New homeowners & rekeying

Rekeying after a roommate, an ex or a contractor moves on

A roommate moves out, a relationship ends, a contractor finishes the job and you realise they still have a key. You do not need a reason to want that key to stop working.

By Timmy Creighton, founder and licensed locksmith · Major Key Locksmith · October 2026

No explanation required

We get this call often and we never ask why. Sometimes it is a friendly move and you just want a clean slate. Sometimes it is not friendly at all. Either way the job is the same: the old keys stop working, you get new ones, and nobody else needs to know it happened.

If you are worried about your safety, call 911 first. A lock is the second step, never the first.

What to change

• Every exterior lock they had a key to, including the door from the garage and any side or basement door.
• Codes. Keypad codes, the garage keypad, alarm codes.
• App access. Delete their user from any smart lock, garage or camera app, and check for shared accounts they could still log in to.
• Garage remotes they may still have in a car.
• The spare under the mat or with a neighbor, if they knew where it was.

How long it takes

Rekeying is quick work, usually a few minutes per lock once we are there. A typical house is done in a single short visit. The price is the $250 mobile service charge once, plus $55 per cylinder when you have a working key.

If you rent

Check your lease before changing anything. Many leases require the landlord to keep a working key, and changing locks without telling them can cause problems you do not need. The simple route is to ask your landlord to authorize the rekey and give them a new key. Most will say yes quickly when you explain why.

Make the next time easier

If people come and go in your home, a keypad or smart lock on the main door means you give out codes, not keys, and you delete a code instead of rekeying a house.

Questions people ask

Can I rekey an apartment I rent?

Usually only with your landlord’s permission, and you should give them a new key. Check your lease first. A landlord who knows why will usually agree.

Will the person know the locks were changed?

Only when their key stops working. The locks look exactly the same after a rekey.

Is rekeying enough, or should I replace the locks?

If the locks work well, rekeying is enough. The old key is useless either way. Replace only if you also want an upgrade, or if a lock is worn or was damaged.

Keep reading

Any price mentioned here is the one published on our pricing page as of October 2026. The final price is always confirmed with you before any work begins. More answers from the blog →