Why rekey your locks instead of replacing them?
Most people who call us about a rekey are not worried about the lock itself. The lock works fine. What worries them is the keys: a set they never collected from the previous owner, a copy a former tenant never returned, a ring that disappeared from a car seat. The question is simple. Who else can open this door?
A lock rekey answers that question without tearing out good hardware. We change the inside of the lock so the old keys no longer turn it, and you get new keys that do. The deadbolt, the knob, the handle set, and the finish on your door all stay exactly as they are. For a lot of Mission Hills homes, where the original hardware has held up for decades, that is the sensible route.
Rekeying is not always the right call, and we will say so when it is not. If a lock is worn out, damaged, or a style you do not like, replacing it makes more sense. But when the hardware is sound and the only problem is who holds a key, rekeying is usually the more economical way to get your security back under your control.
What does lock rekeying actually do?
A standard house lock is a pin tumbler cylinder. Inside are small spring-loaded pins of different lengths. Your key lifts each pin to exactly the right height so the cylinder can rotate. Rekeying means taking the cylinder apart, replacing the pins with a new combination, and cutting a key to match it. Once that is done, the old key lifts the pins to the wrong heights and will not turn the lock.
A few things worth knowing before we start:
- Rekeying changes the key, not the lock body. Your hardware stays on the door.
- Every old copy of the previous key becomes useless, including ones you never knew existed.
- We can rekey every lock on a property to one key, so you carry a single key for the front door, back door, and side gate lock.
- Some locks cannot be rekeyed well, such as badly worn cylinders, certain bargain-grade hardware, or locks with broken parts. We will tell you plainly if a lock should be replaced instead.
- Rekeying does not make a weak lock stronger. If you want better protection, that is a separate conversation about high-quality lock replacement.
How we rekey door locks, step by step
Our rekey service is straightforward, and you can watch the whole thing. Here is how a typical visit goes at a house or apartment in Mission Hills.
- You call (213) 577-1366 and tell us how many locks you have and what happened: a sale, a move-out, a lost key, or just a bad feeling about who has copies.
- We come to you in a mobile van carrying the pins, tools, and key-cutting equipment for common residential brands, so the work happens at your door.
- We look at each lock first. We check that the cylinder turns cleanly, the deadbolt throws fully, and the strike plate lines up. A lock that is failing is better caught now than after we have rekeyed it.
- We remove each cylinder, replace the pin combination, and reassemble it. Locks on the same property can be set to the same new key so you are not juggling a handful.
- We cut the new keys and test them in every lock, several times each, along with the deadbolt action and the latch.
- We check that the old key no longer works. This is the step that proves the job did what you were paying for.
- We hand you the keys and explain anything we found, such as a loose strike or a worn lock you may want to deal with later. If you want spare copies, we can handle key duplication on the spot.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Rekey locks after moving, buying a house, or losing keys
Different situations lead to the same call, and each has its own logic.
Rekeying after buying a house is the one we do most. When a home changes hands, you do not know how many keys exist. The seller had copies, so did their family, a cleaner, a contractor, maybe a neighbor. Rekeying the day you get the keys resets all of that. It is a small step compared with the cost of the house, and it is the first thing we suggest to new owners.
Rekeying after moving into a rental or an apartment works the same way, although you will want to check with your landlord or property manager about what the lease allows before changing anything.
Rekeying after losing keys is a judgment call. If your keys fell out of your pocket at a grocery store and nothing in your life connects them to your address, you may feel fine. If they were in a bag with your ID, or you simply cannot tell where they went, rekeying is the cautious answer. Keys do not come with a name tag, but a wallet often does.
Rekeying after a breakup, a falling out with a roommate, or a worker finishing a long project is another common reason. You do not need to prove anything to us. If you want old keys to stop working, we can make that happen.
If you are locked out right now rather than planning ahead, that is a different job. Our mobile locksmith service can get you inside first, and we can rekey while we are there.
Apartment lock rekey and tenant turnover rekey
When a tenant moves out, the keys they were given do not always come back. Even when they do, a copy could exist. A tenant turnover rekey solves that. The unit gets new keys, the next resident starts clean, and the owner has a clear record of who holds access.
For owners with several units, rekeying between tenants is a routine task, not an emergency. We can work from a list of doors, rekey them in one visit, and set up the keys the way you want them: each unit on its own key, or a controlled arrangement where a manager key also opens certain doors. If you want that kind of structure across a building, a master key system is built for it, and it is worth planning before we start rekeying so the work is done once.
Landlords and property managers have their own concerns about timing, records, and tenant rights. We cover those in more detail on our locksmith for landlords page. For this page, the main point is that rekeying between tenants costs far less than the trouble that follows an old key turning up in the wrong hands.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Commercial rekey and business lock rekey
Businesses rekey for reasons that look a lot like homes, with more people involved. An employee leaves and had a key. A manager changes. A shop changes hands. Over a few years, nobody can say with confidence how many copies of the back-door key are floating around.
A commercial lock rekey resets that. We rekey the storefront door, the back door, the office, and the storeroom, and we can set up keys so different staff open different doors. Many business locks are heavier-duty than residential ones, and some use keyways that are restricted, which means copies cannot be cut at just any hardware counter. We look at what you have before promising anything, because a few commercial lock types are rekeyed in a different way or may need replacing.
If your door problems go beyond keys, such as a door closer that slams, a panic bar that sticks, or a latch that no longer catches, rekeying will not fix them. Those fall under our commercial locksmith work, and we can assess them during the same visit.
What affects the cost of a lock rekey in Mission Hills?
We do not put numbers on a web page because the real answer depends on your doors. Here is what moves the cost, so you can understand any quote you get from us or anyone else.
The biggest factor is the number of locks. Each cylinder has to be opened, repinned, and tested, so a full house costs more than a single front-door deadbolt. Rekeying all the house locks to one key saves you carrying extras, and we will explain how that is priced in your case.
Lock brand and condition matter next. Common residential hardware is quick to work on. Older or unusual locks may take longer, and a worn cylinder may be better replaced than rekeyed, which changes the job. Commercial and restricted-keyway locks carry their own requirements.
The number of keys you want cut also counts, since each additional copy is a small add-on.
Finally, timing and location play a part. A scheduled rekey in daytime hours is simpler to plan than an urgent call in the middle of the night, and we travel to you from our Westwood storefront, which is about 17 miles from Mission Hills. When you call (213) 577-1366, we will tell you what applies to your situation before the work begins. Rekeying is often the lighter-cost option compared with swapping out every lock, but a lock that is failing may change that.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Rekeying homes and apartments around Mission Hills, 91345
Mission Hills is mostly 1950s single-family ranch tracts on modest lots, and original postwar door hardware is still common in homes that have not been remodeled. That shapes our rekey work here. Those older locks are often sturdy and rekeyable, but a few have seen decades of daily use, so we check each cylinder before deciding. When a home in 91345 sells, rekeying the front and back doors, and any side-gate or garage entry lock, is a natural step for the new owners. That is one of the most common rekey jobs in this part of the north valley.
Apartments are concentrated near the Sepulveda Boulevard corridor, and that is where tenant turnover rekeys come up. A resident moves out, the property needs fresh keys, and the next resident is moving in soon. If someone is locked out of a unit, our apartment lockout page covers that case. There is also some newer townhome development near Rinaldi, where we may be dealing with different hardware than the ranch tracts.
Weather plays a small role. Mission Hills runs hotter in summer than the basin and gets periodic Santa Ana wind exposure near the 118 corridor, which dries out door seals and weatherstripping. That does not change how a rekey works, but a lock that sticks may be a door-fit or seal problem, and we will check for that while we are at the door.
We also see rekey and hardware requests from the Devonshire Street corridor and from businesses near Providence Holy Cross Medical Center. Whether you live near the mission district around San Fernando Mission, close to Brand Park, or near the I-405/SR-118 interchange, we come to you.
Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for a rekey?
We have been in business since 1987, and rekeying is a foundation of that work. We are a real storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood with mobile vans, and we serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. When you call, you reach us, not a call center that sells your job to whoever is nearest. There are no dispatch middlemen between you and the person who shows up.
David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work. That matters on a rekey because the details are small and easy to skip: testing the old key, checking the deadbolt throw, noticing a worn cylinder.
One thing to ask every locksmith, including us: California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license. Ask to see it before work begins. A reputable company will not mind the question.
We answer the phone at (213) 577-1366 any time, day or night, every day of the year. If you need a faster fix than a rekey, our emergency locksmith page explains how that works. If you want to plan a rekey, call and tell us what you have.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between rekeying and changing locks?
Rekeying keeps your existing lock and changes the internal pins so a new key works and the old one does not. Changing locks means removing the hardware and installing new. If your locks are in good shape, rekeying is usually the more economical route. If you want a different style or stronger hardware, changing the locks is the better fit.
Should I rekey the locks after buying a house in Mission Hills?
Yes, we recommend it. You cannot know how many copies of the old keys exist, who has them, or whether a previous contractor kept one. Rekeying right after closing resets that. Many of the homes here are 1950s ranches with older hardware, so we also check each lock while we are there.
Can you rekey all my house locks to one key?
In most cases, yes. We can set the front door, back door, and other keyed locks to the same key if the brands and keyways allow it. A few locks are not compatible, and we will tell you which ones before we start. A single key is convenient, but it also means one lost key opens every door it fits.
Do I need to rekey between tenants?
It is a smart habit. Departing tenants may keep keys or have made copies. Rekeying between tenants gives the next resident a clean start and gives the owner a clearer picture of who has access. Check your lease and local rules for your role as landlord or tenant, and ask us if you want to set up a repeatable process.
If I lost my keys, do I need to rekey?
It depends on how they were lost. If they were lost with something that shows your address, or you have no idea where they went, rekeying is the safer move. If they are probably in a coat pocket at home, you may want to look a bit longer first. Either way, you can call us at (213) 577-1366 and talk it through.
Can you rekey commercial locks and business doors?
Yes. We rekey storefront doors, back doors, offices, and storerooms, and we can arrange keys so different employees open different doors. Some commercial locks use restricted keyways or different construction, so we look at them first. Related door issues belong on our commercial locksmith page.
Will the old key work after a rekey?
No, and we test that before we leave. The old key should not turn the lock at all. If it does, the rekey was not done properly. Checking this is the whole point of the job, so you should expect us to show you.
Do you rekey locks near me at night or on weekends?
Yes. We answer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (213) 577-1366 and send a mobile van to Mission Hills. Most rekeys can be planned for daytime and cost less to schedule that way, but if you need it done tonight because keys went missing, call and tell us what is going on.
More locksmith help in Mission Hills
Lock Rekey near Mission Hills
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.