Is there a way to prevent tenants from copying garage remotes without the Houseowner's approval?

expert EXPERT January 30, 2008

The rolling code technology in the remotes for your garage door opener means they cannot be copied since the signals they use literally "roll" to a new code each time. It is relatively simple to add more remotes to the system, however, which is what people may have been referring to.

To add another remote, your tenant would need to obtain the additional remote then program it into the opener memory. There is a limit to how many remotes can be held in the opener memory at one time. Your particular model will hold a total of 8 transmitters in memory whether they are remotes or keyless entries or a combination of the two.

If your concern is a tenants' ability to keep a remote to use after they are no longer renting your house anymore, then you could simply erase the opener memory once they leave. Once you erase the memory you would have to reprogram your own remotes and any keyless entry but at that point any remote your former tenant had would no longer work with your garage door opener. They could only make their old remote work again if they had the opportunity to enter the garage and re-program it back in.

Basically it would be the equivalent of changing the door locks - you need to recut your own keys but any old keys or duplicates the previous tenant may still have would no longer work.

Your owner's manual and the links below have more information on how to erase the memory and program remotes.