Rekey or Replace? What to Do With Your Locks After Moving in LA

California law does not require landlords or sellers to rekey locks between occupants, which means the responsibility often falls squarely on you. In a dense metro area like Los Angeles — where apartment turnover is high and home sales move quickly — this is more than a formality. A prior tenant's roommate, a neighbor who was given a spare, or even a property management employee could still have a working key to your front door. Taking stock of your locks within the first few days isn't paranoia; it's standard due diligence.

Start by counting your entry points: front door, back door, side gate, garage entry, and any sliding door with a keyed lock. Note the type of lock hardware on each. Older Los Angeles homes — particularly those built in the 1940s through 1970s — frequently feature mortise locks, a more complex and heavy-duty lock mechanism set into the body of the door rather than mounted on the surface. Mortise locks are durable and offer strong security, but they require a skilled hand to rekey or replace correctly. A professional who understands mortise lock work is essential here, because improper handling can damage the door frame or render the lock inoperable.

Rekeying means a locksmith reconfigures the internal pin tumblers of your existing lock so that the old keys no longer work and a new key operates it instead. The lock hardware stays in place — only the internal combination changes. This is a fast, efficient process and is the right choice when your existing lock hardware is in good working condition, is a quality brand like Schlage or Kwikset, and you simply want to eliminate access from previous keyholders. If you have multiple locks that use the same key — or want them to — a locksmith can also rekey them to a single master key during the same visit, which is a genuinely useful upgrade for homeowners with several entry points.

Full lock replacement means removing the existing hardware entirely and installing a new lock. This makes the most sense when your current locks are worn, outdated, a poor grade for your security needs, or when you want to upgrade to a different lock type altogether — such as switching from a standard door knob lock to a deadbolt, or upgrading an aging door knob lock to a high-security mortise lock. Mortise lock replacement in particular is a job that benefits from an experienced commercial locksmith or residential locksmith who has worked on older door frames common throughout the San Fernando Valley and central LA neighborhoods, since the pocket cut into the door must align precisely with the new hardware.

The decision usually comes down to four questions. First, are the locks functioning smoothly — no sticking, grinding, or key that requires jiggling? If yes, rekeying is likely sufficient. Second, what grade is the hardware? Locks are graded 1 through 3, with Grade 1 being the strongest. If your locks are Grade 3 door knob lock hardware — commonly found on older rentals — replacement with a Grade 1 deadbolt or mortise lock is worth the investment. Third, do you have a specific security concern, like a contentious prior tenant situation or a neighborhood with higher property crime? The LAPD's crime mapping data shows that residential burglaries in areas like North Hollywood and Mid-City spike during certain seasons, and upgrading to a mortise lock on your primary entry is a tangible deterrent. Fourth, do you want smart lock or keypad functionality? That always requires replacement, not rekeying.

If you are still unsure after working through those questions, a qualified locksmith can assess your existing hardware on the spot and give you a clear recommendation with no obligation. That kind of eyes-on evaluation takes about fifteen minutes and removes all the guesswork. Ventura Blvd Locksmith offers exactly this type of on-site consultation as part of any service call. Reach us at 818-381-0663 — we answer every call, day or night.

One of the most common questions we hear is: how much does a locksmith cost in Los Angeles, or how much is the average locksmith charge? The honest answer is that there is no single flat number that applies to every situation, and any company that quotes you a firm price without knowing your specific lock type, door configuration, and location is guessing. The factors that determine your final price include the type of lock involved — a standard door knob lock rekey is simpler than a full mortise lock replacement — the time of day, since after-hours and emergency locksmith calls involve different logistics, the travel distance to your location within the LA area, and whether any parts need to be ordered or are available on our fully stocked mobile unit. How much does an emergency locksmith cost near me? The same factors apply, with time of day and urgency influencing the final figure. What we commit to, always, is confirming an exact price with you before any work begins. No surprise charges after the job is done.

A note on questions we hear often: can I call a locksmith if I'm locked out of my house? Absolutely — that is one of the most fundamental services a locksmith provides, and it is completely legitimate. If you are locked out of your house and wondering what to do, the right steps are to first check for a spare key with a trusted neighbor or family member, verify whether any secondary entry point is unlocked, and if neither option resolves the situation, call a professional. A trained locksmith will verify your identity and ownership or tenancy before any entry work is performed — this is standard practice and protects you as much as it protects the property. Does AAA do locksmith work? AAA does offer some roadside lockout assistance for vehicles, but residential and commercial locksmith services — including rekeying, mortise lock work, and full lock replacement — are the domain of a dedicated locksmith team. How to get a free locksmith? There is no legitimate free locksmith service for residential work; anyone advertising free service typically adds hidden fees at completion. What you should expect is a transparent, upfront quote from a professional.

Ventura Blvd Locksmith is a fully mobile, 24/7 emergency locksmith serving the greater Los Angeles area — from the beach communities of Santa Monica and Venice to the hillside neighborhoods of Echo Park, from the Valley corridors along Ventura Boulevard to the dense residential blocks of Koreatown and West Adams. Our team arrives in a stocked mobile unit, which means most rekeying and lock replacement jobs — including mortise lock service — are completed in a single visit without back-ordering parts. We work on residential doors, apartment entry systems, commercial storefronts, and everything in between. We are insured, and every technician on our team is trained and experienced across the full range of lock hardware found in Los Angeles's remarkably varied housing stock.

Our locksmith services include: residential rekeying, mortise lock rekeying, mortise lock replacement, door knob lock installation, deadbolt installation and replacement, high-security lock upgrades, smart lock and keypad lock installation, master key system setup, lock grade assessment and recommendations, emergency lockout response for homes, emergency lockout response for apartments, emergency lockout response for offices, emergency lockout response for commercial storefronts, car lockout service, car key replacement, transponder key programming, ignition repair and replacement, broken key extraction from locks, broken key extraction from ignitions, sliding door lock repair, gate lock installation and repair, mailbox lock replacement, storage unit lock service, safe opening and combination changes, door hardware and handle set installation, window lock installation, lock repair for damaged or forced locks, and after-hours commercial locksmith response for business owners. Whether your situation is a planned security upgrade or an unplanned lockout, our team handles it the same way: promptly, professionally, and with a confirmed price before we start.

Even with the best planning, lockouts happen. If you find yourself locked out of your house, the first thing to do is stay calm and avoid the temptation to force a window or door — forced entry almost always causes damage that costs more to repair than a locksmith call. Check whether any other entry point is unlocked: a back door, a garage entry, or a window that is already slightly open. If you live with someone, call them before anything else. If you have a building manager or super, contact them — they may have a master key. If none of those options work, that is exactly when to call a locksmith. What to do when locked out of your house is not a complicated decision: get a professional to handle it safely, without damaging your door or lock hardware.

Prevention is the better strategy, of course. After your rekey or replacement is complete, make one official spare key and store it with a person you fully trust — not under a doormat or in a magnetic box near the door, both of which are well-known hiding spots. If you want keyless convenience, a smart lock or keypad deadbolt eliminates the lost-key problem entirely. And if you find yourself wondering what to do if your locked out of your house in the future, save 818-381-0663 in your phone right now so you have it when you need it. We are available around the clock, including holidays, and we serve all of Los Angeles with our mobile team.