Lock Change for West Hollywood homes
West Hollywood is dense urban housing — 1920s-30s apartment buildings, mid-century duplexes, and modern condos packed into compact lots — and the lock work pattern here is dominated by frequent renter turnover and post-breakup move-in security. Renters move in and out roughly every twelve to eighteen months, and the immediate need on every move-in is to invalidate keys held by the previous tenant, their friends, the cleaner, and the building manager's emergency stash. Rekey if your lease allows it; if not, the building manager handles it.
Post-breakup lock changes are also common in WeHo and follow a different pattern — usually one person staying in the apartment, the other moving out, and the question is whether to rekey or replace. Rekey is enough mechanically and costs less. But many WeHo renters also choose to upgrade to a smart lock at the same time, partly for a fresh-start feeling and partly to retire the physical key entirely. August retrofit is the common pick for renters because it does not modify the existing exterior hardware and reverses cleanly at lease end.
About lock change
Lock change is the umbrella term for three different jobs that often get confused: rekeying an existing lock so old keys no longer work, swapping the entire lock hardware for a new mechanical deadbolt or knob, and converting a traditional lock to a smart lock with keypad or app entry. Each costs different money, takes different time, and protects you in slightly different ways. The right answer depends on whether the existing hardware is in good condition, whether you want backward compatibility with old keys, and whether the door has been kicked, drilled, or worn out from years of use across the Los Angeles rental market.
Read the full Lock Change guide →Pricing in West Hollywood
$80–280 typical range for West Hollywood jobs.
Rekey runs $80 to $180 in Los Angeles for the first lock and $15 to $40 per additional cylinder rekeyed in the same visit. Kwikset SmartKey rekeys sit at the lower end because the work is faster and no pinning kit is needed. Schlage and other non-SmartKey rekeys sit at the upper end because the cylinder has to be removed, the pins have to be cut, and a licensed locksmith is doing the work. If a rekey quote comes in under $60 for a single Schlage cylinder, ask what is included — service-call fees and key fees often get added on arrival.
West Hollywood lock change FAQ
I'm a WeHo renter — can I install a smart lock on my apartment door?+
Check your lease first. Many WeHo buildings prohibit modifying exterior hardware, but August retrofit and Yale Assure SL retrofit kits keep the existing exterior cylinder unchanged and only motorize the interior thumbturn — most landlords accept these because nothing visible changes. Reverses cleanly at lease end. Confirm in writing with the landlord before installing.
My ex moved out — should I rekey or replace my WeHo apartment lock?+
Rekey is enough mechanically and costs $80 to $180 — old keys stop working, hardware stays. Replacing is only necessary if the lock is mechanically worn or you want a different brand or finish. Many WeHo renters use the moment to upgrade to a smart lock with rotating codes, which retires physical keys entirely.
Can the building manager still get into my WeHo unit if I install a smart lock?+
If you used a retrofit smart lock like August or Yale Assure SL, yes — the existing exterior cylinder is unchanged, so the manager's master key still works. If you did a full-replacement smart lock and the new one was not keyed into the building's master system, the manager loses physical access. Coordinate with the manager before any full-replacement install.
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