Should we change the locks

Ciderarmy1987

Hi

We are hoping to complete on a house very soon, quick question though.

Is it normal to change to locks after you have moved in? What have other people done? Does it cost much to get a locksmith out to do this, or is it an easy job I could do myself?

Cheers

ognum

Yes, change the locks on day 1.

LandyAndy

I never have and it has never caused me a moments concern nor have I ever had any problems as a result.

blckbrd

Change like for like and it's simple as pie. Plenty of videos online for different door/lock types.

Werdnal

Yes, very wise, and you can do it yourself in most cases. Check You Tube for guidance, see what lock you have and look online/in DIY stores for replacement barrels - not usually expensive.

AlexMac

Agreed- I always do- as who knows who has keys. In fact last time, I bought my buyer 2 new locks and simply took my old ones with me. This saved me from having to pay the extra £20-30 to get loads of extra keys cut for the kids, the grandkids, the other keyholders and the cats.

As people have said, above, its an easy DIY job to switch like for like; £20-£40 in materials, and if you screw it, call a handyman rather than a a locksmith- at a cost of anything from £100 up.

If you have a conventional chubb-style deadlock set into the edge of the door- the kind most commonly fitted - you can get away with just changing that, as that's the one you lock when you're out. Undo the two screws holding it into the door, lever it out and take it to the store to get an exact match. You probably won't even have to chisel out any more wood or move the plate into which it slots in the door-frame if you can find one the same size. Changing the yale barrel (the round bit you see from outside) is even simpler- you don't need to change the whole thing.

The 'Eurolock' barrel as fitted to modern plastic double glazed doors is even easier- once you've worked out that its secured by a single long screw from the leading edge which, like the screws that hold in a chubb, above, is visible only when the door is open.

And as you're a FTB, you're gonna have to learn how to do DIY stuff - or spend loads of dough paying people for little jobs- so why not start with this one?

cattie

I've moved numerous times over the years & have never changed the locks in any of my new properties. As with LandyAndy, it has never caused me any concern.

I'm a very trusting person in nature & perhaps that plays a big part in such decision making.

Malks

Have moved quite a few times and have never changed the locks in any the places I have bought. Never even thought about doing it and haven’t had any issues.

adamzetec

For the sake of about £10 per lock (look on eBay) and unscrewing a couple of screws, why wouldn't you change it? It's very easy to do and one less thing to worry about.

G_M

Who has copies of the keys? The previous owners; their children; children's boyfrend; the cleaner; the babysitter; that odd-job man they used 2 months ago; the decorator; the previous previous owners; .......

Take out the barel of a yale lock and replace (£5?) and change the mortice (£20?). Keep them.

Next time you move, use them to replace locks on that house.

I have done this during around 8 moves - only need to buy 3 locks in all that time.

(don't forget to keep all the keys to each lock!)

PasturesNew

I did it in one house, but that was because the original one only had one key and I wanted a second lock too, so seemed best just to do it.

Generally speaking, if you've got a feel for the area and know who was there last/in the past, it is possible to make a judgement call.

I sold my parents' house last year and the new people will have no worries as nobody but me and my parents ever had a key to it - and only I am alive/able to physically get to the house .... and I am not of a criminal nature, or similar.

Judge it based on your knowledge, experience, the area, the people.....