When to change your locks: lost keys, a roommate moving out, or after a break-in

Situations that call for new keys

"Rekey" changes the key. "Change" replaces the hardware. Both lock out old keys; only a change gets you new hardware.

Lost or stolen keys

Lost keys are the most common trigger, and the hardest to judge. A key that fell into the ocean is not a risk. A key ring that disappeared with your wallet is.

• Was anything with your address lost too? A license, mail or a car registration raises the stakes.
• Was the garage opener on the same ring? Reset or reprogram it along with the locks.
• Were work keys on it? Tell your employer, since a lost master key can affect a whole building.

When the lock hardware is in good shape, a rekey is the quickest way to make the missing keys useless.

A roommate or partner moving out

Even an amicable move-out leaves copies behind. People forget the spare in a drawer or the one they gave a friend.

1. Collect the keys you know about, but don't count on that being all of them.
2. Rekey on move-out day, or the day after.
3. Change garage door and gate codes, and remove the person from any smart-lock app.
4. If you rent, tell your landlord and check the lease before changing anything.

California's lock-change rule for protected tenants

California Civil Code 1941.5 gives some tenants a specific right to new locks. It applies to a "protected tenant" who has a qualifying court order or a police report, where the restrained person does not live in the same unit.

• The tenant makes a written request and gives the landlord a copy of the court order or police report.
• The landlord must change the locks no later than 24 hours after receiving it, and give the tenant a key.
• If the landlord doesn't, the tenant may change the locks without the landlord's permission, using locks of similar or better quality installed in a workmanlike manner.
• In that case, the tenant must notify the landlord within 24 hours and provide a key by a reasonable method they agree on.

A different rule applies when the restrained person lives in the same unit. The statute has conditions, so read the full text or ask a legal aid office if you're unsure whether it covers you.

This is a summary of the statute, not legal advice. The full text is on the California Legislature's site, leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.

After a break-in

A forced door is a hardware problem first. Kicked doors often split the frame around the strike, bend the bolt or crack the lock housing.

• Replace any lock that was forced, bent or drilled.
• Check the strike plate and the jamb; a new lock on a split frame won't hold.
• Rekey the other exterior locks if any keys were taken from inside.
• Consider stronger hardware on the door that was attacked; our deadbolt installation page covers options.

When the lock itself is the problem

Sometimes the trigger isn't a person at all. A key that fights you, a deadbolt that only throws if you lift the door, or a knob that spins loose are all signs the hardware is wearing out. Rekeying won't help with any of these; replacement will.

To swap failing or damaged hardware anywhere in our service area, see our lock change service or call (562) 534-1992. The tech walks through the options and price with you on site before starting.