Should You Change the Locks When You Move Into a New Property?
Yes. Here's why, how much it costs, and the one situation where you can probably skip it.
Yes, change them. The answer is almost always yes. Here's the short version of why, and the one situation where you can skip it.
Short version
- The previous occupants have keys. So might everyone they ever gave a copy to.
- "New locks" when you moved in doesn't help — those were cut while someone else was living there
- Labour is £61 per lock, cylinder from £56 — it's a small cost relative to what you're protecting
- Book a lock change in Barnet
The case for changing them
When you pick up the keys to a new property, those keys open locks that have been in someone else's possession. You don't know:
- Whether copies were cut for family members, partners, or ex-partners
- Whether the estate agent kept a set (most do, temporarily)
- Whether the previous owner gave a spare to a neighbour, cleaner, or builder who never returned it
- Whether any of those people still have the copies now
The locks aren't broken. The risk isn't that they've been tampered with. The risk is that someone, somewhere, has a key that works, and you don't know who or where that key is.
Changing the cylinders is not a statement of distrust about the previous owner. It's basic housekeeping — the same reason you'd change a password after using someone else's laptop.
The one situation where you can skip it
If the property has been empty for several years, had its locks changed specifically for the sale, and there's a clear documented chain of who has the keys — a developer selling a new-build, for instance, where the first-ever occupant is you — the case for immediate re-keying is weaker. Even then, the cost of a cylinder swap is low enough that it's not worth overthinking.
For any second-hand property or any let, change the locks.
What to change, and what to leave
Change:
- Front door cylinder (euro-profile on most modern doors; mortice on older timber ones)
- Back door or patio door
- Any external gate or side access with a key
Usually not needed:
- Internal room locks
- Windows (latches, not keyed)
- Garage door if it doesn't connect to the house
If the property has a key safe or smart lock, change the combination or re-pair the smart lock on the day you move in.
How it works
Most modern front doors take a euro-profile cylinder — the oval barrel that pops out when you look at the door edge. Swapping it takes 15–20 minutes and requires no damage to the door. You get three new keys; old keys no longer work.
Older timber doors with a mortice lock need a different approach — either a new lock body, a cylinder change if the mortice is cylinder-operated, or re-keying if the locksmith carries that service. Call ahead and describe the door; John will tell you which applies.
Cost for a typical Barnet property
| Job | Price | |---|---| | Labour for cylinder swap | £61 per lock | | New euro cylinder supplied and fitted | £56–£124 per lock | | Two-door property (front + back) | £120–£180 labour + cylinders | | High-security upgrade at the same time | £225–£350 per lock |
No call-out fee. Price confirmed before anyone starts.
Sign-off
Moving into a new property in Barnet or North London? Call 020 3780 8827 and John will come to the property — often on the day of completion. Most jobs are done before the removal van finishes unloading. Which is probably the best use of that two-hour window you'd otherwise spend watching people argue over a sofa.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to change the locks when I move in?
No legal requirement. But the previous owner or tenant still has keys that fit your locks. You don't know who they gave copies to — estate agent, cleaner, neighbour, builder. Changing the locks closes that unknown.
What if the estate agent says the locks are brand new?
New locks were cut when the previous owner was in the property. Copies may exist. 'New locks' doesn't mean 'no other keys.' It costs £61 per lock in labour to change — it's worth doing regardless.
How much does it cost to change locks when moving in?
Labour is £61 per lock for a standard cylinder swap. Most front doors take one cylinder. Back doors, garage doors, and any additional access points add to that. A typical 2-door property is £120–£180 for labour, plus the cost of new cylinders if you want to replace the hardware too.
Should I change all the locks or just the front door?
At minimum: front door and any other external access points (back door, gate, garage with internal access). Internal doors rarely matter unless you're renting rooms. If you're buying, do them all at once.
I'm renting — can I change the locks?
Check your tenancy agreement. Most require landlord permission to change locks. If you do change them, you'll usually need to provide the landlord with a spare key. Ask first, then get it done.
Locked out? Need a locksmith now?
Call now and speak to John directly — no call centre, no script. You'll know the price before he's on his way.