Should You Rekey the Locks After Moving Into a Brooklyn Apartment?

When a locksmith rekeyes a lock, they open the lock cylinder and replace the internal pins — the small spring-loaded components that determine which key cuts will operate the lock. When a new key is inserted, its unique pattern of ridges and valleys lifts those pins to the correct height, allowing the cylinder to turn. Swap the pins for a new set, cut a new key to match, and the old key becomes instantly useless. The lock body, the hardware, the deadbolt mechanism — none of that changes. It's a targeted internal reset.

Rekeying is not the same as replacing a lock. Replacement means removing the entire lockset and installing a new one. Rekeying leaves the existing hardware in place and only changes what makes the key work. For most Brooklyn apartments and townhouses, especially those with quality mortise locks already installed, this is the faster, less invasive, and more practical route. A professional locksmith can typically rekey a standard mortise lock or door knob lock on-site in a single visit, without damaging your door or frame.

The short answer is: most locks can be rekeyed, but not all. Standard pin tumbler locks — the kind found in the vast majority of residential deadbolts and door knob locks — are straightforward to rekey. Higher-security cylinders, including Medeco, Schlage, and Kwikset models, can also be rekeyed by an experienced locksmith, though some require manufacturer-specific tools or keyways. If you're wondering whether you can rekey a lock to match an existing key — say, to get all your doors on one key — that's absolutely possible as long as the locks use compatible keyways and pin sizes. A skilled locksmith can key multiple locks alike during the same visit.

Here in Brooklyn, the most common lock you'll encounter in brownstones, prewar co-ops, and older rental buildings is the mortise lock — a rectangular lock body set into a pocket (or 'mortise') cut into the door edge, rather than simply bored through it. Mortise locks are durable and have been standard in New York City residential buildings for over a century. They can absolutely be rekeyed, but they require a locksmith familiar with their internal mechanics. At Brooklyn Heights Locksmith, rekeying and servicing mortise locks is a core part of what we do every day. If your building has a mortise lock and you're unsure of its condition, we can inspect and rekey it in one visit — no guesswork required.

Smart locks are becoming more common in renovated Brooklyn apartments and newer construction along Flatbush and in neighborhoods like DUMBO. The question we hear often is: can you rekey a smart lock? The answer depends on the model. Many smart locks use a traditional key cylinder as a backup — and that cylinder can usually be rekeyed just like any standard lock. So if you can rekey a Yale smart lock, for example, the answer is often yes — the key backup cylinder is serviceable by a professional locksmith.

However, some smart locks are keyless entirely, relying only on a code, fingerprint, or app. In that case, 'rekeying' means something different: it means resetting access credentials — user codes, paired devices, and app permissions. This is something you can often do through the lock's app, but if you've moved into a unit where the previous tenant's codes are still active, or if you can't rekey a smart lock without the original key because the backup cylinder is stuck or the previous owner didn't leave instructions, a professional locksmith can help you reset or replace the cylinder and walk you through the digital side as well. Never assume the codes were cleared — verify it yourself or have someone who knows the system confirm it.

If the existing lock hardware is solid — no wobble in the cylinder, no damage to the bolt or strike plate, no signs of forced entry — rekeying is almost always the smarter move for a new tenant or homeowner. You get a fresh start on who holds a working key, you keep the existing hardware your landlord or HOA expects, and the process takes far less time than a full replacement. Full lock replacement makes more sense when the hardware is worn, damaged, or a significant security upgrade is warranted — for example, swapping an old builder-grade door knob lock for a heavy-duty mortise lock or a high-security deadbolt.

As for how much a locksmith costs in Brooklyn — that's a fair question, and one we take seriously. The price of rekeying depends on several factors: the type of lock (a standard door knob lock differs from a multi-cylinder mortise lock), the number of locks being done, the time of day (emergency locksmith calls outside regular hours involve different logistics), and travel distance to your location. We never quote a vague range and then surprise you at the door. Before any work begins, we give you an exact, confirmed price upfront — no hidden add-ons. If you're wondering how much an emergency locksmith costs near you in Brooklyn, the best thing to do is call us directly at 718-928-6860 and we'll give you a clear answer right away.

Brooklyn Heights Locksmith is a mobile, 24/7 operation serving all Brooklyn neighborhoods — from the historic streets of Brooklyn Heights and Carroll Gardens to Bed-Stuy, Crown Heights, Sunset Park, and everywhere in between. Whether you need a mortise lock rekeyed on a brownstone door or a full commercial locksmith job at a storefront on Atlantic Avenue, our team handles it. Here is a full picture of what we offer: Residential mortise lock rekeying and repair, residential deadbolt rekeying, door knob lock rekeying, keying multiple locks alike (one key for all doors), high-security cylinder installation, smart lock setup and credential reset, smart lock cylinder replacement, lock replacement and upgrade, new lock installation on interior and exterior doors, sliding door lock installation, mailbox lock rekeying and replacement, gate and padlock rekeying, broken key extraction from lock cylinders, lock cylinder repair and lubrication, door frame and strike plate reinforcement, peephole installation and replacement, emergency lockout service for homes and apartments, commercial locksmith services for offices and retail spaces, commercial mortise lock installation and rekeying, master key system design and setup, access control system consultation, car lockout service, car key cutting and duplication, transponder key programming, and ignition lock cylinder repair. Every service is performed by trained, experienced locksmiths who carry the tools to handle Brooklyn's wide mix of building types and lock hardware — from century-old mortise systems to the latest smart lock platforms. We are fully insured, and we show up with everything needed to complete the job in a single visit whenever possible.

Most people think of an emergency locksmith as someone you call when you're locked out at 2 a.m. And yes, that's absolutely something we handle — call 718-928-6860 and someone picks up, day or night. But 'emergency' also applies to situations where your security has a gap that can't wait. Moving into a new home is one of those moments. You don't know the key history. You don't know if the previous tenant made extras at a hardware store on Court Street before they left. Waiting a week to rekey because it feels like a hassle is a week of unnecessary exposure.

Commercial properties face the same issue. If you've just taken over a retail space or office in Brooklyn and inherited a set of keys with no documentation of who has copies, a commercial locksmith visit to rekey or recore the locks is a basic security step — not an optional upgrade. Whether it's a single apartment deadbolt, a multi-unit brownstone with a mortise lock on every floor, or a storefront with a master key setup, the right time to address it is before something goes wrong. Our team is mobile and ready across Brooklyn around the clock. If you're asking how much an emergency locksmith costs near you — reach out to us directly and we'll give you a straight answer before we arrive.