Changing your locks after a breakup or a roommate moving out makes sense when you cannot account for every key to your home. If all keys come back and no copies were made, the existing keying may be fine. If a key is missing, was copied, or you don't know, plan to have the lock rekeyed or replaced so old keys stop working. Then issue new keys only to the people who should have them.
Can you account for every key?
Whether a lock needs changing depends less on how the relationship ended than on what you know about the keys. A former roommate who handed back both keys and never made copies leaves you in a different spot from one who had a spare cut and can't say where it went.
An unknown copy is the real trigger. Do an honest count before you call anyone.
Who could still get in?
Write down what you know, and notice the gaps. A blank answer matters as much as a filled one.
- How many keys were cut for each lock, including spares in drawers, cars, or with a neighbor
- Who held each key, and whether it has come back to you
- Whether anyone had copies made, and where those copies are now
- Which locks are involved: main entry, any secondary door, deadbolts, mailbox, storage, and shared building doors
- Who controls each lock: you, a landlord, or building management
The last item decides a lot. A door lock you control is yours to deal with. A mailbox, lobby door, or storage cage is often run by the landlord or building, and that party needs to know a key holder has left.
Deciding what to do, in order
Bring in anyone else with a say
If you rent, or someone else co-owns the home, talk with the landlord or co-owner before any work is booked. They may hold keys of their own, and a lock change they don't know about leaves them with a key that no longer works. If the breakup involved threats or you feel unsafe, contact appropriate support services as well.
Check the condition of the hardware
A key that slides in and turns smoothly, and a bolt that throws fully without dragging, point to sound hardware. In that case only the key situation has changed, and new keying is the usual route. Rekeying alters the pins inside the cylinder, the part the key slides into, so old keys stop turning it while the lock itself stays on the door.
A key that sticks or needs jiggling, or a cylinder that wobbles in the door, suggests wear. That is when repair and restoration of the lock is worth discussing, or replacement if it is too far gone. Deal with condition and keying together so the door isn't worked on twice.
Plan the new keys last
Decide how many keys each lock needs and who gets them before any are cut. That count becomes part of what you hand the locksmith.
Roommates who stay and buildings that turn over
When one roommate leaves and the others stay, the unit door usually needs new keying and fresh keys for everyone still living there. For a single household, that step on its own often settles the matter.
A master key system gives each door its own key while a higher-level key, the master, opens a group of doors. For a property manager with several units, or a building where occupants change often, that arrangement keeps access organized around one plan instead of a pile of unrelated keys. The unit locks and the master are keyed to work together, though, so changing one unit's keying after a move-out has to fit the existing system. Raise that before turnovers start, not after. Safety Locksmith offers master key systems and works on residential and commercial locks, so a manager can bring up the option while planning.
What to tell the locksmith and what to do with old keys
Have these details ready before you call:
- Which locks are involved, door by door, and which ones you control
- Anything you noticed about their condition, such as sticking or a loose cylinder
- How many new keys each lock needs
- Who receives them, including a landlord or manager who keeps one
- Your plan for collecting old keys still held by former occupants
Hold off on duplication until the new keying is final, since copies of a key that is about to stop working are wasted. Keep returned old keys together and labeled, or discard them once the new ones work.
To plan the change, call Safety Locksmith at (347) 666-4989. If you get locked out partway through the switch, emergency lockout assistance is available 24/7.
Frequently asked questions
What if my ex or former roommate refuses to return a key?
A key that won't be returned is the clearest case of an unaccounted-for key. Rather than counting on getting it back, plan new keying for every lock that key opens, so the copy stops working. If the lock belongs to a landlord or building, tell them the key wasn't returned so they can decide how to handle that lock.
Do I need to change the locks on every door, or just the front door?
New keying should cover every lock the former occupant's key could open, not only the front door. That can include a deadbolt keyed separately from the knob, a back or side door, and a storage lock. Shared doors such as a lobby or mailbox are usually managed by the building, so let whoever runs them know a key holder has left.
Is it worth changing locks if I have no reason to doubt the person who left?
Changing locks can still be worth it when you have no reason to doubt the person who left, because the concern is the key, not only the person. Keys get lost, lent, or copied without much thought, and a key you can't locate works in anyone's hand. If every key and copy has come back and the count is solid, keeping the current keying is a reasonable choice.
Who should hold the spare keys after the change?
Spare keys after a lock change belong with as few people as possible: the current occupants, a landlord or manager who keeps one, and perhaps one person you would call in an emergency. Write down who holds each key so the next household change starts from an accurate list instead of guesswork.