Rekeying vs changing the locks: which one do you actually need?
Two jobs, two very different prices, and most people ask for the wrong one. Here is how to tell them apart in thirty seconds.
Rekeying changes the internal pinning so old keys stop working while your existing hardware stays in the door. Replacement removes the hardware entirely. The right answer depends on why you are asking.
Choose rekeying when the hardware is fine
Moving into a place with an unknown key history, a housemate leaving, a lost keyring, a tradesperson's copy floating around, or a rental changeover — all of these are rekeying jobs. The locks work; you just want the old keys dead.
It also lets us key-alike, so one key runs the front, back and garage. Most households discover they were carrying three keys for no reason.
Choose replacement when the hardware fails you
Replace when the lock is worn out, when it is a non-compliant type, when your insurer specifically requires a keyed deadlock, or when you want a security level the existing body cannot deliver — restricted keys, anti-snap cylinders, or a higher Australian Standard rating.
Replacement is also the honest answer after a forced-entry attempt, because a cylinder that has been attacked is no longer trustworthy even if it still turns.
The overlooked middle option: restricted key systems
A restricted or patented key cannot be copied at a kiosk — cutting requires authorisation against a signed register. For share houses, rentals, small offices and body corporates, this is what actually solves the 'who has a copy?' problem that rekeying only resets temporarily.
What to do the day you get the keys to a new place
Rekey or replace every external lock, count how many keys the agent hands over, and ask whether a previous tenant reported a lost key. Do it in the first week — it costs a fraction of what you have just spent on moving and it is the only way to know your key list is clean.
The short version
- 01Rekey when the hardware is sound and only the key list is compromised.
- 02Replace when the hardware is worn, non-compliant or attacked.
- 03Restricted keys stop uncontrolled copying permanently.
- 04Rekey every external door in the first week of a new home.
FAQ
Questions people ask us about this
- How long does rekeying take?
- A typical house with three or four external locks takes about an hour on site, including cutting and testing new keys.
- Can all locks be rekeyed?
- Most pin-tumbler locks can. Some very old mortice locks, badly worn bodies and certain proprietary systems are cheaper to replace than to rework.