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Changing the locks....

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  • System
    System Posts: 178,093 Community Admin
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    My parents never have changed the locks, but they have changed the burglar alarm code.
  • Margot123
    Margot123 Posts: 1,116 Forumite
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    Take a new set of locks when you first enter the property, and don't leave it till you've installed the new ones.
  • LandyAndy
    LandyAndy Posts: 26,377 Forumite
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    I have never changed the locks.

    However on my current house I have at various times changed all four external doors so the locks are now different from those when I bought. ;)
  • davidmcn
    davidmcn Posts: 23,596 Forumite
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    Margot123 wrote: »
    Take a new set of locks when you first enter the property, and don't leave it till you've installed the new ones.
    Or rather more sensibly, check what types of locks you need after you arrive, and then go out and buy them.
  • moneyistooshorttomention
    moneyistooshorttomention Posts: 17,940 Forumite
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    It had slipped my mind re the one thing that happened to me - quite some time back.

    A previous tenant (that was back in the days I was renting) turned up and tried to get in. Courtesy of being "under the influence" he'd got it in his mind he still lived there:eek: Thankfully he wasnt able to let himself in (courtesy of a lock change) and the situation was resolved okay. But I don't fancy the thought of how things might have gone if he had just been able to let himself in...
  • Norman_Castle
    Norman_Castle Posts: 11,871 Forumite
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    SavvySaver24 wrote: »
    Appreciate you can buy cheap locks but in terms of getting a locksmith to fit them how much are we talking?
    If you have euro locks its easy to do yourself. Try removing and refitting one of your current locks.
    Spend the money you save by fitting them yourself on better locks.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9A915L_mlk
  • Davesnave
    Davesnave Posts: 34,741 Forumite
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    davidmcn wrote: »
    Or rather more sensibly, check what types of locks you need after you arrive, and then go out and buy them.
    Yes, mortice locks in particular aren't all the same size, so having the old one to measure is important.
  • pinkteapot
    pinkteapot Posts: 8,040 Forumite
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    I've never bothered. :o
  • Out,_Vile_Jelly
    Out,_Vile_Jelly Posts: 4,842 Forumite
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    My front door has two locks, I just changed the Yale (a few quid from B&Q, plus 4 mins of my dad's time with a screwdriver). I bought in a probate sale from an elderly lady who had carers and a gardener and who knows what else coming round.

    After all those years renting when you had the LL, agent, agent's dodgy handyman and x number of former tenants with potential access, it was really nice to know it was just me who could get in.
    They are an EYESORES!!!!
  • wesleyad
    wesleyad Posts: 754 Forumite
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    SavvySaver24 wrote: »
    Appreciate you can buy cheap locks but in terms of getting a locksmith to fit them how much are we talking?

    I honestly wouldn't know about a locksmith...but please check out how easy it is to do first. It's normally a couple of screws from the side and then put key in and turn to 10 o'clock and pull out barrel. There's not drilling etc (maybe you are thinking of when locksmiths come round to drill locks, that's when they dont have a key).

    I kid you not, my mum rang me a few weeks ago to tell me she'd done it for my sister's new house. If you've never met my mum, she's the sort or person that would struggle to know the right end of a hammer.

    Barrels from £10 at screwfix etc.
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