Do I really need to change the locks when I move house?

Yes. There is no way to know how many copies of the existing keys are in circulation. Previous owners, estate agents, cleaners, builders, dog walkers, neighbours, and former tenants may all have had copies. Even if the previous owners gave you every key they had, they cannot account for copies made by other people over the years. Changing the locks is the only way to guarantee that you control who has access to your new home.

How much does it cost to change the locks on a new house?

A standard euro cylinder replacement starts from £59 per door. Most Coventry homes need front and back door cylinders changed, which typically costs £100-200 total depending on the quality of lock you choose. An anti-snap upgrade adds roughly £20-30 per door over a standard cylinder and is strongly recommended. Call me on 07735 336175 for an exact quote based on your specific doors.

When should I change the locks — before or after moving in?

Ideally on the morning of completion day, before you start moving furniture in. This way you begin moving into a home that only you have keys to. If that is not practical, the first full day in the property works too — but do not leave it longer than that. Every night you sleep in a home with the old locks is a night where unknown keyholders could potentially access your property.

Should I change the locks if I am renting a new property?

Speak to your landlord first. Many landlords are happy to arrange a lock change between tenancies, or will allow you to do it at your own cost provided you give them a copy of the new key. Under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, landlords must ensure the property is secure. If you feel the locks are inadequate, raise it with your landlord in writing.

Moving House? Why Changing the Locks Is the First Thing You Should Do

You have no idea who has a key to your new home. Previous owners, estate agents, builders, cleaners — any of them could still have a copy. Here is why changing the locks on day one is non-negotiable.

You Have the Keys — But Who Else Does?

Moving day is exciting, stressful, and exhausting in equal measure. Among all the packing, cleaning, and paperwork, one thing consistently gets overlooked: the locks.

When you pick up the keys from the estate agent, you probably assume that those are the only keys that exist. The previous owners handed them over, the agent gives them to you, and that is that. Right?

Wrong. And this is one of the most important pieces of advice I can give any new homeowner in Coventry.

Who Might Have Keys to Your New Home

Think about everyone who could have had a key to your new property over the years:

**Previous owners** — they may have kept a spare "just in case"

**Estate agents** — multiple agents may have had keys during the selling period

**Letting agents** — if the property was previously rented

**Previous tenants** — who may have cut their own copies

**Cleaners** — previous owners' cleaning service may still have a key

**Builders and tradespeople** — anyone who did work on the property

**Dog walkers** — they had access while the previous owners were at work

**Neighbours** — who were given a spare for emergencies

**Ex-partners** — of the previous owners

**Family members** — parents, siblings, children who moved out

**Gardeners** — who needed access to the back garden via the house

**Childminders and babysitters** — who needed to let themselves in

That is potentially a dozen or more people who have, or have had, a key to your new front door. Even if the previous owners sincerely gave you "all the keys," they cannot account for every copy that has ever been cut.

"They Gave Us All the Keys" Is Not Enough

When I explain this to new homeowners, the most common response is "but they gave us all the keys." Here is the problem: there is no way to verify that.

Keys can be copied at any high-street key cutter, most supermarkets, and even some petrol stations. It costs under £5 and takes two minutes. Anyone who ever had access to a key could have cut a copy — and the previous owners may never have known.

And it is not about trust. The previous owners might be perfectly honest people. But the cleaner they fired three years ago, or the builder who did a dodgy job and left under a cloud, or the ex-partner who moved out acrimoniously — those are the keys you need to worry about.

The only way to guarantee that you control who has access to your home is to [change the locks](/services/lock-change).

What to Change

At minimum, change the front door cylinder. This is the most common entry point and the lock most likely to have had copies made.

Ideally, change every external door:

**Front door** — euro cylinder, mortice lock, or both

**Back door** — euro cylinder or mortice lock

**Side door** — if you have one

**Garage door to house** — the internal connecting door, if it has a lock

**Patio doors** — check the lock and consider upgrading

For most Coventry homes — particularly the uPVC-door semis and terraces that dominate areas like Cheylesmore, Finham, Wyken, and Binley — changing the front and back euro cylinders covers you. It is a quick job: I can typically do both in 30-40 minutes.

When to Do It

Ideally, change the locks on moving day itself. If you can give me access before the removal van arrives, even better — I can have the locks changed before you start moving furniture in.

If moving day is too hectic (and it usually is), the day before completion works well. Some homeowners arrange for me to meet them at the property first thing on the morning of completion, change the locks before the furniture arrives, and hand them brand new keys to their new home.

Do not put it off. Every night you sleep in your new house with the old locks is a night where someone you do not know potentially has a key.

How Much Does It Cost?

Changing the locks on your new home is one of the cheapest and most impactful things you can do on moving day. Here are my current rates:

**Standard euro cylinder replacement**: from £59 per door

**Anti-snap euro cylinder upgrade**: from £89 per door

**Full house (front + back door)**: typically £100-200 depending on the locks you choose

**Premium anti-snap (Ultion/ABS)**: from £120 per door fitted

For most houses in Coventry, a front and back door cylinder change with quality anti-snap locks comes in around £150-200 total. That is less than the cost of a locksmith callout after a burglary, and far less than the insurance excess plus stress.

Check my full [prices page](/prices) for current rates.

An Opportunity to Upgrade

Moving house is the perfect time to upgrade your security, not just replace like for like. If the existing locks are standard euro cylinders (which they probably are on any Coventry home built or refurbished in the last 20 years), you can upgrade to [anti-snap cylinders](/services/lock-upgrade) for a relatively small extra cost.

Anti-snap cylinders resist the most common burglary technique in the UK — lock snapping — where a burglar breaks the cylinder using basic tools in under 30 seconds. Standard cylinders offer almost no resistance. Anti-snap versions are designed to sacrifice a small section while keeping the lock functional and secure.

If you are already paying for a lock change, upgrading from standard to anti-snap typically adds £20-30 per door. It is genuinely the best value security upgrade you can make.

Coventry's Housing Market and Lock Security

Coventry has a mix of housing stock, and the security implications vary:

**Victorian terraces** (Earlsdon, Stoke, Chapelfields): Often have original mortice locks that may be worn. Worth replacing with modern BS3621 mortice deadlocks

**1930s-1960s semis** (Cheylesmore, Finham, Green Lane): Mix of original and replacement doors. Many now have uPVC doors with standard cylinders — prime candidates for anti-snap upgrades

**New builds** (Canley, Westwood Heath, Keresley): uPVC doors with basic cylinders as standard. Developers fit the cheapest lock that meets building regulations. Always upgrade

**Rental properties**: If you are renting, speak to your landlord about changing the locks. Many are happy to do so — or happy for you to arrange it at your own cost

What to Tell Your Locksmith

When you call me about a moving-day lock change, I will need to know:

How many external doors need changing

What type of doors they are (uPVC, composite, wooden)

Your moving date and preferred time

Whether you want standard or anti-snap cylinders

I carry a full range of cylinders on the van, so I can usually accommodate same-day or next-day requests. Call me on 07735 336175 to book your moving-day lock change.

Do Not Forget the Other Security Basics

While you are thinking about locks, moving day is also a good time to:

Change the code on any existing key safe

Check that all window locks work

Test the burglar alarm (if fitted) and change the code

Check external lighting — fit sensor lights if there are none

Identify any other security weak points while the house is empty and you can see everything clearly

A fresh start in a new home should come with fresh security. It is one of those jobs that takes an hour, costs under £200, and gives you complete peace of mind.

Call me on 07735 336175 to arrange your lock change, or check the [prices page](/prices) for full details.