For most people moving into a home, rekeying is enough: if the existing locks are in good working order and you are happy with them, rekeying makes every key the previous owners, tenants, contractors or neighbours may still hold useless. Replacing makes more sense when the locks are worn, damaged or low quality, when you want a different style or a smart lock, or when the locks are a mix of brands that cannot share one key. Either way, the important thing is to do one or the other soon after you get possession.

Not sure which applies to your new place? Call (613) 707-4884.

Why You Should Change Access After Any Move

You rarely know how many copies of a key exist. Sellers, past tenants, cleaners, dog walkers, real estate lockboxes and trades may all have had keys at some point. Rekeying or replacing is the only way to be sure the keys in your hand are the only ones that work. If you want to understand what rekeying physically involves, see what lock rekeying is and how it works.

When Rekeying Is the Better Choice

  • The locks turn smoothly, the deadbolt fully extends, and nothing is loose or sticking.
  • You like the look and finish of the existing hardware.
  • The locks are reasonably solid quality and you have no specific concerns about them.
  • You want all doors on one key and the cylinders are the same brand or keyway.
  • You want the quickest, least disruptive way to cut off old keys.

Rekeying keeps the existing hardware and changes only the internal pins, so it usually involves fewer parts than full replacement.

When Replacing Is the Better Choice

  • The lock is worn or damaged. A key that sticks, a bolt that drags, a loose cylinder or signs of forced entry are reasons to replace rather than reset.
  • The front door has no deadbolt, or only a basic one. A knob lock alone is a weak primary lock. Our comparison of deadbolts and knob locks explains why.
  • You want an upgrade. Moving is a natural time to switch to a sturdier deadbolt, a high-security cylinder or a smart lock with keypad codes you control.
  • The locks are mixed brands. Different keyways cannot be rekeyed to a single key, so matching hardware may need to be installed on some doors.
  • The previous owner had a smart lock. Rekeying the backup cylinder is only part of the job. Codes, user accounts and app access also need to be reset, or the hardware replaced if you cannot take control of it.

A Simple Way to Decide

  1. Walk around and count every exterior keyed lock: front, back, side, garage entry, patio and any shed you care about.
  2. Test each one with its key. Note anything that sticks, wobbles or does not latch cleanly.
  3. Check whether the brands and keyways match if you want one key for everything.
  4. Decide which doors simply need old keys cut off (rekey) and which need better or different hardware (replace).

Many homes end up with a mix: rekey the locks that are in good shape and replace one or two that are worn or below the standard you want.

Do Not Forget the Rest of the House

Garage door openers, keypad codes, alarm codes and any smart home accounts should be reset at the same time. Our new home security checklist covers those steps in order.

Renting Instead of Buying?

If you are a tenant, the decision is not yours alone. The Province of Ontario's guide to the standard lease states that a tenant cannot change the locks of the rental unit without the landlord's consent, so ask your landlord first. Our article on lock rules for Ontario landlords and tenants explains the rules in more detail.

Next Step

Once you know which doors need what, our lock rekeying service page has the details, or call (613) 707-4884 to go over your locks.