When you move into a new home, the real question is not how many keys you were given. It is how many copies are still out there.
Moving into a new home in Sunbury-on-Thames, Walton-on-Thames, Weybridge or Staines is exactly the moment to think about key control. Estate agents, previous owners, tenants, cleaners, contractors, neighbours and family members may all have had keys at some point. Even when everyone is honest, nobody can guarantee how many copies exist.
The front door comes first
Start with the final exit door: usually the front door, but sometimes a side or rear door is the one used every day. If it is a uPVC or composite door, the cylinder can often be changed without replacing the whole multipoint mechanism, provided the mechanism is working properly.
On timber doors, the right answer depends on whether the door uses a mortice deadlock, nightlatch, rim cylinder or a combination. The goal is simple: old keys stop working and the door still locks smoothly.
Other locks worth checking
- Back and patio doors. These are often used by previous owners, trades and family members.
- Garage and side gates. They may protect tools, bikes, garden access or a route into the house.
- Outbuildings and offices. Sheds, studios and home offices can hold expensive equipment.
- Communal or managed entrances. Check leaseholder or managing-agent rules before changing shared-access hardware.
When to upgrade rather than like-for-like replace
If a euro cylinder sticks out beyond the handle, has no visible security rating, feels loose, or needs a lot of jiggling, a simple like-for-like change may miss the point. A correctly measured anti-snap cylinder can improve security while still keeping the door familiar to use.
If the door is hard to lift or needs pressure to lock, ask for the alignment to be checked too. New cylinders should not be used to mask a door that is already putting strain on the mechanism.
Do you need every lock changed on day one?
Not always. The highest priority is any entrance that gives access to the home or valuables. Less critical locks can often be planned afterwards, especially if they are not connected to the main property. A locksmith can help you rank them sensibly during the visit.
Keys, spares and future control
Once the important locks are changed, think carefully about how many spares are cut and who receives them. Keep a note of trusted key holders and avoid leaving unlabelled spare keys with people who may move, change jobs or forget what they have.
Two Keys Security provides lock changes and upgrades, key cutting and home security checks across Sunbury-on-Thames, Walton-on-Thames, Weybridge and Staines-upon-Thames.
Lock changes & upgrades
Need a hand with this?
Two Keys is a father-and-son locksmith team in Egham — UKLA Trusted & Vetted, DBS-checked, fully insured. Straight prices, agreed before we set off.
We cover Sunbury-on-Thames · Walton-on-Thames · Weybridge · Staines-upon-Thames and the wider Surrey, west London and east Berkshire area — see full coverage.