What does it mean to rekey locks, and when is it the right move?
Rekeying changes the inside of a lock so a different key operates it. The knob, deadbolt or handle stays on your door. Inside each cylinder sits a column of small pins at set heights, and the key lifts them into a line so the cylinder can turn. When we rekey, we take the cylinder apart, swap the pins to match a newly cut key, and put it back together. The old key still slides in, but it no longer turns anything.
That is the whole point. Anyone who holds an old key, whether it is a previous owner, a former tenant, a contractor or whoever found a set of keys on the sidewalk, stops being able to open your door. You keep the hardware you already have and change only who can use it.
A rekey makes the most sense when the locks themselves are in decent shape and the real problem is who has keys. Typical reasons our Reseda customers call:
- You just moved in and want to rekey locks after moving, so the previous household's keys are dead.
- You closed on a house and want to rekey locks after buying a house instead of trusting that you have every copy.
- A tenant moved out and you need a tenant turnover rekey before the next person gets keys.
- You lost your keys, or a set was stolen, and you want to rekey locks after losing keys rather than live with the question.
- You are tired of carrying four different keys and want to rekey all house locks to work with one.
Why rekey instead of assuming the old keys are all accounted for?
Nobody can prove how many copies of a key exist. A seller hands you two keys and says that is all of them. A landlord collects a key from a departing tenant who may have cut a spare years ago. A family member borrowed a key for a weekend and made a copy at the hardware store. None of these people are doing anything sinister, but you cannot confirm any of it, and a key does not expire on its own.
Rekeying removes the uncertainty. Once the cylinders are pinned to a new key, the old key population, however large, is irrelevant. For most households it is a quiet, inexpensive-by-comparison step that closes a gap you would otherwise carry for years.
Lost keys are a slightly different case. If you simply misplaced a key inside your own home, you may find it. If it went missing from a bag, a car, or somewhere that could be tied to your address, rekeying is the sensible response. We will tell you honestly when we think the risk is low enough to wait, and when it is not.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
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Call (213) 577-1366How does a lock rekey work, step by step?
Most rekeys are done at your door in a single visit when the locks are in good condition. Here is how we run one from the first call.
- You call (213) 577-1366, day or night. Tell us how many locks are involved, what kind they are (knob, deadbolt, lever, screen door lock, padlock on a gate) and why you want the rekey. We say plainly whether a rekey fits or whether something else makes more sense.
- Our mobile van comes to your address. For a Reseda call, that van leaves from our Westwood base at 10740 Wilshire Blvd, so you are dealing with our company directly, not a dispatch service passing the job along.
- We inspect each lock before taking anything apart. A cylinder that is worn, damaged or poorly matched to the door is better replaced, and we say so before work starts.
- We remove each cylinder, clear out the old pin arrangement, and fit pins that match the new key.
- We cut the new keys and test every lock several times, confirming that the new key works smoothly and that the old key does not turn it.
- If you want all your locks on one key, we pin them to the same pattern. If you want certain doors separate, such as a shed, a detached garage or a rental unit, we keep those on their own key.
- We hand over the keys, explain how many extras you may want, and point out any door or latch issue we noticed while we were there.
How much does lock rekeying cost in Reseda?
We do not publish a flat number, because rekeying is not one flat job. What you pay depends on a handful of things, and you can usually estimate where you land by looking at them yourself.
Rekeying is generally the more economical route compared with buying and installing new hardware, as long as the existing locks are in good shape. Replacement means paying for the new locks as well as the labor. A rekey reuses what is already on your door.
- Number of cylinders. A single front door is a smaller job than a house with front, back, side, garage entry and a security screen door.
- Lock type and brand. Standard residential cylinders are the most straightforward. Some specialty or high-security cylinders take more work, and a few require parts or key blanks we confirm first.
- Keyed-alike versus separate. Putting every lock on one key is common and simple, but it is still extra attention per cylinder.
- Condition of the hardware. A stiff, worn or corroded cylinder may need cleaning or replacement, which changes the scope.
- Number of keys cut. More keys means more cutting.
- Time of day. A call in the middle of the night is different from a weekday-morning appointment, even though we answer 24/7.
- Residential or commercial. A business with several doors, or a master key arrangement, is scoped differently from a single-family house.
- Location. Reseda is some distance from our Westwood storefront, about 17 miles, and that is part of how we plan the trip.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366When is a rekey not the right answer?
A good locksmith talks you out of a rekey when it will not solve your problem. A few situations where we will steer you elsewhere:
If the lock is damaged, loose, badly worn or simply cheap and failing, putting new pins in it prolongs a weak part. In that case lock replacement is the honest recommendation. If you want different hardware altogether, for example a new finish or a stronger deadbolt, a change locks visit covers that and includes new keys by default.
If the key is hard to turn because the door has shifted and the latch no longer lines up with the strike plate, rekeying will not fix it. That is an adjustment or lock repair job, and we will tell you so rather than rekey a lock that was never the problem.
If your only issue is that you need more copies of a key that works fine, you do not need a rekey at all. Key duplication is the right service, though it does nothing to limit who else already has a copy.
Rekeying in Reseda: tract homes, Sherman Way apartments and everything between
Reseda was one of the Valley's first mass-built postwar suburbs, and most of its housing stock is 1940s and 1950s single-story stucco tract homes on uniform lots. That matters for rekeying in a few ways. A house in Reseda Ranch or on a street near Reseda Park may have changed hands several times since it was built. Rekeying postwar tract homes at sale or tenant turnover is one of the most common reasons people in 91335 call us, and it makes sense: a house that old has had many owners and many sets of keys over the decades.
Hardware on these homes is rarely uniform. Many buildings in the area predate the 1994 Northridge earthquake and have had repairs and hardware replacement since. So a front door may have a newer deadbolt, a back door an older knob set from another decade, and a side gate lock that was swapped by a different owner. That mix is exactly where rekeying all the house locks to one key saves daily hassle. We inspect each one first, because some will rekey cleanly and others may be worth replacing.
Older single-family homes in the area also often have security screen doors with their own locks, and these are easy to forget. If you are rekeying after a purchase, ask us to include the screen door lock so it is not the one entry still opened by a stranger's key.
Apartments are the other half of Reseda. Older buildings line the Sherman Way, Vanowen and Saticoy corridors, with shared entries and security screen doors that have seen decades of use. An apartment lock rekey between tenants is routine there. If you are locked out of one instead, that is a different call, and our apartment lockout page covers it, though we mention it here only because the two situations often get confused.
Climate plays a small part. The central Valley floor has hot, dry summers and cool winter nights, and that swing works on wood doors and frames season to season. In aging postwar homes, the usual results are modest: sticking latches and strike misalignment. When we rekey a door in Downtown Reseda near Sherman Way and Reseda Boulevard, or along the Victory Boulevard, Saticoy Street or Tampa Avenue corridors, we test how the latch meets the strike and tell you if the door, not the lock, is why the key feels stiff.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Tenant turnover rekey: a practical routine for landlords
If you own or manage rental units in Reseda, rekeying between tenants is a standard housekeeping step for a simple reason: a returned key does not prove there are no copies. Rekeying the unit before the next move-in means the new tenant is the only one holding working keys, apart from the keys you intend to hold.
For a single-family rental, we rekey the front, back, any garage entry and the security screen door. For an apartment, we rekey the unit's entry lock and any additional deadbolt, and we can keep the unit separate from the building's shared entries. We can pin units to a pattern that makes sense for your management, whether that is a keyed-alike set for one owner's properties or individual keys per door.
Because a turnover often has a tight window, you can book a rekey around your cleaning and painting schedule, and we answer around the clock if a key goes missing at an awkward moment. For ongoing portfolio needs, our locksmith for landlords page goes into how we handle repeat work.
One caution: check your lease and local rental rules for anything specific to your situation. We rekey the locks; we do not give legal advice about tenancy.
Commercial and business lock rekey in Reseda
Businesses have the same key problem as homes, only with more people involved. An employee leaves, a manager's keys are unaccounted for, you take over a space from a previous tenant, or a shop key goes missing. A commercial lock rekey changes who can open the door without ripping out the hardware.
Reseda has a real mix of small businesses, from the Downtown Reseda district around Sherman Way and Reseda Boulevard to the storefronts along the Reseda Boulevard commercial strip. Many of those doors have commercial-grade cylinders that are worth keeping, which makes rekeying the natural fit. We look at each door, tell you which locks rekey well, and flag any that are failing or that really need hardware attention.
If you have several doors and several staff roles, a business lock rekey can be organized as a master key system, where different keys open different sets of doors and one key opens all of them. We explain how that works on our master key system page. If a storefront door itself is misbehaving, not just its keys, see storefront lock repair. For the wider picture of what we do for businesses, start with commercial locksmith services.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for a rekey in Reseda?
We have been in business since 1987, and rekeying is among the oldest, most steady parts of the trade. It is not glamorous work, but it rewards care: the pins have to be right, the key has to cut true, and every lock has to be tested before we leave.
We are one company. We run a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood and mobile service vans, and the person who answers your call (24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at (213) 577-1366) works for us. There is no dispatch middleman reselling your job to whoever is closest. David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work.
California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license. Whoever you hire, ask for their license number and check it with the state before they start work. It is a reasonable question and a good locksmith will not mind answering it.
We serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, and Reseda is one of them. If you are weighing options, the best thing we can offer is a clear explanation: what we would do, why, and what affects the cost, before you agree to anything.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between rekeying and changing locks?
Rekeying keeps your existing lock hardware and changes the internal pins so a new key works and the old key does not. Changing locks means removing the hardware and installing new locks. Rekeying is usually the more economical route when the hardware is sound. Replacement makes more sense if the locks are worn, damaged, or you want a different style or security level.
Should I rekey after buying a house in Reseda?
We recommend it. You cannot know how many copies of the old keys exist, and Reseda's postwar tract homes have often had several owners. Rekeying locks after buying a house means only the keys you hold will work. Ask us to include the back door, any garage entry and the security screen door lock so nothing is missed.
Can you rekey all my house locks to one key?
Yes, in most cases. We pin every compatible cylinder to the same key pattern so one key opens the front, back, side and other doors. Some older or mismatched locks may not rekey cleanly, and we will tell you which ones need replacing. We can also keep specific doors, like a shed or rental unit, on separate keys.
Do you handle apartment lock rekey and tenant turnover in Reseda?
Yes. Apartment lock rekey between tenants is routine, whether it is a single unit or several along Sherman Way, Vanowen or Saticoy. We rekey the unit's locks, keep them separate from shared building entries if you prefer, and can work around your move-out and move-in schedule.
Can you rekey a lock if I do not have a working key?
Often, yes. If the cylinder can be removed and opened without a key, we can pin it to a new one. We will ask you to show that you are entitled to have the work done, such as proof of ownership, a lease or your role at the business. If the lock is damaged, we may recommend replacement instead.
How long does a rekey take?
Most residential rekeys are done in a single visit at your door. The time depends on how many locks there are, their condition, and how many keys you want cut. A single door is quick, and a whole house or several apartment units takes longer. We can give you a sense of it on the phone once you tell us the count.
Can you rekey commercial locks and business doors in Reseda?
Yes. A commercial lock rekey is common after an employee leaves, a space changes hands, or keys go missing. We can rekey storefront doors and back entries, and we can set up a master key arrangement if you need different people to have different access. Specialty or high-security cylinders are confirmed in person before we promise anything on them.
Will rekeying work on my deadbolt, knob and security screen door lock?
Standard keyed deadbolts, knobs and many screen door locks can be rekeyed. Electronic and smart locks vary: the keyed cylinder may be rekeyable, but the electronic parts are separate. We check what you have, confirm if a rekey is possible, and tell you if a different approach would be better.
Do you come out at night or on weekends for a rekey?
Yes. We answer the phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round, at (213) 577-1366. If a key was stolen or lost late at night and you want the locks changed right away, call and we will tell you what we can do. Time of day can affect cost, and we explain how before we begin.
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Lock Rekey near Reseda
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.