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Not every locksmith call is a front door. Some of the most frustrating lockouts involve the smallest locks: a mailbox you have not been able to open for a week, a filing cabinet with the only key lost in a desk move, a padlock on a storage cage. HMS Locksmith, based in Allston, handles mailbox lock repairs and replacements in Boston along with cabinet locks, desk locks and key cutting for homes and offices.
These jobs are quick, but there are a few rules and practical details worth knowing before you call.
Mailbox locks: who is responsible
People often assume the Post Office will fix a broken mailbox lock. It is not that simple.
- The Post Office holds the master key, and each customer lock and key is different. That is why your mailbox key will not open a neighbor’s box.
- USPS can repair or change locks on boxes it is responsible for, but in our experience it typically takes one to two weeks, longer during the holiday season, and it does not make replacement mailbox keys.
- For cluster boxes at apartments and condos, the USPS rule book says purchase, installation and maintenance of mail receptacles are the responsibility of the customer, which in practice usually means the landlord or association. Owners and associations often handle it at cost with your approval, which can take one to three weeks.
- For a homeowner’s own mailbox, the responsibility is yours.
If you do not want to wait weeks for your mail, a locksmith can usually do the job the same day.
The Postal Service spells this out in section 508 of the USPS Domestic Mail Manual, which places the purchase, installation and maintenance of customer mailboxes on the customer.
How a mailbox lock job works
Our mailbox locksmith service covers lost keys, broken locks and jammed locks:
- Proof first. As long as you live at the address, the mailbox is legally yours. Show us official ID and evidence of your current address and we can start immediately.
- Lost key. We cut new keys, often from stock.
- Jammed or broken key. We can usually extract a stuck key without damage and repair the lock, so it does not need changing.
- If the lock does need replacing, we help choose one to suit your budget and security needs, and replacement usually takes about 20 minutes.
Mailbox locks exposed to the weather are especially prone to jamming, so a lock that sticks in the fall is worth dealing with before winter.
Filing cabinets and desks
Office furniture locks cause more lockouts than people expect, especially after a reorganization or when an employee leaves with the only key. We cut keys for desks and filing cabinets and install, repair or replace file cabinet locks for businesses. If several cabinets need different levels of access, they can be keyed into a master key system so a manager carries one key while staff keep keys only to their own drawers.
Padlocks and other small locks
Padlocks are not listed separately on our service pages, so call and describe the lock and what you need. Many small lock jobs can be handled on the same visit as other work. For padlocks that live outdoors on sheds, gates or storage cages, a strip of tape over the keyway and a plastic bag over the lock helps keep water and ice out through the winter.
Moving in or out
Small keys tend to go missing at move time. If you are leaving an apartment, gather the mailbox key along with your door keys and hand them back together. If you are moving in, ask whether the mailbox lock was changed for you, and plan to have it done if not.
Moving out usually comes with its own checklist, too: cleaning, final readings and handing back every key, including mailbox and storage keys.
Key cutting while we are there
Since small lock jobs are quick, they are a good time to sort out the rest of your keys. We cut keys for doorknobs and deadbolts, mailboxes, desks and filing cabinets, in our shop or on site, including laser-cut and high-security keys. In most cases we will have the right blank in stock.
Serving Chelsea, Boston and nearby towns
We handle small lock jobs across Boston, from Allston and Brighton to Dorchester and Roslindale, and in nearby cities including Chelsea, Everett and Revere. Our Chelsea locksmith page has more about service there.
Frequently asked questions
Will the Post Office replace my lost mailbox key?
USPS does not make replacement mailbox keys, and lock changes through the Post Office can take weeks. A locksmith can cut a new key or change the lock, usually the same day, once you show ID and proof of address.
Who pays for a broken apartment mailbox lock?
For cluster boxes, USPS rules put purchase, installation and maintenance on the customer, which usually means the landlord or association. Check with your property manager before booking a repair.
Can you open a filing cabinet if the key is lost?
Yes. We can open and repair or replace file cabinet locks and cut new keys, and we can set cabinets up on a master key system if you need different levels of access.
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 family-owned Orange County cleaner explains its truck-mounted hot water extraction process on its professional carpet cleaning page, a useful look at what a deep clean involves before you hand back the keys.
- A Chula Vista drain company in San Diego County uses sewer camera inspection to see what is actually inside a line before choosing a cleaning method, the same look-before-you-force approach a good locksmith takes.
Your Greater Boston Small Lock Specialists
If you are dealing with a lost mailbox key, a jammed cabinet or a padlock you cannot open anywhere in the Boston area, reach our team through the contact page with a description of the lock. Call (617) 249-4949 to arrange a visit.
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 mailbox lock and key service, or see what neighbors say in the HMS Locksmith Google reviews before you book.
