Just Moved Into a Chicago Apartment? Rekey Before You Unpack

Rekeying is the process of reconfiguring the internal pin tumblers inside an existing lock cylinder so that the old keys no longer work — only the new ones cut to the fresh configuration do. It's not the same as replacing the entire lock, and in most cases, it's a far better fit for renters. Chicago's older apartment buildings are filled with heavy-duty mortise lock hardware — those rectangular locks set deep into the edge of the door, common in vintage six-flats and courtyard buildings throughout neighborhoods like Avondale, Logan Square, and Pilsen. A quality mortise lock is built to last decades, and there's usually no reason to pull it out and replace it just because you moved in. A trained locksmith can rekey the cylinder inside that mortise lock in a matter of minutes, giving you brand-new key control without disturbing the door frame, the strike plate, or the lock body itself.

That matters for two reasons. First, it keeps your security intact — a well-installed mortise lock is genuinely tough hardware, and swapping it out for a cheaper deadbolt just to get new keys would actually downgrade your protection. Second, it keeps your landlord happy. Most leases allow tenants to rekey (check yours — more on that below), but replacing the lock hardware entirely is a different matter and often requires landlord approval. Rekeying threads the needle perfectly: you get full key control, the landlord's hardware stays in place, and the whole process takes less time than your first trip to the grocery store.

Before scheduling a rekey, have a quick conversation — or exchange a quick text — with your landlord or property manager. Chicago's Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (RLTO) is one of the strongest tenant protection laws in the country, and it actually addresses locks directly. Under the RLTO, landlords are required to change or rekey locks between tenants upon request. That means if your landlord hasn't already done it, you can ask them to cover the service — and they may be obligated to do so. Get that conversation in writing, even if it's just a text thread. If they agree to pay, great. If they decline or drag their feet, you'll have a record of the exchange.

Ask three specific questions: First, 'Were the locks rekeyed before I moved in, and do you have documentation?' Second, 'Does my lease restrict me from rekeying the locks myself?' Third, 'Do you need a copy of the new key?' Many landlords do require a copy for emergency access or maintenance, which is completely reasonable — just make sure your locksmith cuts an extra key at the time of the rekey so you're not making a separate trip. If your lease is silent on rekeying (which is common in older Chicago buildings with boilerplate leases), you're almost certainly in the clear to proceed. When in doubt, a quick note to your landlord explaining your intention usually resolves any ambiguity before it becomes a problem.

Chicago apartments come in all vintages, and the locks on your doors reflect that history. A pre-war six-flat in Avondale is likely to have a mortise lock — that heavy rectangular mechanism set into a pocket in the door edge, operating both a latch and a deadbolt in a single unit. Newer construction or renovated units might have a cylindrical door knob lock paired with a separate deadbolt above it. Garden-level units sometimes have secondary locks on sliding doors or security bars. Before a locksmith arrives, do a quick walk-through and note every locking point on every exterior door. A professional locksmith will assess all of them, but knowing what you have helps you have a more informed conversation about what needs to be rekeyed versus what might benefit from an upgrade.

If your building has a mortise lock, count yourself lucky — it's genuinely robust hardware. The most common issue isn't the lock itself but the cylinder inside it, which is exactly what gets rekeyed. If you have a door knob lock as your only exterior lock (no separate deadbolt), that's worth discussing with your locksmith. A door knob lock alone offers limited security because the knob mechanism can be vulnerable to certain types of forced entry. Adding a deadbolt is a common, cost-effective upgrade that most landlords approve without issue. A skilled locksmith can handle all of this in a single visit — rekeying what's there and advising on what, if anything, warrants an upgrade before you get settled in.

One of the most common questions we hear is: 'How much does a locksmith cost in Chicago?' or 'How much should an emergency locksmith cost?' The honest answer is that there's no single number, and any locksmith who quotes you a firm price over the phone without knowing the specifics of your situation is guessing — or setting you up for a surprise on the invoice. The factors that shape a final quote include the type of lock involved (a mortise lock rekey is different from a simple door knob lock rekey), the number of locks being serviced, the time of day (evening and weekend calls involve different logistics than a Tuesday afternoon), and whether any parts — new cylinders, pins, or keys — need to be sourced. Travel distance within the Chicago area plays a role as well.

What you should always do — and what we always do — is confirm an exact up-front price before any work begins. Ask for that price explicitly when you call. A straightforward question like 'Can you give me the total before you start?' is completely reasonable, and any reputable professional will say yes without hesitation. If a locksmith shows up and the price suddenly climbs after the job is done without prior agreement, that's a red flag. On the question of 'How much should a locksmith cost per hour?' — most residential rekey jobs are quoted as flat service fees rather than hourly rates, so hourly billing is more common in commercial or extended service contexts. For 'Where can I find a reputable locksmith in Chicago?' — look for a local team with a verifiable Chicago address, a consistent phone number, and the willingness to confirm pricing before touching your door. That's the baseline.

Avondale Chicago Locksmith handles far more than move-in rekeying. As a 24/7 mobile locksmith serving Chicago and the surrounding area, our trained team responds to the full spectrum of residential, automotive, and commercial locksmith needs — day or night, weekday or weekend. Here's a specific look at what we cover: **Residential Services:** Mortise lock rekey, mortise lock repair and replacement, door knob lock rekey, deadbolt installation, high-security lock upgrades (Schlage, Kwikset), sliding door lock installation, apartment lockout response, house lockout response, window lock installation, mailbox lock replacement, key duplication, and master key system setup for multi-unit buildings. **Automotive Services:** Car lockout assistance, transponder key programming, key fob replacement and programming, ignition lock cylinder repair, broken key extraction from ignition or door, spare key cutting for domestic and import vehicles, and trunk lockout assistance. **Commercial Locksmith Services:** Commercial locksmith assessments for storefronts and office suites, commercial-grade mortise lock installation and repair, panic bar and exit device installation, access control system installation, keypad lock setup, master key systems for businesses, filing cabinet and desk lock service, safe installation and combination changes, and after-hours commercial lockout response. **Emergency Locksmith Services:** Our emergency locksmith response covers lockouts at any hour — if you're locked out of your apartment on a Tuesday at 2 a.m. or need a broken key extracted from your front door lock on a Sunday evening, we're available. We verify ownership before any lockout work begins and never bypass or force a lock without proper identification and documentation. Whether it's a residential, automotive, or commercial emergency, call (773) 900-4533 and we'll dispatch a trained technician to your location.

As a Chicago locksmith team, we're genuinely local — we know the difference between a vintage courtyard building on Kimball and a new-construction condo on Milwaukee Avenue, and we show up with the right tools for both. Our mobile units carry a wide inventory so that most jobs — rekeying, key cutting, lock installation — are completed in a single visit without a parts delay.

The question 'How to find a reputable locksmith in Chicago?' is worth taking seriously, because the locksmith industry has its share of bad actors. Here are the green flags to look for: a local Chicago phone number that connects directly to the team (not a national call center), a technician who arrives in a marked vehicle and carries professional identification, a clear verbal or written price confirmation before any work starts, and no pressure to upgrade services you didn't ask about. An experienced locksmith will assess your lock, explain what's needed, and give you options — not a hard sell.

Red flags include: quotes that seem implausibly low on the phone but jump dramatically once the technician arrives, vague explanations of what work is being done, and any suggestion that your lock needs to be fully drilled out or replaced when a rekey would suffice. Drilling a lock is occasionally necessary — a badly damaged lock or a seized cylinder can require it — but it should never be the first option on a standard rekey call. At Avondale Chicago Locksmith, our insured team explains every step, confirms pricing up front, and leaves you with documentation of the work performed. If you have any questions about a quote or a situation you're not sure about, call us directly at (773) 900-4533 — we answer 24/7 and we're happy to talk through what you actually need before you commit to anything.