Changing locks

Zeebs90

We are planning on changing ours, who knows who has a key!

SuzieSue

izzy65 wrote: »

When we bought a new build we discovered that the whole scheme had been plastered by the same company and the guy that worked there had kept a key for each property, new build is no guarantee

Yes, that is why I put additional locks on.

Fliss1122

We changed the locks when we moved and I was very glad I did as one of the old owners tried to get in! I wasn't at home at the time, but was walking home and saw them at it. Sadly I was too far away and didn't get to them before they gave up and left.

benjus

tidds wrote: »

Worth mentioning... When/if you do change the locks, keep the barrel and the original keys. When/if you move again, you can use that barrel without needing to buy a new one! We complete next Tuesday and i'll be using the lock from years ago that came with the house I bought.

I suppose that works with Yale locks. But with other lock types it's unlikely that the new place will have exactly the same size as the old place, plus older forms of Euro style lock cylinders had some pretty major security flaws so getting new ones is probably not a bad idea.

Kim72

Although an expense, always change them, I did on both moves and will on the next. Should anyone enter and a theft occurs you won't be covered by insurance as no breaking and entering occurred.

cadon

As soon as I unlocked the property, one of the locks that the agent had warned me was a bit temperamental fell off. I was going to change them anyway, so was a little bit annoyed, but it was par for the course when dealing with that agent and vendor (muppets both of them).

It might have been cheaper to change the locks myself, but given I have zero DIY skills, I called a locksmith out. He completely replaced the broken lock and changed the barrel of the other lock. Worth every penny for the peace of mind.

As well as hating the agent by that point, I knew the flat had been previously rented out to a string of tenants. When the locksmith left and I locked the door, and it was mine, all mine, and no one else in the world had a key... glorious feeling.

Given how much property costs, scrimping on the locks seems a bit daft to me!

ellie27

We didn't change any locks when we moved into our house 9 months ago. It is an 80 year old bungalow so there could be loads of folk around with keys.

We have installed an alarm, not as an alternative to changing locks or anything but just because we have always had an alarm in our homes!