Moving Into a Toronto Home? Rekey or Change the Locks?

When a locksmith rekeys a lock, they disassemble it and rearrange the internal pins so that the old key no longer works — only the new one does. The lock hardware itself stays exactly where it is. This is a straightforward, well-established service that works on most standard cylindrical locks and deadbolts you'll find on Toronto residential doors. If your locks are in good mechanical condition and you're simply worried about who might have a copy of the previous key, rekeying is usually the most direct solution.

Replacing the lock means removing the existing hardware entirely and installing a new lock — new cylinder, new hardware, new keys. This makes sense when the existing lock is worn, damaged, a low-grade model that doesn't meet your security needs, or when you're upgrading to a different lock type altogether. One common upgrade Toronto homeowners make is switching to a mortise lock, which replaces the simple cylindrical mechanism with a more robust rectangular lock body that fits inside a pocket (or mortise) cut into the door itself. A mortise lock offers significantly more resistance to forced entry and is the standard on many older Toronto homes — if yours already has one, it's worth keeping and simply having it serviced or rekeyed rather than downgrading.

If the locks on your new home are solid — good brands like Schlage or Kwikset, no visible wear, no sticking or grinding when you turn the key — rekeying is almost always the smarter starting point. You get a fresh set of keys, the previous owner's copies become useless, and the job takes a fraction of the time a full replacement would. For a household with multiple exterior doors, rekeying also gives you the option to have all locks keyed alike, meaning one key opens everything. That's a genuinely useful quality-of-life upgrade that gets overlooked.

There are a few scenarios where rekeying is clearly the right move: you're moving into a property that has had multiple tenants, you lost a key during the moving process, or you want to remove access for a contractor or property manager who had a key during the sale. In all of these cases, the lock hardware is not the problem — the key history is. A skilled locksmith can rekey most residential locks quickly on-site, and the result is exactly as secure as a brand-new lock using the same cylinder.

Rekeying has limits. If the existing lock is a basic door knob lock with no deadbolt — which you'll still find on some older Toronto rental conversions and basement suites — that's a security gap worth addressing directly. A door knob lock alone is not a substitute for a proper deadbolt, and no amount of rekeying changes the mechanical weakness of the hardware itself. In this case, the right answer is a full lock change, ideally to a Grade 1 deadbolt or a mortise lock system depending on your door's construction.

The same logic applies if you're dealing with a damaged lock, a misaligned strike plate, or a door that shows signs of previous forced entry. A rekey won't fix a lock that's already compromised. If you've purchased an older Toronto home — particularly a Victorian or Edwardian semi in areas like Roncesvalles or the Annex — it's common to find original mortise lock hardware that's decades old. Sometimes that hardware is still excellent and worth restoring; other times it needs to be replaced with a modern mortise lock system. An experienced locksmith can assess it on the spot and tell you exactly what you're working with before any work begins. If you're unsure about the condition of your locks after moving in, our team is available around the clock — call (647) 692-2560 and we can come take a look.

A growing number of Toronto homeowners are choosing electronic or smart locks when they change the lock on their front door. These systems don't use a traditional key at all — or they use one only as a backup. If you've moved into a home that already has a keypad or electronic deadbolt installed, your first priority is changing the access code, not just collecting the previous owner's physical keys. How to change the code on a door lock varies by model: most systems require you to enter the existing master code, press a programming button, and input your new code — but the exact steps differ between manufacturers. Some models, like a Honeywell door lock, have a specific sequence involving a reset button on the back of the unit. If you're unsure how to change the code on your door lock, or if you've moved in and the previous owner can't provide the master code, a qualified locksmith can reset or replace the electronic module entirely.

The same principle applies to combination locks used on outbuildings, detached garages, or secondary storage on your property. How to change the code on a combination lock depends on whether it's a resettable model — many padlocks and gate locks can be reset with the existing combination before a new one is set. If you don't have that original combination, a professional can assess whether the lock can be reset non-destructively or whether replacement is the cleaner option. The broader point is this: any access credential tied to your new property — physical key, keypad code, combination — should be changed or verified before you consider the home truly secured.

One of the most common questions we hear is 'how much will this cost?' The honest answer is that it depends on several factors: the type and brand of lock involved (a mortise lock service is more involved than a standard deadbolt rekey), the number of doors, whether you need new hardware or just a cylinder change, the time of day you call, and travel distance to your property. Emergency locksmith calls outside regular hours involve different logistics than a scheduled daytime appointment, and that's reflected in how the job is priced. What we can tell you is this: before any work begins, you'll get an exact quote — no surprises after the job is done.

This transparency matters a lot for new homeowners who are already managing moving costs and may be watching their budget carefully. The goal isn't to upsell you on hardware you don't need — it's to look at what you actually have, explain your options clearly, and let you make the call. Our team handles residential rekeying and lock changes, mortise lock service and replacement, door knob lock upgrades, electronic and smart lock programming, and commercial locksmith work for anyone also managing a small business or rental property. Whatever your situation looks like after moving in, reach out to us at (647) 692-2560 — we're available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and we'll give you a straight answer before we touch anything.