New home - change locks?

[Lollipop2025]

Hello,

I've seen the general advice to change locks on a new home but how many of you actually did this?
We move next week and I don't remember my parents ever doing this so wondered if its actually a thing people did in the real world?
First time buyer as you couldn't already tell 😂

Never have and (apart from on this thread) I've never heard (a) of anyone who has, or (b) of anyone who has ever had any problems if they haven't changed the locks.

Always change the locks! And very glad I did! In my development the original resident association “directors” had keys to all the homes from when they were built! I only found out because we were talking about a potential problem with someone else’s flat (that wouldn’t affect anyone else) and the director said something along the lines of “I would use the master set of keys to let myself in to sort it out if they were out!”

Estate agents aren’t know for always being careful with keys. And you never know if a previous resident had a dodgy ex or affair partner that had keys.

I have moved multiple times. Never changed locks. I don't know anyone who has done this either.

I suppose it depends where it is and the previous occupiers

I did, but only because there were a set number of key sets declared in the handover details and 2 sets were missing. When I questioned the estate agent as the seller refused to leave forwarding details inwas told her kids still had keys.

My solicitor did charge the locks back to the seller along with several window locks as her son had smashed them because she wanted his keys back.

Honestly some people are a nightmare when selling their house!

Yes. It cost about £100 for a locksmith or if it’s a Yale lock you can do it yourself.

If it’s a euro cylinder (used in UPVC and composite doors) then it’s even easier to do it yourself.

We had booked in a locksmith for move in day, he had difficulties with the main front door lock but did change the second lock (planned to come back for the main lock another day)..

Within the first few days we lived there, a man let himself in - he had done some work before the sale for the previous owner and left some tools to pick up later, he didn't realise we had moved in already. It really scared me to realise that someone could just walk into our home at any point

I don't understand why you wouldn't change the locks, compared to the costs of moving house it's trivial

We did, (well DH) he watched a YouTube video which explained how to do it.

I think different types of locks are easier than others though.

Always - as ever mindful of an horrific incident that happened to a child my age when at primary school 60 years ago.

When I bought this flat 20 years ago I had the locksmith change the barrel of the Yale lock, the lower Banham lock I left at it is.

I changed the locks when I realised that the 2 adults who sold the house had kept a set of keys for themselves. Had no reason to think they were dodgy but wasn't going to risk it.

But most people don’t know the previous owners! And even if they did they may have given a set to the cleaner/mum/the lady next door who watered the plants and fed the cat when they were away and forgot to ask for them back.

I didn't. I do occasionally worry about it, but meh. Getting a new front door pretty soon anyway.

Absolutely yes, bought my house off an extended family member. Various other wider family members who live locally kept mentioning that they have a key. Decided that it would be best for future family relationships to make sure we knew who could and couldn’t get into our house 😂 £75 well spent!

Anyone who queried us I told them it was a condition of our insurance company to get them changed.

If we ever move I will absolutely do the same, you never know what weirdo may have a key to your house.

I've owned 6 properties and I always change the locks.
I think my personal safety and peace of mind are important.

I never do, but I always put the chain on at night.

Hi,
I would always change the locks on moving day. Easy enough to slide the barrel out and swap.
Exterior door locks and the padlocks on the gate and garage all changed.

Low cost for peace of mind. 🔑 🗝 🔐

I’m planning to do this if / when I buy my new house.

I’ve never changed the locks anywhere we have moved to. I wouldn’t know how to do it. What does it cost to get a locksmith to do it?

What about people who rent?