Yes, it’s well worth doing. You can’t know how many keys to your new home are still out there, and Which? suggests getting a locksmith to change the locks so you have control over who can get in. Check your home insurance policy before you choose the new locks, so they meet any standard your insurer asks for.
Why it’s worth it
The Master Locksmiths Association (MLA), a UK trade body for locksmiths, puts it simply: changing the locks is the only way to be completely in control of who has keys to your property. It points out that almost a third of people (32%) still have a key to one of their previous homes, and that cleaners, babysitters and estate agents could all have a spare key to yours.
A new build is no exception. Tradesmen, site staff and estate agents have all had access to the keys, so the MLA says it’s still worth changing them. In an older home, the locks may simply be outdated.
The insurance point
This reason is easy to miss. The MLA explains that insurers typically need proof of forced entry before they’ll approve a claim. If someone let themselves in with an old key, there might be no sign of forced entry, and the claim could be turned down.
Insurers often ask for front and back door locks to meet a British Standard or the Sold Secure SS312 standard. If you have a uPVC or composite door, the MLA notes police advice to fit a Sold Secure SS312 Diamond cylinder. Your policy wording will tell you what yours requires.
What to change, and who should do it
Start with the front and back doors, then think about window locks, the garage and the shed, which the MLA also recommends changing.
You may be able to do it yourself if you’re confident with basic tools, but the MLA says the hard part is choosing the right specification and size of lock, and recommends a professional locksmith. The cost depends on how many locks you change and which ones you choose, so ask for a quote that names the standard of each lock.
Settling in
If some of your belongings are in storage while you get the new house sorted, you can relax about them in the meantime. Only you, and anyone you choose to share access with, can open your unit; each unit has its own alarm, and our sites are watched around the clock by a professional CCTV monitoring company.
To plan your move, call us on 0800 2545585, or get a price online.
Related questions
Further reading
- Master Locksmiths Association: Should you change locks on a new house after moving?
- Which?: Moving house checklist