Most people don't think about their locks until something goes wrong. But there are specific situations where rekeying your locks is one of the smartest, most cost-effective security decisions you can make. Here are the five clearest signals — and what to do about each one.
Sign 1: You've Just Moved Into a New Home
This is the most common — and most overlooked — reason to rekey. When you move into a previously owned property, you have no idea how many copies of the existing keys are floating around. The previous owners may have given copies to neighbours, cleaners, relatives, tradespeople, or an old real estate agent. Even if the sellers were trustworthy, any of those key holders may not be. Rekeying on or before move-in day means only you and the people you choose have access — immediately.
Sign 2: A Key Has Been Lost or Stolen
A lost key is an unknown. Maybe it fell down a drain at the beach. Maybe someone picked it up. If it was lost near your home — at the letterbox, in the front garden, near the car — there's a realistic possibility someone now has a key to your front door. If it was stolen as part of a bag theft or break-in, the risk is obvious. Rekeying is far cheaper than dealing with the aftermath of a burglary, and it eliminates the uncertainty entirely. Don't put it off hoping the key won't turn up.
Sign 3: A Tenant Has Just Moved Out
Under Queensland tenancy law, landlords are responsible for providing a secure property. When a tenant vacates — whether on good terms or not — you cannot be certain they haven't kept a copy of the key or had one cut during the tenancy. This applies to investment properties in Maroochydore, holiday rentals on the Sunshine Coast, and any property where keys were issued to a third party. Rekeying between tenancies is best practice, and many property managers now require it as a condition of landlord insurance policies.
Sign 4: After a Break-In or an Attempted Break-In
If your home has been broken into — or if you've noticed signs of attempted entry like scratched lock surrounds, a bent door frame, or a lock that suddenly feels stiff or loose — you need a locksmith immediately. A compromised lock may no longer function correctly, and in the case of an actual break-in, the lock may have been picked, bumped or manipulated in a way that leaves the internals vulnerable. Don't just replace a broken door or fix a window. Rekey or replace every lock that could have been accessed or compromised.
Sign 5: You're No Longer Sure Who Has Keys
Life changes. A relationship ends. A house-share arrangement wraps up. A cleaner or tradie you trusted has moved on. A family member who had a spare key in case of emergencies has since had a falling-out. If you find yourself uncertain about who has an active copy of your front door key, that uncertainty is itself the problem. Rekeying gives you a clean slate — you know exactly who has access because you control exactly who receives a key going forward.
How long does rekeying take? A single deadbolt cylinder typically takes 15–30 minutes. A whole house (3–4 locks rekeyed to a common key) can usually be done in under an hour. It's one of the fastest, least disruptive security upgrades you can make.
What Does Rekeying Actually Involve?
Rekeying means changing the internal pin configuration of your existing lock cylinder so that the old key no longer works and a new key does. A locksmith removes the cylinder from the lock body, replaces the pin stacks with a different combination, and sets new keys to match. The lock hardware itself — the deadbolt, the knob, the strike plate — all stays in place. Nothing is damaged, nothing is replaced unnecessarily.
Rekeying vs Replacing — What's the Difference?
Replacing a lock means fitting entirely new hardware — new cylinder, new bolt mechanism, new handle or knob. It's more expensive, takes longer, and is only necessary when:
- The lock is old, worn or no longer functioning reliably
- You want to upgrade to a higher-security lock grade
- The lock has been physically damaged in a break-in attempt
- You want to change the lock brand or style to match new hardware
In most cases — especially the five scenarios above — rekeying is sufficient and is considerably cheaper. A rekey typically costs $60–$100 per cylinder when done alongside a callout, compared to $180–$300 to supply and install a new mid-range deadbolt.
Can all locks be rekeyed? Most standard pin tumbler locks — Lockwood, Gainsborough, Abloy, and most common deadbolts — can be rekeyed. Some older or very cheap locks may be designed in a way that makes rekeying impractical, in which case replacement is better value. A CoastAll locksmith will advise you on site.