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Original poster

Do you change the locks/front door/ toilet seat when you move house?

113 replies

Aquacrab · 14/12/2024 12:27

Did you change the locks/front door/ toilet seat when you moved house?

Seems common sense to change the locks, although I hadn't actually thought about it until recently. My friend is moving and the seller they bought house from lives a short walk from the house 🤔Seller dragged their heels for ages and left the house quite untidy. They left a number of keys for the door. Friend wonders how many other copies of the key might exist.

OP posts:
ChickenNuggetFromSpencies · 17/12/2024 11:07

Outside locks immediately. I did it even in rentals after I realised someone was coming to pick up mail in one.... Honestly thought I was going crazy at one point.

GasPanic · 17/12/2024 11:06

You don't know who the last occupant has given keys to. And you don't know who those people might have cut and given keys to. So best to replace them.

Also new builds and older houses often have the cheapest barrel locks fitted, that can be broken into in about 10 seconds with a screwdriver and a mole wrench. They may even have older locks refitted when the last owners left the house that might be compromised.

So fitting new ones (which is very easy to do if you have watched any you tube videos) is very much recommended.

MrsClatterbuck · 17/12/2024 10:08

We had new neighbours who replaced the actual toilets. How do I know well they had them all taken out and were sitting on the front lawn.

Edingril · 17/12/2024 10:06

What is the difference in a toilet seat in a house that makes you need to change it but public toilets are fine?

echt · 17/12/2024 10:01

On any property I've bought I've changed the locks. I'm reminded of our first Australian house where we booked a locksmith entirely based on the name: Goldie Locks. Grin

gannett · 17/12/2024 08:48

Never occurred to me to do any of the above though I grant that changing locks makes sense. We didn't change them and after 4 years haven't had any instances of the old owners or their mates popping round unexpectedly though. Is the toilet seats one just MN germphobia again? Just wash them properly!

We did end up changing the front door after a year because it needed it.

Bellyblueboy · 17/12/2024 06:54

BoyzIIMen · 17/12/2024 04:27

Sorry but that's a bit naive.

Loads of builders could have keys!

Show quote history

When I moved into my first build the development was still a building site. The builders let themselves in to check work without knocking or asking. They claimed they forgot someone had moved in!

Lobstercrisps · 17/12/2024 05:41

caringcarer · 17/12/2024 03:31

Yes I have btl houses and when a tenant leaves DH always changes the locks. How would we know if the previous tenants had any spare keys made and gave them to people?

Wow we also have rentals and again this never occurred to me! I trust that the person who has paid me £1300 a month for two years isn't the type to rob a future tenant!!

BoyzIIMen · 17/12/2024 04:27

EmmerdaleFan78 · 14/12/2024 17:14

No but it’s a good idea. Our current house was bought off plan so all good there.

Sorry but that's a bit naive.

Loads of builders could have keys!

caringcarer · 17/12/2024 03:31

Aquacrab · 14/12/2024 13:18

Surely there's a law against them letting themselves in?

Show quote history

That is so weird.

caringcarer · 17/12/2024 03:31

Yes I have btl houses and when a tenant leaves DH always changes the locks. How would we know if the previous tenants had any spare keys made and gave them to people?

NotVeryFunny · 17/12/2024 02:51

No to all of it.

ForGreyKoala · 17/12/2024 02:05

No, never - didn't even know it was a thing.

Actually, I don't think it is a thing here (not in the UK)

Original poster
Aquacrab · 17/12/2024 01:23

The person they bought the place from lives a short walk from the it. Imagine if he's untrustworthy (in any way) and has kept a copy of the key. He lives minutes from the house. I mean, I hadn't really thought about it all until now. But it brings to mind the Jo Yeates case. Also, someone said he seemed nice because "he left a nice card". Umm. Virginia McCullough gave nice cards and gifts to her neighbours 😵‍💫 So, um.. yeah.

And yeah, you don't know if exes still have their keys and just didn't give them back etc. I mean, you literally don't know.

OP posts:
MagneticSquirrel · 15/12/2024 18:31

Locks - yes that’s is done as soon as anything of any value is in the new property. Anyone could have copies of keys, previous owners, disgruntled exes (that don’t know about move), criminals!

LakieLady · 15/12/2024 18:15

I've never changed any of them. It's never even occurred to me.

I'll leave all the keys for the new owners when I (eventually) move from here. When I had the doors and windows replaced, the locks on the new doors are very high security ones and you can't just get spares cut, you have to order them from the company that makes them and quote a unique reference number. And they're bloody expensive!

K0OLA1D · 15/12/2024 18:07

emmax1980 · 15/12/2024 18:06

Council house no as they do it, private rented no as landlord does it but always change the loo seat in both

I've rented both council (x2) and private and neither had locks changed prior to me moving in

emmax1980 · 15/12/2024 18:06

Council house no as they do it, private rented no as landlord does it but always change the loo seat in both

HollyChristmas · 15/12/2024 17:48

Yes to all locks including outdoor side gates & sheds . And another yes to toilet seats .

RedRiverShore5 · 15/12/2024 17:45

No but after about 6 months we had all new doors and windows anyway, can't remember about toilet seats, it was nearly 30 years ago

Jeezitneverends · 15/12/2024 17:44

TeaMeBasil · 14/12/2024 12:42

Why would you need to change the front door itself?

our doors were 60 years old and held together with paint 😂. They got changed quite quickly.

We didn’t change the locks in the meantime as the house had been owned by the same family for 50 odd years and I kind of know them

Londoneye20 · 15/12/2024 17:44

Yes

Alwaystired23 · 15/12/2024 17:41

Yes, we did change the locks. We also had a new bathroom straight away as there were major problems with the old one!

dynamiccactus · 15/12/2024 17:41

I didn't think to change the locks when we moved into our current house, but about six months after we moved in we changed the windows and doors, so the locks were changed then anyway.

Loo seat, no, only when it came off.

Door - yes but as part of a bigger change of windows.

ACynicalDad · 15/12/2024 17:38

The only thing I'd consider changing would be the front door and that would be largely to what I made of the previous people and how long they'd been there or if it had been let. Loo seat!!! Nah.