Rekeying is the right choice in most situations. It changes the internal pins
inside the existing lock cylinder so the old key no longer works and a new key is cut to match
— without touching the hardware.
- Rekey when — the lock is in good condition and you just need to
control who has access (new home, tenancy change, lost keys)
- Replace when — the lock is old, corroded (common in coastal
properties exposed to salt air), damaged, or you want to upgrade to a higher security rating
- Cost difference — rekeying costs $40–$100 per lock vs
$150–$400+ for a full replacement
Rekeying takes 10–15 minutes per lock and requires no new hardware in most cases:
- Remove the cylinder — the locksmith removes the lock cylinder from
the door using the existing key and specialised tools
- Replace the pins — the internal driver and key pins are swapped out
to a new combination that matches the profile of the new key
- Cut and test new keys — new keys are cut to match, the cylinder is
reassembled, reinstalled, and tested for smooth operation
Single lock rekey
$50–$100
10–15 min
3-door house rekey
$150–$250
30–60 min
Callout fee (often waived on
larger jobs)
$50–$100
—
After-hours surcharge
+30–50%
—
Central Coast rates are typically 15–20% below Sydney metro
pricing. Get 3 quotes to compare before committing.
Between-tenancy rekeying is the single most cost-effective security step a property manager can
take. You can't be sure a departing tenant didn't duplicate their keys — rekeying
eliminates that risk entirely.
For managers with multiple Central Coast properties, a
master key system is worth considering — it lets you rekey at the tenant
level while keeping master access for the whole portfolio, with no need to replace hardware
between tenancies.
