Question 1

My lease says I cannot change my apartment lock — can my landlord actually enforce that in NYC?

Accepted Answer

No. NYC Administrative Code §27-2043 gives every tenant the right to change their own apartment door lock, regardless of what the lease says. The lease clause is unenforceable. Your only obligation is to provide the landlord a copy of the new key within 30 days. We rekey your lock and cut the landlord copy on the spot at no extra charge.

Question 2

I just moved into a Brooklyn apartment — do I really need to change the locks?

Accepted Answer

Yes, always. You have no way of knowing how many copies of the previous tenant's key exist. Former roommates, ex-partners, building staff, Airbnb guests, the landlord's handyman — any of them may have a copy. Rekeying costs $65–$85 per lock and takes 20 minutes. It is the single cheapest home security investment you can make.

Question 3

What is the strongest deadbolt I can put on my Brooklyn apartment door?

Accepted Answer

For apartment doors, the Medeco Maxum and Mul-T-Lock MT5+ are the highest-rated residential deadbolts available. Both are ANSI Grade 1, pick-resistant, bump-resistant, and use restricted keyways so keys cannot be copied without authorization. For most Brooklyn renters, a Schlage B60N (Grade 1, under $100) is excellent value. We recommend based on your door type and door frame condition — a great lock on a weak frame still fails.

Question 4

My building super has a master key that opens my apartment — can I stop that?

Accepted Answer

In NYC, building supers and landlords are permitted to have key access to your unit for emergencies and inspections (with proper notice under Real Property Law). You cannot legally block this access. However, you can install a secondary lock — like a door bar or chain — for nighttime use that gives you a physical layer while you are home. For concerns about unauthorized entry, document everything and consult a tenant attorney.

Question 5

I am a landlord — what is the right process for changing locks between tenants?

Accepted Answer

Between tenants, you must rekey or replace the lock before the new tenant takes possession — this is both good practice and required by many NYC leases. We do same-day landlord rekeying throughout Brooklyn. If the tenant has not vacated, do not change the lock — that is an illegal lockout and can result in civil liability and criminal charges. Wait for legal possession, then call us.

Service	Price Range	Typical Time
Apartment lockout	$75–$125	15–25 min
Lock rekeying (per lock)	$65–$85	20 min
Lock replacement (installed)	$95–$175	30–45 min
Smart lock installation	$120–$250	45–60 min
Deadbolt installation	$95–$175	30–45 min
Key duplication	$5–$85	10 min
Broken key extraction	$65–$95	20–30 min

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