deadbolts can be rekeyed at home with a manufacturer kit for less.
Should I rekey if the key might turn up?
Yes. A key that cannot be accounted for is an open question, because a key can be copied without anyone knowing, and finding it later does not close that question. Rekeying is inexpensive relative to the uncertainty it removes.
What do I do if a door code has been shared?
Change it immediately, then check the access log for entries outside the expected schedule. Also change any other system using the same digits, including the alarm panel and garage keypad, since reusing one number across systems turns one exposure into three.
Who pays for rekeying after a lost key?
It depends on the agreement and the circumstances, and practice varies. Some companies cover it, some route it through their insurance, and some do not. Ask early and calmly, but rekey regardless, because security should not wait on a billing conversation.
How do I stop this happening again?
Move to a revocable door code with an expiry where the door allows it, keep a written inventory of every key and code and who holds it, review that inventory twice a year, and never tag a key with an address, a name, or a unit number.
Rekey first and settle the billing afterward. Every home is different, so the real number depends on size, condition, and what you want covered. Get a quote and we will walk you through it.