Changing the locks....

todayisagreatday

We did. The vendor did our viewing accompanied by his son (as he didn't drive). The son had been doing work around the garden etc and totally creeped us out. Clearly an alcoholic as in both viewings he had drunk driven, the sheds had enough empty Stella cans to fill a skip from 'a couple of pints whilst gaedening' and he made a couple of sexual innuendo remarks to us both. We were batsh*t scared the son was going to come round after we moved in. Also get the alarm code changed too.

Nasqueron

One of the selling points I guess of our house, were we ever to sell it, is a secure front bike shed - the house is close enough to commute into the city in 30 minutes on bike or ride to a train station 3/4 of a mile away. I can get a replacement key cut only with relevant security checks with the manufacturer and could easily, were I that way inclined, have a copy made, sell the house and then help myself in a week or so to whatever they stored.



Of course I'd change the locks, only takes one muppet losing a keyring with the address on it (lent to the pet sitter or whatever) and anyone can be in. Peace of mind in knowing only you have the keys is invaluable

hazyjo

Never have, always say I definitely will.

One of those questions only you yourself can answer. Really can't see how it matters what anyone else does. I would advise changing them, but don't practice what I preach!

Marvel1

I did it for mine.

SavvySaver24

Appreciate you can buy cheap locks but in terms of getting a locksmith to fit them how much are we talking?

moneyistooshorttomention

No big deal to pay the cost of having a locksmith in even to change the locks. My 3 (back door, front door, boiler room door) were being changed by a locksmith for me literally the day I moved in here.

Seem to recall it was less than £100 for the 3 of them and his labour.

I wouldnt dream of not changing the locks.

Out of interest someone else may recall/like to give a link to a recent thread on here where a family came back to find the boyfriend/husband of last owner in the house having a right rant at them etc - as he'd been away and she'd sold the house behind his back.

We've also heard about previous owners coming back to retrieve belongings they left in the house - ie the new owner knew they were now theirs - but the PO had come along/let themselves in/stolen them.

Who knows what may happen all round if locks havent been changed on a house - as others have said we all tend to give spare keys to various people at different points and any one of them could have had a spare key cut that we don't know about.

Davesnave

Some of us live in places where doors are rarely locked. Sadly, I think that's probably changing.

There was one house burglary in our village last year; the first for many years, but it was opportunists from outside the area, which meant they were recognised as suspicious by locals. Lurk here, and you'll be noticed and quite probably spoken to. These guys cleared off after only one theft, but it was one too many.

A good pair of neighbour's eyes + a brain that cares enough is still a useful addition to whatever security devices people have.

kingfisherblue

I advised my daughter and son-in-law to change the locks on their house when they bought it four years ago. Two days ago, a chap turned up wanting his belongings. He said that he was the previous owner (everything was dealt with via an agent, so my daughter and SiL didn't meet the previous owners). He had obviously been drinking, and another neighbour lower down had already contacted the police because of anti-social behaviour.

Slinky

We didn't bother, but we're renting the house out at the moment. When we get it back to move in ourselves, we'll do it then.

nyermen

Currently house hunting, and have seen my agent locking up with his set of keys, just as another agent arrives for a viewing with another set of keys. Who knows how many copies there are.

So first on my list of two mandatory things to do on completion, is change the locks!
(second is change the toilet seats!! )