To change the locks after the workmen are done?

[MaybeTomorrowItllBeOK]

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?

This. We had to change the locks but we kept the original one. We are assuming that if the person we thought might have had a key was going to try to get in, they would find they couldn't as the lock had been changed. It is unlikely they will try again on the off chance that we have put the old lock back in. But it is there as a short term solution if we need to change again.

You feeling ok hun?

No. Of course not.

But - While we're playing 'make dramatic suggestions'.

Would you be happy for your DC to be alone at home with the potential of a stranger letting themselves in.

I've rented and bought lots of houses in my life and never ever felt the need to change the locks. This is truly bizarre. Do you also take different routes to work every day in case you're followed?

Thanks @GasPanic

Are the 3* as easy to fit as a less secure one?

I'm assuming they take would take more specialist knowledge?

This Tinker, Tailor level stuff. Your tradecraft is impressive.

Agreed

Do you also take different routes to work every day in case you're followed?

@MostlyBlueberryFlavoured

You owe me a glass of wine, it’s been a heck of a day, I just poured a nice glass of cold grapes and now the first sip is all over my keyboard! 😂

Would you be happy for your DC to be alone at home with the potential of a stranger letting themselves in.
Well, given that my children are in their 30s, I'm not particularly bothered.
Presumerably though, your children are too young to leave alone now. I can't understand why you think some random would hold onto your keys with the intent of doing them harm several years from now.

We did have the previous owners regain entry to the house hours after completion so I’ll never be persuaded to not change the locks. They were completely bonkers and I changed the locks very quickly after that.

No. They are trivial to fit. See the videos on Youtube. Search "how to replace a eurocylinder lock".

It's worth learning how to do, then you will never need a locksmith to change them again.

The only problem I have had once was on double doors where the strip covered the screw hole and had to be unscrewed, but otherwise it is simple.

There are only two things you need to do. One is measure the length of the centre of the lock to the edge - they come in different sizes. You need to remove your locks first to measure them before ordering. The other is to make sure they are fitted the correct way in the lock, with the external side on the outside of the door. This is so if they are attacked the retaining bit of the sacrificial part works correctly and stays in place.

I second this.
We fitted 3* locks all through. DH is away a lot and I feel a lot safer at night knowing they are anti bump, anti pick and the time it would take for them to try any of this methods would trigger the security systems anyway.

They were very straightforward to do.

In the house that we had before this one (a rental) I suspected that the former tenant was letting themselves in as soon as I left on the school run (morning or afternoon) in order to pick up post. Their letters went missing from the kitchen and my DP & myself assumed that the other one was RTS-ing their mail. Things like toys were in different places and one day the door mat was upside down. One morning I returned home after 10 minutes because DC was feeling unwell and upon opening the front door found the previous tenant in my kitchen looking through drawers and her four kids sat on my sofa playing with my DC's toys. She had been letting herself in since she had been evicted as she'd been applying for loans/credit continuing to use our address for applications, pocketing the cash and having the default notices sent to our address as well.
Locks were changed the same day!

I've moved lots of times. Not once has this ever occurred to me. I've not heard of anyone doing it.

Just wanted to say, as a fellow lover of the old door hardware @GasPanic , I am loving your work 😍

I spent a day educating myself when I moved into the new gaff !

We haven't even mentioned high security handles yet :)

I don't know what gobsmacks me more, the idea that it "doesn't occur" to people to change the locks when they move into a new place, or the cheeky fuckery that ensues when they don't.

The story of someone letting themselves in so their kids can have a free go at the toys is epic. And a bit sad too of course.

Always change the lock when you buy a house as you no idea who has had a key...Mumsnet shows you that ..didn't a neighbour keep popping in which an op didn't know about until several years later ..

Personally I’m not that paranoid
but if it makes you happy why not

@MaybeTomorrowItllBeOK - if you always do it why are you asking us and why put this In AIBU

I've never even thought of changing the locks on any property I've moved to
Do what ever gives you peace of mind
It makes sense to change locks after workmen have finished to me

I changed our locks when we moved in - the previous owner seemed to have had many lodgers, friends staying, relatives visiting. She actually only handed over one key but said she had had loads at one point. Lovely lady but very childlike and vulnerable who didn't seem to understand boundaries from the stories she told us while viewing the house! Considering she was still getting her post and parcels delivered to our house (and still does 5 years later!), we changed the locks!

Why wouldn't you change the locks?

I stayed in a house with someone who hadn't long moved in, he was actually living there but had gone to work and left me there. A woman let herself in and said she was collecting the post. She had walked straight past the pile of letters and was a good way into the house when I got there.

I bought a house that had previously been rented. Hadn't moved in as I was going to have work done but was there often and had post arrive for a previous tenant.
One day someone put a key in the lock and an elderly man was at the door. He had come to pick up his girlie magazine. I explained that it was my house now and offered to take his address and forward them to him, and he happily accepted.

Current house, estate agent 'lost' the front door keys, which explained the damage done to the front door where the chain had been forced before I moved in. Locks were changed immediately.

I've been renting for 20 years and it's not happened yet. I've never heard of anyone entering someone else's house with a key and I'm 64, and I've also never heard of anyone changing the locks when they move house. Not saying that they don't of course, but no-one I know has - not even my super cautious DF. I've also never heard of it being an insurance requirement. I don't live in the UK, it just doesn't seem to be a thing here.

And yes, I am trusting, I often had workmen in while I was at work, gave out my spare key willy nilly, with never any issues. I also leave my windows open while I am at work. I've never had a single thing stolen in my whole life, and I only know one person who has been burgled, while they were away for a few days, and a key wasn't used.

We didn't but we had all new windows and doors within 6 months of moving in so they were done then. I would probably just do it after having the work done on the house

As I've said twice now.

I'm not asking IF the locks should be changed.

I wanted to know if I was BU not to change them on day 1.