University City · 70062
Locksmith in University City, Kenner
Ranch homes off Loyola Drive, near the old Loyola-Kenner campus. Flood history, rental turnover, tired 1970s hardware. We know it well.
University City is one of the highest-turnover parts of Kenner for rekeys and one of the lowest for real emergencies. A large share of the housing rents, tenant changes are frequent, and most residential calls we take here are “the last tenant left and we do not know who has keys.” That is a $195 to $295 rekey, not a $500 emergency. We are 20 to 25 minutes from the office to University City.
Why University City is different from the rest of Kenner
University City sits along Loyola Drive in central-north Kenner and grew up around the old Loyola-Kenner satellite campus. The bulk of the housing is single-story ranch and split-level from the 1970s, plus some newer townhomes closer to Loyola.
Three things about the neighbourhood that matter for locks:
- Rental turnover. Around 40 to 50% of University City households rent, higher than the Kenner average. That means keys change hands often and old keys accumulate. Rekeying between tenants is the single most common job we do here.
- Flood history. University City has taken water in the past — most notably during the 2017 rain events and again during Arthur (18 June 2026). A submerged cylinder packs with silt and salt, and it seizes solid within days if not opened up and cleaned.
- Aging Grade 3 hardware. A lot of the original 1970s knobs and single-cylinder deadbolts are still on the doors, and they were budget grade to start with. Fifty years of Kenner humidity has done the rest. When people say “my lock finally died” here, it usually did.
Local specifics
What we see most often in University City
- Tenant turnover rekey. $105 first door, $45–$85 after. Usually done within 4 hours of the previous tenant handing keys back.
- Post-flood cylinder replacement. Cleaning is worth trying at $65 to $95, replacement runs $195 to $395 fitted.
- 1970s knob replacement. Original Grade 3 hardware finally failing. Upgrade to Grade 2 or 1 while you are there.
- Landlord lockbox fitting. For between-tenant contractor access. $75 to $165 supplied and fitted — spec marine-grade or corroded within a season.
- Broken key extraction. Tired keys in tired locks. $125 to $275.
Where you are
Streets we cover in University City
We cover the whole of University City: Loyola Drive, University Drive, University City Boulevard, the streets running east toward Roosevelt Boulevard, plus the townhome developments near the Loyola-Kenner campus.
Booking a visit
By appointmentWe agree an appointment window with you when you call. Faster in the morning, longer through the Williams Boulevard evening rush.
Adjacent neighbourhoods we run alongside: Susan Park to the west and Lincoln Manor to the north.
Prices
What we charge in University City
Same prices as everywhere else in Kenner. Same call-out inside every figure. Same “if we can’t open it you pay the $39 call-out and nothing else” rule.
| Service | Daytime | After hours |
|---|---|---|
| House lockout | $89–$185 | $145–$395 |
| Rekey, first door | $95–$185 | + after-hours fee |
| Rekey, each door after | $45–$85 | — |
| Deadbolt fitted | $195–$395 | — |
| Car lockout | $85–$195 | $125–$275 |
| Car key replaced | $150–$625 | depends on the key |
Prices shown are typical ranges. Your total is confirmed on the phone before we dispatch — and if the specific lock, vehicle or job is unusual we tell you the number before we come out. No surprise fees.
Questions
Questions from University City residents
I just took over a rental in University City and want the locks rekeyed. Cost?
$95 to $185 for the first door and $45 to $85 for each door after. Typical two-bedroom rental is $195 to $265 done. Landlord may need to authorise it if they are paying — we will ask before starting.
My locks got flooded during Arthur. Are they salvageable?
Sometimes. A cylinder that has been submerged in floodwater packs with silt and salt and often seizes within days. Immediate cleaning and lubrication ($65 to $95) can save it if we get to it in the first week. Beyond that, replacement is honest — $195 to $395 fitted for a deadbolt.
I am a landlord with a few University City properties. Do you do bulk rekeys?
Yes. See our page for landlords & property managers — per-door pricing agreed in advance, multiple units in one visit, documented keying schedules on paper and as a PDF.
Why do my locks stiffen up in University City summer?
Salt and humidity condense inside the cylinder and corrode the pins and springs. It happens across all of Kenner but University City sits close to Lake Pontchartrain and takes more of it. A clean-and-lubricate ($95 to $185) usually restores full function before the key snaps.
How fast can you get to University City?
We agree an appointment window with you when you call. Faster in the morning, longer during Williams Boulevard evening rush.
We had a break-in attempt. What should I do?
First: rekey the whole property immediately — whoever tried the front door may have keys to the back or the garage. Second: fit reinforcement plates and 3-inch screws through the strike — most forced entries fail the frame, not the lock. $30 in parts, twenty minutes if you fit them, $125 to $225 if we do it while we are there.
Need a locksmith in University City?
20 to 25 minutes to University City. Rental turnover and post-flood specialists.
Where else we go from here
University City is minutes from Metairie, and the rental turnover pattern is identical either side of the line. We handle both, along with Elmwood.