Why a returned key is not the same as a safe door
Most people assume the problem is solved once a former partner or roommate hands back a key. It usually is not. A key that was in someone's hands for months or years could have been copied at a hardware counter, a kiosk, or a mall cart in a few minutes, and nothing about the copy looks different from the original. Nobody can prove a negative here. You can only change what the key opens.
The same logic applies to garage remotes, gate fobs, keypad passcodes, and the little spare tucked in a flowerpot. If a person once had access, you have to treat every access method they knew as compromised until you have changed it. That sounds like a lot, but the lock work itself is usually the simplest part of the job, and a mobile locksmith can often handle it in a single visit at the property.
There is also a practical side. Even when you trust the other person completely, a lost or stolen key ring in their possession now carries your address on it, in effect. Rekeying removes that risk without arguing about who did what. It is a quiet, neutral step that does not require anyone to admit anything, and it gives you a clean starting point.
Rekeying versus new locks: the real difference
Rekeying means the locksmith changes the internal pins of your existing lock cylinder so that the old key no longer turns it. New keys are cut to match the new pin arrangement. The lock hardware you already own stays on the door, which keeps the look of your door the same and keeps the work short.
Replacing the lock means removing the old hardware and installing a different lockset altogether. That makes sense in a few situations: the lock is damaged, worn, builder-grade and loose, or you want a different grade of security, a smart lock, or a different finish. It also makes sense if the old lock cannot be rekeyed, which happens with some imported or very old hardware.
If a former partner or roommate held a key and the locks themselves are in good shape, rekeying is usually the first thing a locksmith will suggest. If the locks are already tired, replacing them may cost you less than paying to rekey hardware that will fail next year. The honest answer depends on a look at the actual lock, which is why the quote comes by phone after a few questions, and complicated jobs get an on-site visit.
| Situation | Usually better choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Locks are sound and match each other | Rekey | Fastest way to make old keys useless and keep your hardware |
| Locks are loose, worn, or damaged | Replace | New cylinders on tired hardware only repeat the problem |
| You want one key for every door | Rekey to one keyway or replace as a set | A locksmith can match locks to a single new key |
| You want passcodes or phone access | Smart or keypad lock | passcodes can be changed without cutting keys |
| Deadbolt is original and builder-grade | Replace the deadbolt | A stronger bolt improves security at the same time |
Every access point to think through
Before the locksmith arrives, walk the property and list every way in. People who share a home or relationship tend to know about places that never cross the mind of a stranger. Writing the list takes ten minutes and saves a second visit.
- Front door deadbolt and the knob or handle lock on the same door
- Back door, patio slider, and any side or garage entry door
- Garage door opener remotes, keypads, and the opener app account
- Gate fobs, call-box passcodes, and building entry fobs, which are controlled by the association or management company, not the locksmith
- Mailbox key, storage cage key, and any shared amenity key
- Smart lock passcodes, shared app invitations, and keypad passcodes
- Window locks and a sliding door security bar, if the person knew they were there
- Vehicle keys, if the car was shared or the other person had a spare
What the locksmith can do and what stays outside the job
A mobile locksmith can rekey or replace the locks, cut new keys, set up keypad or smart locks, and advise on which doors deserve a stronger lock. A good one will also ask you a few verification questions, because changing locks is something people sometimes request for property that is not theirs.
What a locksmith does not do is decide who is entitled to live in a home. If the other person is also on a lease, owns part of the property, or has a legal right to be there, changing the locks can create a dispute that no tradesperson can settle. Likewise, if the person lives there and you are trying to keep them out, that is a legal and sometimes police matter, not a lock matter.
Expect to be asked for identification and for something showing you live at or control the property, such as a lease, a utility bill, a deed, or a mail item with the address. This protects you as much as it protects anyone else. If someone could talk a locksmith into changing your locks without checking anything, so could the person you are worried about.
Safety first: when this is about more than keys
If the other person has threatened you, followed you, or made you feel unsafe, treat the situation as a safety issue first and a lock issue second. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. Do not wait for a locksmith.
Many people in this position find it helpful to speak with a local advocate or a national domestic violence hotline, which can help with a safety plan that covers more than the door. A police department can also explain how to document concerns and what protective orders may involve. A locksmith is one useful tool in a broader plan, not the whole plan.
Some practical points that people often overlook: keep your phone charged and your new keys somewhere only you know, do not announce the date of the lock change on social media, and think about whether a keypad lock or a chain-style secondary lock would let you check who is at the door before opening. A technician can talk through door viewers, strike plates, and secondary locks for the doors that matter most.
Shared homes, leases, and the legal note
This site is not a law office, and nothing here is legal advice. Still, a few general points come up often enough to mention. If you rent, your lease and your landlord matter. Many landlords require that they keep a key or that changes go through them, and some leases forbid tenants from changing locks without written permission. Check before you call, or ask your landlord to authorize the work.
If you and the other person are both named on a lease or deed, one of you changing the locks without the other's knowledge can lead to a conflict even if you feel entirely justified. In that case, a short conversation with a tenant rights organization or an attorney is worth the time. Courts and property managers have processes for removing a person from a lease or a home, and those processes exist for good reasons.
If the other person has already moved out and returned their keys, or if you are the sole leaseholder or owner, the situation is far simpler. Even then, keep the paperwork that proves who you are and that the home is yours. If anything is disputed later, you will be glad you can show the work was done lawfully and for good reason.
Condos, gated communities, and shared building access
Boca Raton and the surrounding towns have a large share of condominiums, townhome communities, and gated neighborhoods. In these places your door lock is only one layer. The building lobby, the garage gate, the pool, the mail room, and sometimes the elevator all run on fobs, cards, or passcodes that belong to the association rather than to you.
If a former partner or roommate still has a fob, you generally need to ask the management office to deactivate it and issue a new one. A locksmith usually cannot do that for you, although a good technician will remind you to ask. Some associations require a form signed by the unit owner, so it helps to know who your property manager is before you need them.
Your own unit door is a different story. Many associations still allow owners to rekey or replace their entry hardware, though some require a specific finish, brand, or approval for changes to the exterior of the door, and a few keep a master key on file for emergencies. Read your rules or ask the office, and let the technician know if a master key arrangement exists so the new lock can still work with it where it is required.
Roommates, move-outs, and shared keys that nobody tracks
The roommate version of this problem is quieter than the ex-partner one and just as common. A roommate moves out, hands over one key, and nobody asks how many copies exist. Months later a package disappears or a door is found unlocked, and no one can say whether it is related.
In a shared rental, the cleanest approach is to rekey at every roster change. Everyone who remains gets a fresh key, and the departing roommate is simply no longer on the list. Tell everyone the rekey is routine for any change in who lives there, so nobody feels accused. It also makes a good habit for landlords of multi-tenant homes.
If the roommate was not on the lease, the landlord or property manager should know about the change as well. Some buildings keep a master or a copy on file, and rekeying without telling them can cause a lockout for maintenance later. A quick message to management avoids confusion.
What happens on the call and during the visit
When you call, the dispatcher will ask which doors are involved, what type of locks you have if you know, whether you rent or own, and how soon you need it done. Quotes are given only by phone, and a service call charge is explained before anyone is dispatched. If the job looks more involved, for example several doors with mixed hardware, the technician may recommend an on-site look before anything is priced.
At the door, the technician will ask to see identification and some proof that you control the property. Then they inspect each lock, confirm whether it can be rekeyed, and explain the options plainly. You decide what to change. Many people choose to rekey the main entries and replace one weak deadbolt in the same visit.
Afterward, test every new key in every lock while the technician is still there. Keep the old keys, if you have any, as evidence of what was changed rather than throwing them away, and label the new ones. Ask for a receipt that lists the doors and the work.
Questions to ask yourself before you call
A few minutes of thinking makes the call faster and the result better. Not every question needs an answer, but it helps to know which ones apply to you.
- Do I own the property, or do I rent, and does my lease say anything about changing locks?
- Is the other person still a legal resident or on the lease?
- How many doors and gates did they know about, including garage and mailbox?
- Do I want everything on one key, or separate keys for each door?
- Would a keypad or smart lock suit my household better than more metal keys?
- Do I have proof of residence ready, such as a lease, utility bill, or deed?
- Is anyone in my household in danger, and have I called the right people if so?
Aftercare: keeping the new setup secure
Once the locks are changed, spend a little time on habits. Do not hand out spare keys casually, and keep a short written list of who holds each one. If you keep a hidden spare for emergencies, move it somewhere inside a lockbox rather than under a mat, because hiding places are well known to people who once lived with you.
Change garage keypad passcodes, smart lock passcodes, and any shared app accounts the same day. Review who has access to your garage opener app, your doorbell camera, and your alarm system, and remove old users. These digital doors are often forgotten and are sometimes the easier way in.
If you notice scratches around a keyhole, a lock that suddenly feels different, or a door that was locked and now is not, write down what you saw, take photos, and consider calling the police non-emergency line. For more on spotting tampering, see our guide to signs someone tampered with your lock. When you are ready to change your locks, call, describe the situation, and we will explain the options and the next step.
Questions people ask
Is rekeying enough if my ex had a key?
In most cases, yes. Rekeying changes the internal pins so every old key, including copies you never knew about, stops working. The exceptions are damaged or worn locks, which are better replaced, and any access that is not a physical key, such as keypad passcodes, smart lock invitations, or garage remotes. Those need to be changed separately on the same day.
Can a locksmith change the locks if my roommate is still on the lease?
A locksmith can do the work, but the legal question of whether you are allowed to is separate. If the roommate is on the lease or has a right to live there, changing locks without agreement can cause a dispute. Talk to your landlord or a tenant rights group first, and expect the technician to ask for proof you control the property.
What proof will I need to show?
Expect to show identification and something connecting you to the address, such as a lease, deed, utility bill, or official mail. Locksmiths ask for this to protect residents from people who want locks changed on a home that is not theirs. If you are a tenant, a written note from your landlord can also help.
Should I rekey or install a keypad lock?
Either can work. Rekeying keeps your current hardware and is often the quicker choice. A keypad or smart lock lets you change or delete passcodes without cutting keys, which suits shared homes and rentals. Your technician can explain how each option fits your doors, your household, and your comfort with batteries and apps.
What if I feel unsafe or have been threatened?
Call 911 if you are in immediate danger. For ongoing concerns, a local advocate or a national domestic violence hotline can help you build a safety plan, and the police can explain documentation and protective orders. Changing locks is one useful step, but it works best alongside other safety measures and professional support.
Do I need to change the garage and gate passcodes too?
Yes. Anyone who lived with you probably knows the garage keypad passcode, and may have a gate fob or a copy of the remote. Change keypad passcodes yourself, reprogram openers, and ask your association or property manager to deactivate old fobs, since those systems are controlled by them rather than by the lock on your door.
Describe the situation by phone and we will tell you what the job involves. Quotes are given by phone. Jobs that cannot be quoted without seeing them need a technician on site, and the service call charge is explained on the phone before anyone is dispatched.
(954) 906-9567