The short answer: rekey your home locks whenever you can no longer account for every key. There is no fixed schedule. Rekeying is triggered by events, such as moving in, losing keys, someone moving out, or a change in who has been trusted with access. If one of the situations below applies to you, it is time.

Think one of these applies to your home? Call (613) 707-4884.

Situations That Call for Rekeying

1. You have just moved in

This is the most common reason. You do not know how many copies the previous owners or tenants made, or who they gave them to. Rekeying soon after you get possession is the simplest way to start fresh. If you are unsure whether to rekey or install new hardware, read should you rekey or replace your locks after moving.

2. Keys are lost or stolen

A lost key on its own is a lower risk than one that can be linked to your home. If keys went missing together with anything showing your address, such as a wallet with ID, mail, a car registration or a garage door opener, treat it as urgent and rekey the affected doors.

3. Someone who had a key has moved out

A roommate leaving, an adult child moving away, or the end of a relationship are all good reasons to reset access. Even when the parting is friendly, copies are easy to forget about.

4. People you hired no longer need access

Renovation crews, cleaners, nannies, pet sitters, dog walkers and property managers often receive keys. When the arrangement ends and you cannot confirm that every copy was returned, rekey.

5. After a break-in or attempted break-in

If there is any chance an intruder found or copied a spare key, rekey. If a lock or door frame was damaged, rekeying is not enough and the hardware may need to be repaired or replaced. Our guide to replacing locks after a break-in covers that situation.

6. A hidden spare key was used or found

Keys under mats, in planters or on top of door frames are easy to find. If you suspect a hidden spare has been discovered or copied, rekey and find a safer way to share access.

7. Between rental tenants

Landlords commonly rekey between tenancies so that a former tenant's copies stop working. Ontario has specific rules on who may change locks and when new keys must be provided; our article on landlord and tenant lock rules in Ontario explains them.

8. You are tired of carrying a ring of keys

Rekeying is not only about security. If your front door, back door and garage entry each use a different key, compatible locks can often be rekeyed to work with a single key.

When Rekeying Is Not the Right Fix

Rekeying changes which key works, but it does not fix a lock that is worn, sticking, loose or damaged, and it does not make a weak lock stronger. If you notice any of those problems, a repair or replacement may be the better choice. For a refresher on what rekeying physically changes, see what lock rekeying is and how it works.

A Quick Self-Check

  • Can you name every person who has a key to your home right now?
  • Have all keys from past roommates, contractors and helpers been returned?
  • Has any key gone missing along with something that shows your address?
  • Have you rekeyed or replaced the locks since you moved in?

If you answered "no" or "not sure" to any of these, rekeying is worth considering. While you are at it, also change garage door, keypad and alarm codes that the same people may know.

Next Step

If one of these triggers applies, our lock rekeying service page has more information, or you can call (613) 707-4884 to talk it through.