Lock Changes When Moving House
The First Thing You Should Do in Any New Home - Especially a Rented One
Moving into a new property is an exciting moment, but there’s one task that should sit right at the top of your list before anything else is unpacked: changing the locks.
You have no way of knowing who else holds a key to your new home. Previous owners may have given spare keys to family members, friends, estate agents, cleaners, and tradespeople over the years, and not all of those will have been returned. If the property has been rented, the list of potential keyholders is even longer. Changing the locks on your first day is the simplest and most effective way to take control of who has access.
Jet Locksmiths carry out lock changes across Surrey, Hampshire, and Berkshire every day for people moving into new homes. We offer same-day and next-day appointments, fair upfront pricing, and no call-out fee.
Who Needs a Lock Change When Moving?
New homeowners
Even a brand new build can present risks; site managers, inspectors, estate agents, and the developers themselves may all hold keys during the construction and sale process. For older properties, the history of keyholders can stretch back years. The only way to be certain is to have every external lock changed before you move in.
New tenants
If you’re renting, you are legally entitled to reasonable security in your home, including confidence that previous tenants can’t walk back in. In England and Wales, landlords have a legal obligation to ensure the property is reasonably secure. However, in practice, many landlords don’t change locks between tenancies unless specifically requested to do so. As a new tenant, it’s perfectly reasonable to ask your landlord to change the locks or to arrange it yourself with their permission.
Landlords and letting agents
Changing all external locks between tenancies is straightforward, good practice, both from a security standpoint and to protect yourself legally. If a previous tenant has retained a key and something goes wrong, the consequences for a landlord can be significant. We regularly work with landlords and letting agents across Surrey, Hampshire, and Berkshire, and can accommodate portfolio properties and multiple jobs on the same day.
Property managers and housing associations
We offer flexible scheduling and reliable service for organisations managing multiple properties. If you need a dependable locksmith you can call on regularly for change-of-tenancy work, contact us to discuss your requirements.
What the Lock Change Process Involves
Assessment on arrival
When our locksmith arrives, they’ll take a quick look at each external door, front, back, and side access, and any garage or outbuilding doors you want included, and confirm exactly what’s needed. Some locks may be straightforward cylinder replacements; others may need a full lock change or an upgrade.
Cylinder replacements
For UPVC and composite doors fitted with euro cylinders, a lock change typically means replacing the cylinder barrel. This is a quick job, usually 20 to 30 minutes per door, and leaves the door, handle, and mechanism completely intact. We’ll fit the new cylinder, check alignment, and hand you your new keys.
Mortice lock changes
Older timber doors are more likely to use mortice locks, which require a larger, traditional key. Mortice lock changes take a little longer but are well within our standard service. We can upgrade to British Standard BS3621 mortice locks at the same time, which many insurers require for wooden front and back doors.
Multi-point locking mechanisms
Some UPVC and composite doors have multi-point locking mechanisms that engage several points along the door frame simultaneously. If these need to be changed, for instance, because the previous tenant had a key and the mechanism can’t simply be re-barrelled, we’ll replace the appropriate components and retest the door fully before leaving.
Key handover
Once the work is complete, we’ll cut the number of keys your household needs and hand them all over before we leave. We’ll also test each key in each lock to make sure everything is smooth and secure.
What About Rented Properties - Can a Tenant Change the Locks?
In England and Wales, a tenant cannot change the locks without the landlord’s permission, as the locks are part of the property. However, most landlords will agree readily, and the sensible ones will arrange it themselves as a matter of routine between tenancies.
If your landlord is resistant to the idea, it’s worth reminding them that ensuring the property is reasonably secure between tenancies is part of their legal obligation as a landlord. In practice, most landlords are happy to authorise the work once it’s framed this way. If permission is granted, we’ll carry out the work promptly, provide a receipt, and can supply a spare set of keys for the landlord to retain if required.
How Quickly Can You Come Out?
For most of our locksmith service area, we can offer a same-day visit for moving house lock changes, including at weekends. If you’re moving in on a Saturday or know your completion date in advance, just call us, and we’ll book a time that works around the removal van.
There’s no call-out fee, and we’ll confirm a price before attending.
A Family-Run Business You Can Trust
Jet Locksmiths is a professional, family-run business with over 20 years of experience. We deliver commercial and residential locksmith and security services, with a strong focus on exceptional customer care and unwavering commitment to our core values.
We understand that requiring a locksmith is rarely convenient, and we aim to make the experience as personable, professional, and affordable as possible for all our clients.
Areas We Cover for our Locksmith Services
Our team provides locksmith services across Surrey, Hampshire, and Berkshire, including: Camberley, Guildford, Farnborough, Woking, Basingstoke, Bracknell, Aldershot, and many more. Not sure if we cover your area? Get in touch, and we’ll confirm straight away.