Apartment Lock Rekeying
Moving into a new apartment in New York City — whether it's a pre-war walkup in the East Village, a high-rise in Midtown, or a brownstone unit in Park Slope — means inheriting whatever key history came before you. Previous tenants, former roommates, landlords, contractors, and building staff may all have copies of your keys floating around the city. Lock rekeying is the smartest, most cost-effective way to take real ownership of your space the moment you get the keys. Rather than replacing the entire lock hardware, a trained technician reconfigures the internal pin tumblers so that all old keys become permanently useless — only your new keys will work.
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week · Licensed, bonded & insured
“Seaman Locksmith NYC is a 24/7 mobile locksmith serving all five boroughs and the greater New York area. We come directly to your apartment door, equipped to rekey everything from a standard Kwikset door knob lock to a heavy-duty mortise lock on the same visit. Whether you just signed a new lease, had a roommate move out, or simply realized it's been years since your locks were changed, our experienced, insured technicians make the process smooth, damage-free where possible, and completely transparent — with an exact up-front price confirmed before any work begins.
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 New York, we reach the New York 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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between lock rekeying and an apartment lock change?+
Rekeying means a technician removes the lock cylinder and replaces the internal key pins so that new keys operate the lock and all old keys no longer work. The existing hardware — the cylinder housing, the deadbolt body, the mortise lock case — stays in place. An apartment lock change means installing entirely new lock hardware. Rekeying is typically the right call when your existing locks are in good mechanical condition and you simply need to invalidate old keys after a move or roommate change. A full lock change is better when the hardware is worn, damaged, incompatible with rekeying, or when you want to upgrade your security level at the same time. Our technician will inspect your locks on arrival and give you an honest recommendation for your specific situation.
How quickly can Seaman Locksmith NYC reach my apartment?+
We operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week across all five boroughs and the surrounding New York area, and we dispatch from mobile units already in the field. Response times vary based on your location and current demand, but we give you a realistic estimated arrival window when you call — not an open-ended 'sometime today' range. Whether you're in a walkup in Washington Heights or a high-rise near Hudson Yards, call us at (646) 791-4163 and we'll confirm how quickly we can be there.
Can you rekey a mortise lock, or do those need to be replaced?+
Yes — mortise lock rekeying is a core part of what we do, and our technicians are specifically trained and experienced with mortise lock cylinders. These locks are common in New York's pre-war and mid-century apartment buildings, and while they require more care and specialized tooling than a standard deadbolt, they are absolutely rekeyable. In most cases, the mortise lock cylinder can be removed, rekeyed, and reinstalled without disturbing the rest of the hardware or the door. We carry the pin kits and tools for common mortise lock formats and confirm viability on arrival.
Do I need my landlord's permission to rekey my apartment locks in New York City?+
New York City's housing laws generally give tenants rights regarding lock security, and in many cases tenants can have locks rekeyed. However, lease terms vary, and in some buildings landlords are legally required to provide copies of new keys. We strongly recommend reviewing your lease and, if uncertain, speaking with your landlord or a tenant's rights organization before we begin work. Our job is to perform the rekeying — advising on lease obligations is outside our scope. We can tell you exactly what work we'll do and what hardware we'll touch so you have full information before making that conversation with your building.
How much does it cost to rekey apartment locks in NYC?+
We do not publish flat rates because the right price depends on several real factors: the type of lock (a basic door knob lock costs less than a full mortise lock), the number of locks being rekeyed in the same visit, the time of day you need service, the distance our technician travels to your address, and whether any specialized parts are needed. What we commit to is giving you an exact price before any work starts — not a range, not an estimate that grows after the job. Call us at (646) 791-4163 and we'll walk through the specifics of your situation and confirm your price upfront.
What if I need more than rekeying — can you handle a full lock replacement on the same visit?+
Absolutely. Our mobile technicians carry replacement cylinders and lock hardware for common apartment lock types, including deadbolts, door knob locks, and mortise lock cylinders, so if the inspection reveals that your existing lock is too worn, damaged, or outdated to rekey reliably, we can complete a full lock replacement on the same visit without rescheduling. We'll explain what we found and why we recommend replacement over rekeying before we do anything, so you're always making an informed decision.