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

[Aquacrab]

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.

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

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

No to all of it.

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?

That is so weird.

Sorry but that's a bit naive.

Loads of builders could have keys!

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!!

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!

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Always change the locks. Even on a new build. As a pp said they will have used the cheapest cylinders possible to save tuppence on a million pound house. And they will have only used 4 differs so every 4th house on the estate has the same lock and has keys to your house.

Replace the whole door? Why?

Toilet seat. No.

The thing is they could have given a spare key they got cut to anyone. A new tenant moving in needs the peace of mind of knowing there are not people out there who have a key to their home and could let themselves in and out at any time. I let to families with young DC and I'd hate for them to not feel safe in their home. If I moved I'd change the locks so I'll give the same courtesy to our tenants who I do trust because they have been vetted before they move in but as I say you never know who they might have given a spare key to. I think it's something you should consider especially if you rent to families with DC.

When we rented (over 10 years ago) we had multiple spare keys to our rental we had made.

We were given two and over time made 5 extras, when we gave the property back we only gave 2 keys. The rest we binned, god knows what my parents and my husbands parents did with theirs so didn’t rob them but we never told them we made spares.

What a bizarre assumption. Why would the level of rent paid be any indicator of what kind of character the tenant, or their partner, or ex partner or parent or anyone else has?
it’s not only people with cheap rent that rob people.

I’m surprise any all doesn’t as my LL insurance has a clause about changing the locks between tenants, and every insurance I’ve ever had has had the same thing in it.

DC had locks changed today on their new house purchase. The vendor handed over 5 front door keys and 2 back door. She lived alone, so potentially a lot of people that had a key. It's not the vendor we didn't trust, she seems lovely, but all those other unknowns who may have had keys and those who may still have.

We’ve moved quite a lot and I always open the front door first time with a new toilet seat under my arms 😁
I might change the locks within a week

We live in a new build, and yes, we changed the locks. I have never changed a toilet seat in any house.

First house we bought we got given every late one key - that was it.

We asked where were the rest and got both estate agent and our solicitor a duh - you change the locks response - we were made to feel stupid. So it was yet another to to sort right after a move with two young kids.

When we moved here - we just changed front door lock and kept keys in backdoor - we pretty sure previous owners or next door on their behalf tried to get in - as we got quizzed about keys later.

Only change toilet seat when broken - haven't changed doors - though in first house had to add new back door and a porch to improve security after a break in.

It's similar to this thing https://www.awmglass.co.uk/product/half-glazed-upvc-single-door-square-panel/?stkn=539896774183&variant=860&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA34S7BhAtEiwACZzv4dU7aGBvDLm3zWCMHu_5tTezEh_zftfloqBG7Zx3uVBFWRppnvSr2RoCCw8QAvD_BwE
Big glass panel that doesn't look very safe. Anyone could smash that and be in quickly? Nicking your stuff..or worse.

Plus, those uPVC doors are more difficult to fit other locks and bolts etc on to.

I had that and honestly never though if anyone smashing through the hard glass and alerting the whole street to it.
You would be out the backdoor before they get in through that

Never.
And never been broken into by people using old keys.
As for changing the loo seat!

Doesn't it? 😅

And we lived with horrendous décor, carpets and curtains till we could afford to replace them