Changing Locks When You Move

Changing Locks When You Move – and why it’s important

New House keys

Securing Your New Beginning

Moving into a new home is an exciting experience, filled with possibilities and the fresh promise of a new start. Amidst the bustle of packing, unpacking, and redecorating, one critical step is often overlooked: changing the locks on your new property. While it may seem like a minor detail, changing the locks & updating them is an essential measure for protecting your home, belongings, and loved ones.

Why Changing Locks Matters

When you take ownership of a new home—be it a flat, house, or even a let property—you can never be entirely certain how many sets of keys are in circulation. Previous owners, tenants, estate agents, cleaners, builders, and even neighbours might still have a copy. By changing the locks, you establish control and peace of mind, knowing exactly who has access to your property.

Protecting Your Family and Belongings

Your new home is likely filled with personal possessions, treasured items, and, most importantly, the people you care about. Failing to change the locks leaves you vulnerable to uninvited guests. Burglaries and unauthorised entries are often crimes of opportunity; ensuring your locks are unique to you greatly reduces the risk.

Meeting Insurance Requirements

Many insurance policies require evidence that the property has secure locks, and some may void claims if it’s discovered you did not change them after moving in. By updating your locks, you not only strengthen your home’s defences but also ensure you’re meeting the terms and conditions of your insurer—potentially saving you a headache should you ever need to make a claim.

Peace of Mind

There’s no substitute for the peace of mind that comes from knowing your home is secure. Sleeping soundly in your new surroundings is easier when you know you’ve taken proactive steps to protect your household. It’s a simple one-off task that can save you worry and stress down the line.

Don’t Forget Internal and Outbuildings

While the front and back doors are obvious priorities, don’t overlook other access points. Garages, sheds, garden gates, and even internal doors may also require updated locks—particularly if they provide access to valuables or private areas.

How to Change Your Locks

  1. Contact a reputable locksmith who is approved by a recognised trade association.
  2. Consider upgrading to more secure lock types, such as anti-snap cylinders or smart locks.
  3. Retain control of all new keys, and only provide copies to trusted individuals.
  4. Dispose of old keys securely to prevent them falling into the wrong hands.

Conclusion

Changing the locks is a simple, affordable step that makes a world of difference to your home security. As you settle into your new home, make lock replacement a top priority—it’s a small investment in your safety, comfort, and peace of mind. After all, your new chapter deserves to start on the right foot: safe, secure, and truly yours.

admin September 3, 2025

changing your locks when you move / insurance / locks / New home / security / updating your locks /

New Home? Change your locks!

I have just installed some new locks for a couple who recently moved into their new home. When I say recently, I mean six months ago. The couple, both non-smokers, bought the property from a smoker and said it took ages to get rid of the smell, but just recently, when they have come home on add occasions they have smelled cigarettes. Not the old stale lingering smell they worked so hard to eradicate, but the fresh smell of a smoker having been in their home. Smokers reading this might not understand, but non-smokers will. Someone who smokes leaves a definite smell in the air, long after they are gone and it is different to the smell of carpets, or wallpaper that have been subjected to years of a smoking environment.

So knowing we have a fresh smell of tobacco in a non-smokers house can give us four possible options.

1. The smell is coming from outside through vents – highly unlikely as the property is detached with a good amount of all round garden and driveway. Once maybe, but not multiple times.

2. A tobacco smoking ghost – highly unlikely.

3. Someone breaking in – highly unlikely as no signs of damage and most house breakers will take stuff and only go in once.

4. The previous owner gaining entry – unusual but it does happen. Nothing can be proven but you can never be sure a previous owner has given you all the keys.

So the moral of the story is quite simple. When you move house, change the locks. There could be any number of keys out there. Some people have an army of carers (I knew a case of over 30 keys being distributed) and when that person passes, many of the keys do not get returned. Contractors are also very good at losing keys, so if the new property has had work done, there is a chance, some workman is going about his daily business with a key to your door floating around in his van. Would you feel safe knowing someone else has a key to your door? Kids are also great at losing keys, potentially with address information attached. Often, trusted neighbours or nearby relatives hold keys as well and in many instances, these are not returned. The potential for someone else to have a key to your new home is really quite large. Therefore, as a matter of standard home security, get your locks changed at the earliest opportunity.

Just a final note as a reminder, please do not hang your keys anywhere within 2 metres of your doors, and even better, use a small hanging key box rather than a line of hooks. It is amazing how easy it is to hook keys through the letter box, even around corners. I should know – I have hooked keys for owners on many occasions! As an extra precaution, invest in a letter box guard. For more information, please talk to me via any of the means on the contacts page.

Thanks for reading.

admin April 30, 2014

Change your locks / New home /