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Original poster

Changing locks when buying a house

80 replies

PraiseBee · 28/09/2021 10:50

How many people changed the locks when they moved into a new place? My friend said they changed theirs but it didn't cross my mind until they said.

OP posts:
FurierTransform · 28/09/2021 21:51

I always have, it's just a nice thing to do & cheap. New house, I don't want someone else's old manky key :D

WoodchipNightmares · 29/09/2021 00:39

I recently lost a relative. Whoever buys the house would be well advised to change the locks - she gave a copy of her house key to all her local friends (some of whom have also died), multiple neighbours, care agency, a set in the keysafe, and every relative in the region. And probably some other people we don't know about too.

I'd love to say we would hand over every copy, but in reality we haven't got a bloody clue how many copies are out there, let alone where they are.

Londonnight · 29/09/2021 07:07

I have moved many, many times in 40 years. I have never changed locks in any house.

FreshHorizons · 29/09/2021 07:10

No- never crossed my mind.

FreshHorizons · 29/09/2021 07:10

Now that it has crossed my mind I still wouldn’t and I have moved lots of times.

Bagelsandbrie · 29/09/2021 07:11

Never changed the locks.

themidnighttrain · 29/09/2021 07:12

@DigitalGhost

Changed all of ours on the day we moved in as it was previously rented. Christ knows how many keys were in circulation Confused
Snap.

It was the very first thing I did.

Augusta1 · 29/09/2021 07:38

We've always changed tbe !ocks within a coup!e of days of moving in.

Loudestcat14 · 29/09/2021 07:39

Locks and loo seat, every time.

MrsSkylerWhite · 29/09/2021 07:40

Yes, always have.

Ifailed · 29/09/2021 07:48

"keyed alike" will only work with cylinder locks, and they all need to have the same number of tumblers etc. You can buy mortice locks that use the same key but they aren't cheap, and again they have to have the same dimensions.

SpiderinaWingMirror · 29/09/2021 07:48

Never done that.
Never had a problem.

thecapitalsunited · 29/09/2021 07:51

I always change the locks as soon as I can. Normally a day one job is to whip the barrels out to measure then order good quality anti-snap locks which can’t be copied. It’s very easy to do, there are plenty of YouTube videos on how to do it and it takes next to no time.

It’s not just the spare key thing but so far I’ve not moved into anywhere that has decent locks, only cheap ones which can be got past in seconds. I prefer to have top rated locks so I swap them as a priority.

WindyRose · 29/09/2021 07:58

I don't always change the loo seat immediately only because I might be renovating the bathroom which would include a brand new loo, but in this case I give it a really good clean with bleach.

Ten yrs ago I built a new house and had the locks keyed alike on settlement day and sure enough when the builder found out, he 'demanded' I give him a key! Why??? I asked...he smirked and said 'oh I have a key to every house I've ever built, specially when the lady lives alone'.

He wasn't impressed when I told him 'nobody' gets a key to my house. He was as sleazy as they come and always sent shivers down my spine anyway but when he said this I 'knew' my suspicions about him were correct.

For the next week, I kept having nightmares that he was walking up the hall and into my bedroom (even though he didn't have a key) funny how things play on your mind. Anyway I sold that house within 2 years, mainly due to him always hanging around, stealing stuff from the yard, peering in the windows, etc. Just typing this now is creeping me out and I don't scare easily, that's how creepy and sleazy he was.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 29/09/2021 08:08

We did, and then put the 'old' locks back when we moved and took 'our' locks to the next house.

FelicityPike · 29/09/2021 08:10

Absolutely

hellcatspangle · 29/09/2021 08:13

Bloody hell I've never done this although we've had new doors here since 🤦‍♀️

DirtyDancing · 29/09/2021 08:20

Of course. Who knows which trades person, neighbour or whoever has a key of old. Why wouldn't you.

TheRealHousewife · 29/09/2021 08:49

On one property we ended up changing the locks. After moving in we returned home one day and it was clear that someone had been poking around. No sign of break-in so assumed that one of the neighbours had a spare set.

Frostine · 29/09/2021 08:53

Yes always change the locks , and as someone else said the toilet seats . Never move in the same day either , as house gets a top to bottom clean i.e literally from the top of the kitchen cupboards down.

Wabola · 29/09/2021 08:58

We didn't, it was a probate house, woman had lived there all her life and family selling it was local so probably very low risk. We did get all new windows and doors within a few months of moving in though as they were needed.

WoodchipNightmares · 29/09/2021 09:17

@Wabola

We didn't, it was a probate house, woman had lived there all her life and family selling it was local so probably very low risk. We did get all new windows and doors within a few months of moving in though as they were needed.
Let me assure you that there are many, many keys floating around for the probate house we're about to put on the market. Easily into double figures. Most of the neighbours have one, as they would literally just let themselves in if they fancied a cup of coffee.
LindaEllen · 29/09/2021 09:26

I haven't but know 100% I should. You never, ever know who might have a copy of the keys to your home unless you do get them changed.

FranklySonImTheGaffer · 29/09/2021 10:04

My dad changed ours the day we moved in. We weren't bothered as we bought from a family friend and trusted nothing bad would happen but I think my dad has been called in to do this several times for people as old owners / exes / neighbours have turned up with keys.

user1497207191 · 29/09/2021 10:10

@TwoLeftSocksWithHoles

We did, and then put the 'old' locks back when we moved and took 'our' locks to the next house.
Genius idea. Another thing I never thought of doing, but makes perfect sense.