Why You Should Change Locks When Moving into a New House

It is common for people to move to a new house and not change locks as a priority. This is a concerning oversight for new homeowners. From our perspective as professional locksmiths providing locksmith services in Barnet and the surrounding area we know the great risks for new homeowners in particular, however, we have come to realise that there is a lack of awareness of the importance of security in certain situations which leaves properties vulnerable to being targeted by intruders.

Should You Change the Locks When You Move House?

When asked ‘Do I need to change the locks on my new home?’ The answer is always YES! You should 100% absolutely change locks as soon as you move into a new home! Changing locks when moving into a new house should be a top priority and done on the day you get the keys for your new home.

5 Reasons Why Changing Locks When Moving House is Essential

There are several reasons why you must change locks when you move into a new home

1) The risk of burglary in the 1st year in a new home is statistically much higher than the average rate – almost double

When intruders see For Sale and Sale Agreed signs outside a property they see it as an opportunity to take advantage of new homeowners when their guard is down.

2) Multiple strangers could hold keys to your new home without your knowledge and this is a huge security risk

This is high on the list of concerns when you don’t change locks immediately. If someone has a key to your home without your knowledge and access without forced entry then your insurance company will not pay out. If you think about the number of people who could potentially have access to your new home it is very concerning.

Examples of potential key holders to a new home

• Family members of the previous owners
• Estate Agents
• Contractors – eg. painters, builders
• Cleaners
• A dishonest locksmith – if the previous homeowner didn’t choose an approved security specialist

You need to be 100% sure of who has keys to your home and the only way to ensure this is to have the locks changed.

3) A full security survey and lock upgrades where necessary will ensure optimum security levels

If the previous homeowner has not prioritised security levels it is possible that the locks could be in disrepair and out dated leaving the property vulnerable. Owners are less likely to spend money on door lock repairs and upgrades when they know they are selling. It is advisable to carry out a full security survey to check all the door and window locks in the property.

4) Meeting your home insurance company’s requirements is vital

If you don’t meet the standards required in the small print of your home insurance policy they may not pay out in the event of a burglary.

5) Arranging a free security survey as soon as you move in will provide peace of mind and practical safety for you and your family

Prevention is better than cure when it comes to the security and safety of your family. Get life in your new home off to a good start by preventing security risks. If you live in London or Hertfordshire you can contact us for a free security survey!

How to Change Locks After Moving Into a New House

When it comes to change locks when moving into your new house, always contact a professional qualified locksmith to carry out a free security survey at the first available opportunity. It may be the case that they can change the locks there and then or they may need to come back later with parts. So the sooner you get the wheels in motion the better.

Lock Change and Fitting to a Professional Standard

It is important that you seek professional advice on the best locks for your property and also professional installation to ensure the locks meet the standards required by your insurance policy as well as your needs and preferences.

A Basic Lock Barrel Change

If the new property locks are up to scratch from a security perspective and suited to your individual needs, you may need a quick and simple barrel change.

Upgrading Locks to Improve Security

Alternatively, you may need to upgrade the locks to something more secure like anti snap locks, deadlocks that meet British Standards, or even high security locks installation with high security keys.

Locks to Suit Your Lifestyle

You may wish to change your locks to something more suited to your lifestyle. Some people like the convenience of smart locks or access control and some want to have all their locks keyed alike to work off one key

Keep an Original Key Safe for Cutting Duplicate Keys

When the locks are installed testing the locks with all the keys and ensuring you have enough keys before the locksmith leaves is important.

If you need to cut duplicate keys in the future you must cut them from an original key, so keep one original key safe and labelled as the original to cut duplicate keys from.

When to Change Locks After Moving Into a New House

As mentioned above it is advisable to change door locks on a new home as soon as possible. Preferably this would be before and if not straight after removals are completed. Changing locks whilst removals are being done is impractical but it is important to keep in mind that people in the area will be aware of a move when they see removal vans and will be aware that there may be opportunities to break in. They can also see the contents being unloaded.

Common Questions About Changing Locks When Moving House

The most common questions we hear from home movers are:

Should you Change Locks when moving house even if it’s a new build?

The answer is yes you should change the locks no matter what. In the new build property the developers will have a master key to all the properties included in the build. There could be a number of keyholders and things can get overlooked. Changing the locks ensures you know exactly who has keys to your home and provides the lowest risk option.

Is it Expensive to Change Locks on a House?

The cost of changing locks can depend on:

• The location
• The locksmith you call
• The locks that your need changed.

You can read more about the cost of changing locks in Barnet here.

A basic lock barrel change will be much less that the cost of upgrading locks. Though an upgrade could provide multiple long term advantages. One significant advantage is being able to sleep soundly in the knowledge that you are safe at night. Another advantage is saving money on repairs.

A ‘cheap locksmith’ may quote very low prices but beware of rogue locksmiths quoting cheap and then increasing prices on completion and installing poor quality products which leave your security levels low. You don’t want a cowboy locksmith to hold the keys to your home!

What if I Rent Instead of Own?

If you rent you can ask your landlord if they will cover the cost of changing the locks when you move in. This is a reasonable request. It is important that you both agree everything in writing before going ahead with any work.

If the landlord doesn’t agree to cover the cost it is advisable to pay to have the locks changed for your own safety.

Situations You Need an Emergency Lock Change

An out of hours emergency lock change can cost much more than calling a locksmith during the day. Moving house should not require an emergency lock change unless there has been a break in. It can be arranged during the day when lock change prices are lower.

Situations that require an emergency lock change are:

• When you have lost keys
• Your keys have been stolen
• There has been a break in.

Read more here about 5 Situations You Need a Lock Change including:

1. Post Building Work
2. New House
3. Lost Keys
4. Stolen Keys
5. Break In

Secure your Home after Moving with IKS Locksmiths

If you are moving to a new home and want to change locks or have recently moved house in North London and need locks changed and a security survey contact us:

• by phone on 0203 284 1045 or 07947426981 for the fastest response
• WhatsApp or Text us on 0203 284 1045 or 07947426981
• by email info@ikslocksmiths.co.uk,

You can also read here for more home movers security tips and front door security tips.

IKS Locksmiths are specialists in door and window locks as well as high security grilles and safes installation.