Home & Condo Rekeying
When you move into a new home or condo in Toronto — whether it's a classic semi-detached in The Annex, a high-rise suite near Bay Street, or a townhouse in Scarborough — you rarely know how many copies of your key exist or who holds them. Previous owners, former tenants, contractors, real estate agents, and cleaning crews may all have had access. Rekeying your locks is the fastest, most cost-effective way to close that security gap without replacing every lock on your door. Zenith Ontario Locksmith Services brings the full rekeying process directly to your address, any time of day or night, across the Greater Toronto Area.
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week · Licensed, bonded & insured
Rekeying works by reconfiguring the internal pin tumblers of your existing lock cylinder so that the old key no longer operates it — only the fresh key cut to the new configuration will work. It is a precise mechanical procedure that demands the right tools and expertise, especially on the mortise lock assemblies common in Toronto's older detached homes and low-rise condos. Our trained, insured technicians perform every job damage-free wherever possible, meaning your door, frame, and finish are left exactly as we found them. If you have just moved in, experienced a break-in, lost a key, or ended a tenancy, one call to (647) 697-0989 puts a qualified mobile locksmith at your door — often within the hour.
What we do
Available 24/7
Day, night, weekends and holidays — a real local locksmith answers and rolls a fully-stocked van.
Fast local response
Based in Toronto, we reach the Toronto area in well under an hour.
Insured & background-checked
Vetted technicians, up-front pricing, and no surprise add-ons when we arrive.
Damage-free entry
We pick and bypass locks the right way, so most lockouts are solved without drilling anything.
Why Home & Condo Rekeying Is the Smart Move After a Transition
Replacing a lock entirely means buying new hardware, which adds to both cost and installation time. Rekeying retains your existing lock body — including the handle, the strike plate, and the deadbolt mechanism — while rendering every previously cut key useless. For most Toronto homeowners this is the right call after a move, a relationship change, a contractor visit, or any situation where key control has been lost. If your building uses a master-key system, our technician can rekey your suite lock to operate on a new individual key without disturbing the building's master sequence, a detail that matters greatly in condos along Yonge Street or in densely managed developments in North York.
One scenario where full lock replacement becomes necessary alongside rekeying is when the existing hardware is worn, damaged, or simply too old to hold a new pin configuration reliably. Our technicians carry a broad inventory of replacement cylinders and mortise lock cartridges on every service vehicle, so if a rekey reveals deeper mechanical issues, the upgrade can happen in the same visit with no second appointment needed.
Mortise Lock Rekeying — The Detail That Sets Toronto Homes Apart
Toronto's housing stock is among the oldest in Canada, and the mortise lock is the dominant hardware type in properties built before the 1970s — including the Victorian and Edwardian row houses of Cabbagetown, Roncesvalles, and the Junction. A mortise lock sits recessed inside a pocket (the mortise) cut into the door edge, rather than boring through the face like a standard cylindrical knob or deadbolt. It typically combines a latch, a deadbolt, and sometimes a privacy function in one compact unit. Rekeying a mortise lock is not the same process as rekeying a Schlage or Kwikset cylindrical deadbolt — the cylinder must be extracted from the case without disturbing the interconnected levers and cams inside, then re-pinned to the new key cuts, and reseated so the case functions correctly.
Our technicians are experienced specifically with mortise lock systems across Toronto's varied door profiles. We carry replacement mortise cylinders in common Euro, oval, and round formats to match heritage doors exactly. We also work with modern mortise lock sets installed in new-build condos and commercial-grade residential buildings, where the tolerances are tighter and misalignment during reinstallation can prevent the bolt from throwing fully. If you are unsure whether your door has a mortise lock or a cylindrical lock, describe it briefly when you call (647) 697-0989 — our dispatch team will confirm the right technician and parts load before anyone leaves the shop.
Emergency Locksmith Response — After a Break-In or Lost Key
A break-in changes everything. Even if the door lock itself was not forced — many Toronto residential break-ins involve an unlocked window or a side door — you should assume the intruder may have taken or copied a key. Emergency rekeying of every keyed entry point is the immediate priority. Our emergency locksmith team operates around the clock, every day of the year including holidays, because security emergencies do not respect business hours. We serve the entire Toronto area and surrounding communities, and our mobile units are stocked to handle high-priority situations with minimal delay.
Lost or stolen keys trigger the same vulnerability. If a key went missing during a commute on the TTC, fell out at a Raptors game at Scotiabank Arena, or was left in a rideshare, you cannot assume it will not be traced back to your address. Rekeying that same evening — rather than waiting until the weekend — closes the window of risk immediately. Our technicians can also assess and rekey door knob lock sets, deadbolts, and sliding door auxiliary locks in a single visit, so you are not left with partial protection after we leave.
What Determines Your Rekeying Quote — and How We Present It
Several factors shape the final price of a rekeying service: the number of locks being rekeyed, the type of lock hardware involved (a basic door knob lock rekeying is a different scope than a complex mortise lock cylinder extraction and re-pinning), whether parts such as replacement cylinders or pins need to be sourced from the vehicle stock, the time of day the call comes in, and the travel distance to your address within the Toronto area. We never present a vague estimate — before any work begins, your technician confirms an exact up-front price that covers the full scope of the job. There are no after-the-fact charges for parts discovered mid-job or for time overruns on complex mortise work.
The same transparent approach applies whether you are calling for a straightforward single-door rekey in Etobicoke or a multi-suite rekeying job in a rental property in Parkdale. If your situation is complex — for example, a landlord rekeying several units after a tenant dispute — call us directly at (647) 697-0989 to discuss the scope before booking so we can schedule the right technician with the right parts load. Our team also handles commercial locksmith work on mixed-use properties, so business owners managing a live-work unit or ground-floor retail space can have every cylinder addressed in one coordinated visit.
Frequently asked questions
How is rekeying different from changing the entire lock?+
Rekeying changes only the internal pin configuration inside the existing lock cylinder so that old keys stop working and a new key is cut to the new configuration. The lock body, handle, strike plate, and mortise case all stay in place. Replacing a lock means removing all of that hardware and installing new components. Rekeying is generally quicker and retains your existing door hardware, which matters if you have a period mortise lock on a heritage Toronto home that would be difficult or expensive to match with new hardware. Full replacement makes more sense when the existing lock is damaged, worn beyond reliable service, or simply does not meet current security standards.
Can all lock types be rekeyed, including older mortise locks?+
Most pin-tumbler locks — including deadbolts, door knob lock sets, and mortise lock cylinders — can be rekeyed as long as the mechanism is in serviceable condition. Mortise locks require cylinder extraction before re-pinning, which is a more involved process than rekeying a surface-mounted deadbolt. Wafer-tumbler and disc-detainer locks used on some older Toronto properties can sometimes be rekeyed but may instead require cylinder replacement. Our technician will inspect the hardware on-site and advise you honestly if a replacement cylinder is a better outcome than a rekey, and will have the right parts on the vehicle for either path.
I just moved into a Toronto condo. Do I really need to rekey if the building has a concierge?+
Yes. A concierge controls building access, not suite access. Your suite door key was likely held at various points by the previous owner, their real estate agent, a stager, an inspector, and potentially a building superintendent. Condo buildings along corridors like Bay Street or in Liberty Village often house dozens of suites, meaning dozens of separate key chains from a single ownership cycle exist with no audit trail. Rekeying your suite cylinder — or having the building master-key system updated to a new individual key — is the only way to verify that only you and the people you choose can enter your space. Our mobile team handles this frequently for new Toronto condo owners and can coordinate with your property manager if needed.
How long does a home rekeying service typically take?+
A standard single-door deadbolt and door knob lock rekey on a modern cylindrical lock set takes roughly 20 to 40 minutes from when the technician arrives. A mortise lock cylinder extraction, re-pinning, and reinstallation adds time depending on the age and condition of the case. A whole-home rekey covering a front door, back door, side entry, and garage service door could take 60 to 90 minutes. Because we are fully mobile, the technician arrives with everything needed rather than requiring you to bring hardware to a shop. All time estimates are discussed during booking so you know what to expect before anyone arrives.
What should I do immediately after a break-in before calling a locksmith?+
First, do not re-enter the property until police have attended and confirmed it is safe — contact Toronto Police Service by calling 911 if the situation is ongoing or the non-emergency line if the incident is discovered after the fact. Once cleared, avoid touching door hardware or frames that may hold evidence. Document any damage with photos before the locksmith arrives. When you call us at (647) 697-0989, describe the points of entry that were compromised so our technician arrives with the right replacement hardware. Our emergency locksmith team can rekey undamaged locks, replace forced or damaged cylinders and mortise cases, and repair or reinforce door frames where strike plates have failed — all in the same visit.
Can a landlord rekey a rental unit after a tenant moves out, and is this legal in Ontario?+
Under Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act, a landlord may rekey or change locks between tenancies — meaning after the previous tenant has vacated and the tenancy has legally ended — provided the new tenant receives a working key before or at the start of their tenancy. It is not lawful to change locks on an occupied unit without a court order as a means of forcing a tenant out. For landlords managing properties in Toronto, our team handles multi-unit rekeying efficiently, often completing several units in a single visit, and we can provide a set of keys cut to the new configuration for both landlord and incoming tenant. If you manage rental properties and need a recurring locksmith relationship, call (647) 697-0989 to discuss how we can support your property turnover schedule.