Changing the locks after moving is mainly about control. Before choosing smart locks or extra keys, make sure old keys, contractor copies and previous occupant spares no longer open the property.
When you move into a house or flat in Guildford, Woking or Bracknell, you rarely know the full key history. Previous owners, tenants, cleaners, estate agents, neighbours, tradespeople and family members may all have held copies at some point. A lock change is the clean way to reset control from day one.
Which locks should be checked first?
- Front and back doors. These are the priority because they control everyday access.
- Side gates, garages and garden offices. These are easy to forget during a move but often protect tools, bikes or work equipment.
- Communal or shared doors. For flats and managed blocks, check what you are allowed to change before replacing anything.
- Window locks and patio doors. They may need keys, servicing or replacement if old keys are missing.
Changing a lock is not always changing the whole mechanism
On many uPVC and composite doors, the practical job is replacing the euro cylinder rather than the full multipoint mechanism. That can make old keys useless while keeping the existing door hardware, provided the mechanism itself is working properly.
The cylinder still needs to be measured correctly. A poor fit can leave too much cylinder exposed at the handle, which weakens the point of upgrading. For many external doors, it is sensible to consider a correctly fitted anti-snap cylinder at the same time.
Where smart locks fit in
A smart lock can be useful after a move, especially for family access, cleaners or short-term authorised entry. It should not be the first decision, though. Start by making sure the physical door, cylinder and mechanism are sound, then decide whether a digital or smart option suits the way the property is used.
For rental homes, HMOs, offices or managed properties, access control also needs to be practical for handovers. Sometimes a restricted key system, fresh cylinders and a written key log are more useful than a smart lock.
Do you need new keys cut too?
Once the locks are changed, key cutting can be planned properly: enough spares for the people who need them, without copying old worn keys or creating extras that are not tracked. If staff, cleaners or contractors need access, record who holds each key from the start.
Local moving-day lock changes
The most useful details to give a locksmith are the number of doors, whether they are timber, uPVC or composite, whether you have working keys, and whether any doors are currently stiff or insecure. Photos of the inside and outside of each lock can help identify likely cylinder types before the visit.
Two Keys Security provides lock changes, anti-snap cylinder upgrades, smart lock advice and key cutting across Guildford, Woking, Bracknell, Wokingham and nearby Surrey and Berkshire service areas.
Lock changes
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