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HMS Locksmith is an Allston-based locksmith that handles home, business and car locks across Boston, Quincy, Cambridge, Somerville and the wider metro area. Not every call is about a front door. Some of the most stressful ones involve small locks: a storage unit padlock, a bike lock outside a T station, a backyard gate, a mailbox or a safe.
When it comes to lost keys for these smaller locks, the question is rarely whether the lock can be opened. Most can. The real questions are who has the right to ask for it, whose property the lock is on, and whether opening it or replacing it makes more sense. This guide walks through each case.
The one rule that applies to all of them
A locksmith opens locks for the person who has the right to open them. That means you should expect to be asked to show that you own the item or have permission to access it. For mailbox work, for example, HMS asks for official ID and proof of your current address before starting.
It also means some jobs need someone else’s sign-off first. A storage facility, a condo association or the post office may control the property even when the lock is yours.
Storage unit locks
You lost the key to the padlock on your storage unit. The lock is probably yours, but the building, the hallway and the unit belong to the storage company, and your rental agreement sets the rules.
Start with the facility, not a locksmith. Storage operators generally tell customers to contact the facility manager about a lost key and warn against cutting their own lock, since that can damage the facility or your belongings. Many facilities keep a written lock cut authorization, which records who asked for the lock to be cut, when and why. Ask the manager:
- Whether they cut locks themselves or allow an outside locksmith on site.
- What ID and paperwork they need from you.
- Whether your account needs to be current first.
- Which type of lock they want on the unit afterward.
Once the facility has signed off, a locksmith can open or remove the lock and you can fit a new one.
Bike locks
A bike lock is small, but it is designed to resist exactly the tools a thief would use, so the right approach depends on the type of lock and how it was made. Cable locks, chain locks and U-locks all behave differently.
Before you call anyone, gather what shows the bike is yours: a purchase receipt, a photo of you with the bike, the serial number from the frame or a registration record. Opening a bike lock on a public street draws attention, and a careful locksmith will want to see that evidence. Also dig out any paperwork that came with the lock, including a key number or registration card, and have it ready when you call.
Gate locks
Gates at the side of a house, in a fenced yard or at a building entrance often use padlocks, keyed latches or keypad locks. If the gate is on your own property, a locksmith can usually open the lock, rekey it or replace it with something better suited to outdoor use. HMS lists gate locks among its residential services.
If the gate belongs to your building or condo association, check with the property manager first. Shared gates are common areas, and changing the lock without the association’s agreement can lock out other residents and emergency access.
Mailbox locks
Mailboxes have their own rules because the post office is involved. As our mailbox locksmith services page explains, only the post office holds a master key, so each tenant lock and key is different. The USPS can change a mailbox lock but does not make replacement keys, and it typically takes them one to two weeks, longer during the holidays.
For apartment and condo mailboxes, the owner or management is generally responsible for tenant locks, while the post office controls the master door and the arrow lock. Never tamper with those. A locksmith can replace your individual compartment lock, and HMS typically completes a replacement in about 20 minutes once ID and proof of address are checked.
Under section 508 of the USPS Domestic Mail Manual, maintaining a customer mailbox is the customer’s job, so the owner or manager arranges the lock change.
Safes
HMS offers safe opening and repair along with installation of personal safes. Safes come with very different lock types, from simple keyed locks to dial and electronic locks, so describe yours when you call, have your proof of ownership ready and ask the technician to talk you through the options before anything is drilled.
What a locksmith will not do
There are some situations where a reputable locksmith will say no or wait:
- The person asking cannot show ownership or permission.
- The lock is on property controlled by someone else who has not agreed, such as a storage facility, association or landlord.
- The lock is USPS property, such as a master door or arrow lock.
- The request involves someone else’s vehicle, bike or storage without their consent.
That is not unhelpfulness. It is the same check that protects your things when someone else calls about them.
When a stuck lock is not the problem
Gates and outbuildings sometimes stop latching because the ground has shifted. A gate post leaning after a wet season, or a shed door that will not line up, can be a sign of drainage or water trouble rather than a bad lock. Inside a house, a door that suddenly sticks near a bathroom or kitchen can point to moisture in the floor, so rule out water before blaming the lock.
Frequently asked questions
Can a locksmith open my storage unit if I lost the key?
Usually, but only after the storage facility agrees. Contact the facility manager first, because the rental agreement sets who can cut a lock and what ID they need. Once they sign off, a locksmith can open or remove the lock.
Can a locksmith make a key for my mailbox?
A locksmith can replace your individual mailbox lock and give you new keys, often faster than waiting for the post office. The master door and arrow lock belong to USPS and must not be touched. Expect to show ID and proof of address first.
Trusted Local Network
We like to point readers toward businesses that do careful work in their own trades and markets. Two worth a look:
- A Ventura County, California, company that focuses on slab leak detection and repair is a useful reminder to rule out water under the floor before blaming a lock for a door that suddenly sticks.
- A San Fernando Valley tree care company handles everything from routine tree trimming to limited-access removals, the kind of yard work that keeps branches off gates and sheds.
Your Greater Boston Lost Key Specialists
If you have lost keys to a storage padlock, gate, mailbox or safe anywhere in the Boston area, reach our team through the contact page and tell us what the lock is on and who owns the property. Call (617) 249-4949 and we will tell you what we need to get started.
HMS Locksmith is based in Allston and serves Boston and nearby communities across Suffolk, Middlesex, Norfolk and Essex counties, including Cambridge, Somerville, Brookline, Newton and Quincy. Learn more about our key cutting service, or see what neighbors say in the HMS Locksmith Google reviews before you book.
