Just Moved In? Why the Locks Should Be Your First Job

The sale has gone through, the kettle’s on and the boxes are everywhere. Security probably isn’t top of your list. But when you think about it, you have no idea how many keys to your new home are out there. Former owners, tenants, cleaners, carers, neighbours and tradespeople could all still have one.

Fortunately, this is one of the cheapest and quickest jobs on any moving-in list.

You often only need a new cylinder

Most uPVC and composite doors use a euro cylinder, the part your key goes into. Swapping it doesn’t mean replacing the lock itself or the door. It’s usually a quick job, and all the old keys stop working straight away.

Older timber doors tend to have a mortice lock, a night latch or both. Those can be changed too, although there’s usually a little more to it.

Choose an anti-snap cylinder

Older euro cylinders have a known weakness: they can be snapped, sometimes very quickly. Modern anti-snap cylinders are designed to resist this. Look for one rated under TS 007 (3 star) or SS 312 Diamond, which are recognised UK security standards.

Check what your insurer expects

Read your new home insurance policy, because some ask for particular types of lock on the outside doors, such as a five-lever mortice lock to BS 3621 on timber doors. If yours doesn’t match, it’s better to find out now than when you make a claim.

Check the rest of the door while you’re there

• Hinges. Does the door catch on the frame or need lifting to lock? It has probably dropped and may just need adjusting.
• Handle. A floppy handle is often a sign of a worn spring. It usually fails at the worst moment, sometimes with the door locked.
• Multipoint lock. If the key is stiff or the hooks don’t line up, get it sorted early. A gearbox that fails while the door is locked can be awkward to fix.
• Letterbox. Could someone reach a key or a handle through it? Keep keys well away from the door.

Our locks, handles and hinges page covers all of these.

Don’t forget the windows

Try every window handle. Look for the keys, which the last owners may have left in a kitchen drawer or not at all. Check that ground-floor windows and patio doors lock properly. And if you spot misted glass during your first week, make a note of it while it’s fresh in your mind.

A simple moving-in order

1. Change the cylinders on the day you move in, or the day after
2. Check every window locks, and find the keys
3. Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
4. Give a spare key to someone you trust, and keep a list of who has one

Haven’t moved yet?

Book the lock change for moving day, while everything is already upside down. If you’re moving around Weston-super-Mare and still need help with the heavy lifting, North Somerset Man and Van handles local moves.

When you’re ready, call us on 0800 1956 955, and we’ll get your locks sorted.

Photo: Pittigrilli, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.