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Original poster

Would you change the locks...

26 replies

SavvySaver24 · 07/08/2018 16:32

When you moved into your new home did you change the locks?

Personally I thibk I would feel more comfortable as over the years you never know who someone has given a copy of their key to but it is a front door, back door, patio doors and side door which i can't imagine is going to be cheap!

Did you change your locks when you moved in?

OP posts:
Kismett · 07/08/2018 16:38

Yes, we changed them immediately and never considered otherwise.

Easilyflattered · 07/08/2018 16:39

Yes I did just this yesterday. To be fair I've been in new house for 2 months but I wanted them changed before going on holiday, because the vendors are still local and the type of people to hand out keys left right and centre.

Garage and front door cost me 200 Inc vat and fitting. Patio door hasn't been done yet.

theluggageslegs · 07/08/2018 17:21

Yes. Easy enough to change the barrels yourself in most cases.

BonnieLass5 · 07/08/2018 17:23

No, I’ve never done this. I didn’t even realise people did this. I’ve never had a problem with anyone trying to let themselves into my house.

PigletJohn · 07/08/2018 18:30

yes, of course.

intelligentPutty · 07/08/2018 18:34

No. But maybe we should have!! Didn't even think of it.

LizB62A · 07/08/2018 18:52

Yes - I always change the locks (and the toilet seats !)

MeMeMeow85 · 07/08/2018 18:55

Always, but only once decorators/builders etc are finished. Worth looking at the banham locks or similar where the keys can’t be copied

AnneLovesGilbert · 07/08/2018 18:56

Yes. As soon as we’ve got the keys!

Atthebottomofthesea · 07/08/2018 19:09

No. Though we have replaced the garage side door lock as it broke.

knowledgeofnone · 07/08/2018 19:19

I haven't but will when we finally buy a property. Not going to lie I have about 4 different sets of keys sitting in a box somewhere for previous flats and I know for a fact that most of my friends who have rented have keys for old flats.

mummabearfoyrbabybears · 07/08/2018 19:21

Yes we did it for our new house. It's very easy to change some barrels of locks and the patio door. Got a man in for the back door as it was a complicated key lock.

MadMaryBoddington · 07/08/2018 22:18

Nope. Never bothered.

DuchessThingy · 07/08/2018 22:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Rebecca36 · 07/08/2018 22:23

Yes I did have locks changed. It is quite expensive now, I know that because we recently employed an auto locksmith as husband had locked himself out of car, that was quite a lot of money. I can't remember what it cost for the house though as it was a long time ago.

bluerunningshoes · 07/08/2018 22:24

yes of course. even (especially!) when renting.

and those of you who didn't might want to check the t&c of your home/contents insurance.

drspouse · 07/08/2018 22:25

Yes, but only the front door and the back gate (back door isn't accessible except by unlocking the back gate)

drspouse · 07/08/2018 22:26

(DH did it)

PigletJohn · 07/08/2018 22:31

luckily all burglars are elderly gentlemen awaiting replacement hips, who are incapable of climbing over a fence or gate.

drspouse · 07/08/2018 22:49

It's in a very high wall.

hiddenmnetter · 08/08/2018 07:50

Changed the barrels on the day of purchase. Quick job and then I KNOW that only the people I want have keys.

2 days later our new neighbours said by the way we’ve got a key to your front door do you want it back? And I said don’t worry, throw it out, it doesn’t work anymore. They’re lovely but at that point we didn’t know them and I didn’t really fancy them having a key to our house.

bluerunningshoes · 08/08/2018 08:04

our house was an hmo before we moved in. (6 adults + a couple of children)
we only got 2 sets of keys on completion. no way were that all the keys!

echt · 08/08/2018 09:17

Yes. Changed the locks the day we moved in. I still remember the firm, Goldie Locks, selected entirely on account of the name.:o

bakingdemon · 08/08/2018 09:58

Do it. Our last vendors let themselves into the house two weeks after completion to pick up some junk they'd left behind. The only reason we hadn't changed the locks already was because we were planning major renovation work which included all the doors.

PracticalTacticalBrilliance · 08/08/2018 13:38

We did a day or two after moving in. Lucky we did too as I came home from work a week later to see one of teh vendors trying to get in. They left before I got close enough to ask them what they wanted though.