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Original poster

To change the locks after the workmen are done?

179 replies

MaybeTomorrowItllBeOK · 10/07/2023 20:00

Evening.

Asking here for the traffic.

Have just bought a new house.

For me #1 job was replace the locks.

But actually for the next week or so we have the option of leaving the workmen (getting some immediate work done while we stay elsewhere) a key so they can come and go and get the job done quicker while we aren't living there.

So I'm thinking to delay the locksmith until they're done? Right move do you think?

OP posts:
SamanthaCaine · 11/07/2023 09:31

Yellowlegobrick · 10/07/2023 20:13

Ive never changed any locks either. Unless you live in an area rife with burglary im not sure there's much point, and since when did not having a key stop a burglar?

Burglar's move around. We live in a nice area that's generally safe but had a coordinated hit in the neighborhood. This was years ago but you can't be complacent.

I'm not sure if you're aware but a lot of burglaries happen due to lock snapping. Most doors have known weak spots, which are the barrels themselves. It's worth checking as entering a house is a 1 minute job with a pair of pliers/grips.

I changed ours to anti snap to give peace of mind.

@MaybeTomorrowItllBeOK

Change your locks by all means but get the right replacements and not cheap ones that'll be easy to disable.

Westfacing · 11/07/2023 09:40

Thearseyone · 10/07/2023 20:04

What are you thinking rhe old owners are going to break in and rob you?

I always change locks when moving house.

Some 55 years ago when I was at primary school a girl around the same age as me was murdered at home by the previous tenant. As curious/horrified kids some of us watched the funeral from across the street - to this day I can see the mother coming out of the church, propped up either side, head bent forward with tears dripping off the end of her nose.

Obviously an extremely rare occurrence but why take the avoidable risk.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 11/07/2023 09:41

I’m a generally trusting type, but I’d change them. Never mind the tradesmen - you have no idea who might have been given keys in the past, and as they say, whatever you can do to make a burglar’s job that bit more difficult, is worth it.

willWillSmithsmith · 11/07/2023 09:46

Thearseyone · 10/07/2023 20:04

What are you thinking rhe old owners are going to break in and rob you?

You should always change the locks when you move. You’ve no idea how many people might have keys to the house.

jc12689 · 11/07/2023 09:46

It's funny the people who say it's not necessary on the basis that they've lived in x number of houses and they've never been burgled so that must mean it never happens.

My gran smoked here whole life and lived until she was 90, it doesn't mean smoking is safe.

The chances of getting burgled are rare, but for the sake of changing the lock barrels when you move into a new home makes absolute sense.

willWillSmithsmith · 11/07/2023 09:48

Blinkinbloodyhayfever · 11/07/2023 08:37

It wouldn't occur to me to change the locks in a new home, nor would it occur to me to change the locks after work. So many different people have keys to my home though - family, a good friend, employees etc, so I'm probably a bit too laid back about it. It isn't a bad idea, and I think its probably sensible to wait until the work is finished. Whatever makes you comfortable - your home, your rules.

Which is why the people who live in it after you should change the locks.

Jennalong · 11/07/2023 09:49

When we picked up the keys from the estate agent we then went to the local hardware store and got a new lock. Sensible from my eyes.
Having said that , I'd hold off until your workman have left. Congratulations on your new homeFlowers

Oldnamechangeyetagain · 11/07/2023 09:52

AutumnCrow · 11/07/2023 08:59

Well I haven't been accused of that on here for a while! Thank you, you've quite made my day Grin <enjoys simple pleasures>

Show quote history

Glad to have cheered you up - have a nice day !😁

GasPanic · 11/07/2023 09:55

Topseyt123 · 11/07/2023 08:55

I think it is common sense to change the locks after buying a house, unless it is a new build.

I would especially change the locks if I moved into a new build.

Why ?

Because they will almost certainly be cheap, nasty, poor security ones and easy to snap. No one buys a house based on the quality of the locks.

Which is why builders will fit the cheapest stuff they can possibly get away with.

willWillSmithsmith · 11/07/2023 09:56

DrCoconut · 11/07/2023 09:09

I've never heard of anyone not changing the locks in a new house. It's the first thing you do after the removal van has driven away surely? Other than a hotel or holiday caravan (which presumably no one is really going to burgle) I can't imagine sleeping somewhere and having unknown people with access.

This is it for me. It’s not that I automatically think it’s going to get burgled, it’s the thought that there could be any number of keys out there that can access my home regardless of whether any one would.

cushioncovers · 11/07/2023 09:57

It makes sense to me to change the locks when you move into a new (to you) house. Why wouldn't you? You have no idea who has a set of keys.

BungalowBuyer · 11/07/2023 10:02

Blinkinbloodyhayfever · 11/07/2023 08:37

It wouldn't occur to me to change the locks in a new home, nor would it occur to me to change the locks after work. So many different people have keys to my home though - family, a good friend, employees etc, so I'm probably a bit too laid back about it. It isn't a bad idea, and I think its probably sensible to wait until the work is finished. Whatever makes you comfortable - your home, your rules.

That's exactly the point, you've given your key to lots of people, if you moved, how does the buyer know they've got all the keys?

caringcarer · 11/07/2023 10:02

@AnOldCynic that's exactly what I do. Also DH bought a locksmiths kit and it's so much cheaper to buy locks in bulk.

SussexSeaGal · 11/07/2023 10:03

Changing a lock is a simple DiY job - you don't need a locksmith.

KitchenSinkLlama · 11/07/2023 10:06

Your house is your most expensive asset, why wouldn't you want to secure it thereby knowing who has access to it?

I think that tenants should also know who has a copy of the keys to their homes. It should be listed on the inventory.

Circe7 · 11/07/2023 10:07

Fine to if it makes you feel more comfortable but I don’t see burglary as a huge risk. It is a high risk crime for the burglar because you’re going into someone’s house and in my house all they would find to burgle is a 8 year old tv and knackered lap top which have basically no resale value. If they really wanted that stuff they could smash a window. It would be different in a high crime area or if I had lots of high value easily portable stuff but of all the risks out there my ex plumber stealing my tv isn’t high up there.

Threenow · 11/07/2023 10:10

KitchenSinkLlama · 11/07/2023 10:06

Your house is your most expensive asset, why wouldn't you want to secure it thereby knowing who has access to it?

I think that tenants should also know who has a copy of the keys to their homes. It should be listed on the inventory.

I'm a tenant. I really don't want to know, or even care, who has a copy of the keys to my home.

Is this a UK thing as I've never heard of anyone changing a lock here?

DonttouchthatLarry · 11/07/2023 10:12

Just because it's unlikely to lead to someone coming in and nicking all your belongings doesn't mean there's not a risk - and if it happened to you you'd kick yourself.

I know someone who sold a house and that very night it caught fire - the new owner hadn't insured it. I also know someone who left the keys in his new car for a couple of minutes and it was stolen. Both scenarios statistically very unlikely but devastating for the people involved. You're unlikely to have a car crash but still wear a seat belt. Changing barrels is cheap and quick so why not?

BungalowBuyer · 11/07/2023 10:16

I've been burgled and it's not just about what they take it's much more than that. I'm moving this week and a locksmith is coming the same day.

Apart from the fact that the keys have been handed around to lots of people, the locks themselves are not up to standard. We'll also be changing the doors to higher security doors when we can.

This is in a semi rural nice village, burglars have cars.

GasPanic · 11/07/2023 10:19

KitchenSinkLlama · 11/07/2023 10:06

Your house is your most expensive asset, why wouldn't you want to secure it thereby knowing who has access to it?

I think that tenants should also know who has a copy of the keys to their homes. It should be listed on the inventory.

No one is likely to make off with your house - they are quite heavy and difficult to move.

Burglars normally take the stuff that is in the house.

zingally · 11/07/2023 10:29

I always get the locks changed when I move into a new place. You never know how many copies of a key are floating around. And yes, while the likelihood of anything bad ever happening is tiny, peace of mind is priceless.

lupinlass · 11/07/2023 10:35

Out of interest, how much does it cost to 'change the lock' ?
Also, do you change them on both front and back door?

We have a big house with 7 external doors. I can't imagine doing this to all of them!

Wolowl · 11/07/2023 10:37

Definitely change the locks after.

For those saying not to, the old owners of our house tried to get back in about 2 weeks after we'd moved in. We'd changed the locks on the 2nd day so they couldn't thankfully. I was coming home from work and saw them trying to get in from down the road. They drove off before I got to the door. Had they wanted to come and collect any of the crap they'd left behind and asked, we would have gladly let them!!

HeidiUpTheMountain · 11/07/2023 10:41

lupinlass · 11/07/2023 10:35

Out of interest, how much does it cost to 'change the lock' ?
Also, do you change them on both front and back door?

We have a big house with 7 external doors. I can't imagine doing this to all of them!

Barrels start from about £10 each (or did ten years ago when we moved in. We had changed all of ours within about an hour of our taking possession of this house.