Bankstown Locksmith Service

Rekeying is one of the most useful and least understood locksmith services. It lets you keep the locks you already have while making sure old keys no longer work. For many households and businesses in Sydney, it is the most cost-effective way to take back control of who can get in.

This guide explains what you are paying for when you rekey, which factors push the price up or down, and when rekeying stops being the better value option. As with all our guides, we will not invent a price list. Instead, we will show you how a fair rekeying quote is built, so you can understand any quote you receive.

What rekeying actually involves

Most locks on Sydney homes are pin-tumbler locks. Inside the cylinder is a row of small spring-loaded pins in different lengths. When the correct key goes in, it pushes each pin to exactly the right height, and the cylinder turns. The wrong key leaves the pins at the wrong heights, and the lock stays shut.

Rekeying means removing the cylinder, taking out the old pins and fitting a new set in different lengths. A new key is cut to match. The old key no longer lines the pins up, so it will not turn the lock.

Everything you can see on the door stays the same. The handle, the finish, the lock body and the screw holes are untouched. Only the inside of the cylinder and the key change.

Because the hardware stays in place, you are paying mainly for skilled labour and a small number of parts, not a new lock. That is why rekeying is so often cheaper than replacement.

The main factors in the price

A rekeying quote usually depends on five things.

The number of locks. This is the biggest factor. Rekeying one front door is a small job. Rekeying the front door, back door, two screen doors and a garage door takes longer, but the cost per lock usually falls because the locksmith is already on site with the right tools.

The type of lock. Standard cylinders are quick to rekey. Some deadlocks, mortice locks and screen door locks take longer to remove and refit. High-security cylinders may need special pins or authorisation.

The condition of the locks. A clean, well-maintained cylinder rekeys easily. A cylinder full of grit, or with worn internal parts, may need cleaning or extra parts first. In some cases a lock is too worn to rekey reliably, and replacing it is better value.

The number of keys you need. A new set of keys is cut for each rekey. If you need extra copies for family, tenants or staff, each additional key adds a small cost.

Keying alike. If you want one key to open several locks, the locksmith needs to set each lock to the same combination. This is usually possible when the locks share a compatible keyway, and it is one of the best value improvements you can make.

Rekeying versus replacing

The main reason people choose rekeying is cost. Here is how the two compare in practice.

When you rekey, you pay for labour, new pins and new keys. The lock bodies you already own stay on the doors.

When you replace, you pay for labour, new locks and new keys. If the new lock is a different size or shape, there may be extra work to fit it neatly.

For locks that are in good working order, rekeying is almost always the cheaper choice. Replacement makes more sense when:

the lock is broken, damaged or has been forced;
the lock is badly worn and will soon fail anyway;
the lock is a poor-quality type you want to upgrade;
you want a different kind of lock, such as a deadlock instead of a simple latch;
the lock cannot be rekeyed because of its design.

We cover this choice in detail in our guide Rekey or Replace Locks?. If you are unsure, a locksmith can usually tell you within minutes of looking at the lock.

When rekeying is worth paying for

Rekeying is a small cost compared with the risk of not knowing who has a key to your home or business. These are the situations where it is most worthwhile.

After moving into a home. Previous owners, tenants, agents, cleaners, tradespeople and relatives may all have held keys. You have no way of knowing how many copies exist. Rekeying on moving day fixes that.

After buying a new townhouse. In fast-growing parts of Condell Park and Revesby, new townhouses pass through builders, subcontractors and sales agents before handover. Keys travel through many hands. Rekeying after settlement is a sensible first step.

Between tenants. Landlords and property managers often rekey between tenancies so former occupants cannot return. In the walk-up flats of Greenacre and Bankstown, this is one of the most common jobs we do.

After keys are lost or stolen. If keys have gone missing with anything that shows your address, treat it as urgent.

After a relationship ends or a staff member leaves. Rekeying lets you change access without confrontation.

How to keep rekeying costs down

A few practical steps can make your rekeying job quicker and cheaper.

Do all the locks in one visit. It is much more efficient than separate callouts.
Ask about keying alike. One key for all the main locks saves money on keys and makes life easier.
Count the keys you need before the visit. That way the locksmith cuts the right number once.
Mention screen doors and garages. It is easy to forget these, and adding them later means another visit.
Book a planned appointment. Unless keys have been stolen, rekeying can usually wait for a time that suits, which avoids urgent callout costs.
Send photos of each lock. This helps the locksmith bring the right parts.

Locks that cannot be rekeyed

Not every lock can be rekeyed, and it is better to know before you book.

Very cheap locks sometimes have cylinders that cannot be opened or that use non-standard pins. These usually need replacing.

Damaged or seized cylinders may not come apart cleanly. If the cylinder breaks during removal, replacement becomes the practical option.

Some electronic locks do not use a traditional keyed cylinder, or have a backup key system that can only be changed by the manufacturer.

Restricted key systems can be rekeyed, but only through the authorised supplier and with permission from the registered key holder.

A good locksmith will check the locks before starting and tell you if any of them fall into these groups.

Rekeying in rental properties

If you rent your home in NSW, the rules about changing locks matter. In general, a tenant needs the landlord's consent to change or rekey locks, and a landlord needs to give the tenant a key if they change the locks during a tenancy. There are exceptions, including for people experiencing domestic violence.

Because these rules change from time to time, always check the current position with NSW Fair Trading before arranging rekeying in a rental. Our article on landlord and tenant lock change rules in NSW explains the basics in plain language.

For landlords and agents, rekeying between tenancies is a simple way to protect both the property and the next tenant. It is also usually cheaper than replacing locks each time.

Rekeying for businesses

For shops, offices and warehouses, rekeying is the standard response when keys are lost or a staff member leaves without returning them.

Businesses often benefit from a simple key plan. A manager key might open every door, while staff keys only open the doors each person needs. Setting this up costs more than a basic rekey, but it can save money later because you will not need to rekey every lock each time one person leaves.

If your business is on a busy strip such as Chapel Road, The Boulevarde or Waterloo Road, we can schedule rekeying before opening or after close, within our hours of 7:00am to midnight. See our commercial locksmith page for more on how we work with businesses.

What a fair rekeying quote looks like

When you ask for a quote, a clear answer should cover:

how many locks are included;
whether any locks look like they need replacing instead;
how many keys are included and the cost of extra keys;
whether the locks will be keyed alike;
the attendance cost and any after-hours difference;
what happens if a lock turns out to be worn or damaged.

If a quote leaves these questions unanswered, ask. A professional locksmith will happily explain.

Questions to ask before you book

Can all of my locks be rekeyed, or will some need replacing?
Can you key them alike?
How many keys are included?
Can you rekey the screen doors too?
Is there any extra cost if a cylinder needs cleaning first?

These questions take a minute on the phone and can save you a second visit.

After the rekey: looking after your new keys

Once your locks are rekeyed, a little care keeps them working and keeps your keys under control.

Keep a written count. Note how many keys were cut and who holds each one. If a key goes missing later, you will know straight away.
Label spares carefully. Never write your address on a key tag. A lost key with an address on it is exactly the problem you just paid to fix.
Test spares occasionally. A key that sits in a drawer for years can be worn or bent. Try it in the lock now and then so you know it works.
Use a dry lubricant once a year. It keeps the new pins moving freely. Avoid household oils, which collect dust and grit.
Call early if a key starts to catch. A freshly rekeyed lock should turn smoothly. If it does not, a small adjustment now prevents a lockout later.

The bottom line

Rekeying costs depend on how many locks you have, what type they are, their condition and how many keys you need. For locks in good working order, it is usually the most cost-effective way to make sure only the right people can get in.

To arrange rekeying in Bankstown or nearby suburbs, call us on 02 5657 6414, 7 days from 7:00am to midnight, or request a quote through our contact page. You can also read more on our lock rekeying service page. Tell us how many locks and keys you need, and we will give you a clear cost before any work starts.