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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
jennylamb1 · 14/12/2024 13:21

When I was a kid me and my single mum moved into a house and she changed the locks. She told me that shortly after that the previous owner had tried to let himself in coming home drunk from the pub. She didn't tell me until later, but I did wonder what would have happened.

Winesoup · 14/12/2024 13:50

Yes to change locks, front and back if there is a back door - it's very simple to do yourself, but get copies right away to keep at work/friends house etc as i have discovered that emergency locksmiths are very expensive!

I didn't change the toilet seat, gave it a squirt of bleach and got another few years out of it!

KnittedCardi · 14/12/2024 14:16

Never changed locks in 40 years, and several houses! Perhaps we should.......bit late now though. We've been here for 20 years.

Bellyblueboy · 14/12/2024 14:38

I remember listening. To friend of my parents describe how he popped into his previous house to collect the post! He was flabbergasted that the new owners shouted at him for letting himself in😂. It was only the front porch!!!!!

I think the maniac did it several times before he got caught

unsync · 14/12/2024 14:39

Yes, locks and loo seats.

WalterdelaMare · 14/12/2024 14:40

Locks yes. Toilet seats yes. Also carpets.

LauraNicolaides · 14/12/2024 15:13

We changed the locks, but stupidly we forgot to change the toilet seat. Sadly within a week we all got severe arse disease and died.

Lobstercrisps · 14/12/2024 15:17

This has literally never occurred to me or DH.

We have owned 3 houses together and before that a flat each.

Christmaseason · 14/12/2024 15:17

No I always buy new build properties.

Pippa12 · 14/12/2024 15:18

We bought a renovation property. The previous tenants knocked on as they ‘ordered a parcel to the wrong address’. Ex- tenant went on to tell the work man she ‘liked what we had done with the place’. He rang to tell us as all the work was at the back of the house that you could not see unless you came through the front door and porch 🤔 we definitely think they’d been in for a look around!

mitogoshigg · 14/12/2024 15:21

No on all three. Under covenants so can't change door, trust sellers so why change locks (and who would risk returning to a house they had just sold, their solicitor has all their id info) and loo seat - why?

I did rip out a carpet the same day once though as it stunk of dog wee!

DancingLions · 14/12/2024 15:25

Locks absolutely yes.
Toilet seat only once when I moved into a place where an old man had been living. He had a padded toilet seat which was split in numerous places and absolutely stunk of urine 😖
If its just a normal seat then I'd just clean it.

SnowyIcySnow · 14/12/2024 15:44

We did change the front door - it was one of my list of things of things that needed sorting - front door, hideous wallpaper and bathroom all needed to go.
So I guess we've actually done the lock, door and loo seat!
I wouldnt typically do the door or loo seat tho!

Radionowhere · 14/12/2024 15:47

No. Never. Wouldn't even occur to me.

AlteredStater · 14/12/2024 15:48

No never changed any of those!

ForeverPombear · 14/12/2024 15:48

I've always changed locks ever since I moved into my first flat and a few months later the previous tenant let themselves in to get their post.

I've never changed a loo seat but I do give the bathroom and kitchen a deep clean before I move in.

noctilucentcloud · 14/12/2024 15:54

No, it wouldn't occur to me to do either unless I was buying from someone who made me feel unsafe or the toilet seat was horrible / filthy / broken!

K0OLA1D · 14/12/2024 15:56

Nope. Didn't change any.

QuestionableMouse · 14/12/2024 15:59

No.

fiorentina · 14/12/2024 16:16

Yes change the locks. Added new padlock to side gate etc.
Bleached the life out of the bathrooms until they could be replaced. Our house was left really dirty so a v deep clean.

HeChokedOnAChorizo · 14/12/2024 16:18

Always changed the locks. You never know who has a spare key

haapynot · 14/12/2024 16:42

Never changed the toilet seat! Carpets and soft furnishings straight away. Locks also straight away. The neighbour could have a spare key for all you know.

Original poster
Aquacrab · 14/12/2024 16:44

HeChokedOnAChorizo · 14/12/2024 16:18

Always changed the locks. You never know who has a spare key

Totally agree. It hadn't really crossed my mind until recently. But unless you buy or rent from close friends etc, you literally don't know who might have copies of the keys to the home you move into.

OP posts:
Londonnight · 14/12/2024 16:53

I have never changed any of these. I have moved house multiple times over the last 50 years, rented, and my own home. Never even given it a thought and it has never been an issue

NoWordForFluffy · 14/12/2024 16:55

Changing the loo seat definitely feels like peak Mumsnet! 🚽