Do you Change The Locks?

G_M

Why has no one mentioned insurance?

If the previous owner's cleaner lets themselves in and walks off with your TV, laptop, hifi, etc not only will you lose your self, and feel all the violation of someone being in your home, but your insurance almost certainly won't pay out - no breaking and entering.

fairy_lights

Yes, after years of renting and having one particularly awful landlady who used to let herself in whenever she fancied, I really appreciate the security of knowing random person is going to walk in.

LKRDN_Morgan

Never. And to be be honest I've never even thought about it until this came up in another thread. Probably will do in our new house but it's not something I've budgeted for so will have to wait a month or so

NeilCr

First house - didn't cross our minds.

First property by myself was a new build

Second property by myself (this one) - no-one had actually lived in.

So didn't consider it necessary

I suspect the other thing is my own experience. As I said in the other thread I know lots of people who have moved (including serial movers) - none of them changed the locks and none of them have had any problems. I can see that it is a good idea but there don't appear to be that many horror stories around this subject

I just spoke about this with my OH who used to be an EA. She said most people didn't

moneyistooshorttomention

Mind firmly boggling now - at the thought most people apparently don't do so.

G_M is right that insurance companies wouldnt cover thefts where there hadnt been a break-in (eg because someone had used a key that still worked).

I wouldnt dream of "letting Life just happen to me" if I can help it (imo it's something one Plans) and take the view one can at least prevent some bad stuff of "Life just happening to you" (eg break-ins) - even if you haven't much control over bringing good stuff into your life.

wantonnoodle

Yes - we bought our first house in Feb this year and our first job on picking the keys up was to go round and measure up the locks for new barrels. We changed the inside front door (left the porch as is), the back door and the patio doors. Though we didn't budget for the gearbox on the multipoint locks on the patio doors failing after we'd changed the lock. As such, the patio door was tied shut from the inside with a length of rope for about 2 weeks until I could get the £60 together for a replacement gearbox.

The house was tenanted before it went on the market though, so I wasn't happy at not knowing who had keys.

kingstreet

Surely we should have had a poll, as well as another thread about changing locks...?

Just make sure there's a 'CBA' option, just for me.

Ta muchly.

missprice

Bah,posted huge reply and lost it

In short.
First flat, came home one day to find furniture moved, don't believe in ghosts, convinced myself I imagined it,few weeks later, man (previous tenant) and another man let themselves in. I was 16. I didn't know that locks could be changed back then so it took me a whole day of calling people to find out needed locksmith and a king's ransom but at least I got the only keys.

Being dim and blonde I never learn, evidently, many years later in a house this time. I was asleep in the daytime in my bedroom. Woke up to footsteps on the stairs. Someone was in the house, they came upstairs, they breathed quite heavily over me, I was terrified and pretended to be asleep. What seemed like a lifetime later they left, I heard them close and lock outside door. Same day locks were changed.

As I never want that to happen again, and if there was a next time I might not be so lucky, I change all house locks the day we get keys. It's cheap, it's easy, it saves being terrified. Garage/shed can wait a bit.

kingstreet

missprice wrote: »

Bah,posted huge reply and lost it

In short.
First flat, came home one day to find furniture moved, don't believe in ghosts, convinced myself I imagined it,few weeks later, man (previous tenant) and another man let themselves in. I was 16. I didn't know that locks could be changed back then so it took me a whole day of calling people to find out needed locksmith and a king's ransom but at least I got the only keys.

Being dim and blonde I never learn, evidently, many years later in a house this time. I was asleep in the daytime in my bedroom. Woke up to footsteps on the stairs. Someone was in the house, they came upstairs, they breathed quite heavily over me, I was terrified and pretended to be asleep. What seemed like a lifetime later they left, I heard them close and lock outside door. Same day locks were changed.

As I never want that to happen again, and if there was a next time I might not be so lucky, I change all house locks the day we get keys. It's cheap, it's easy, it saves being terrified. Garage/shed can wait a bit.

If you use Chrome, you just press the back button and your text will still be there. I learned that the hard way.

snoop2008

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Mind firmly boggling now - at the thought most people apparently don't do so.

G_M is right that insurance companies wouldnt cover thefts where there hadnt been a break-in (eg because someone had used a key that still worked).

I wouldnt dream of "letting Life just happen to me" if I can help it (imo it's something one Plans) and take the view one can at least prevent some bad stuff of "Life just happening to you" (eg break-ins) - even if you haven't much control over bringing good stuff into your life.

I agree , when I moved into my property, I was alone with my baby girl.. the property was basically empty, floor boards, only had the beds and baby stuff. At night every sound echo's, so the slightest noise would wake me.


I think for myself, that sound, of keys , someone trying to access my home, has to be the one I wont ever forget. For many it might not be on the list of priorities, but I wouldn't and will never give some stranger danger the opportunity to enter my home without me having something to do with it. Meaning changing locks.


I also agree with G.M. regarding insurance.. I cant remember where I read about the type of deadlock or mortice lock that needs to be used for insurance purposes.