Moving house

[wellinghall]

[Poll #1450796]

Comments

[rustica.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I have done and sometimes I haven't. But if you're even asking the question, you should do it. The time my spidey-sense told me to get the locks changed, I was very, very glad that I had done.

[crazyscot.livejournal.com]

I changed the locks on my flat within a couple of days of taking possession. I was glad I did; about a week later I received a jiffy bag there containing the vendor's spare set of keys!

[the-marquis.livejournal.com]

No, but then I don't own the houses the landlord does so ...

If I was buying a house I may well change the locks if the sellers felt dodgy or I was expecting a set number of keys based on the solicitors dealings and then found they were short with no explanation.

[thecatsamuel.livejournal.com]

I was advised to change the locks and when an old friend of the previous owner turned up WITH keys I was glad I did!

[frandowdsofa.livejournal.com]

It's automatic, now. At one house, about a month after I moved in, there was a rattling at the door early on a weekend morning - it was an estate agent with a set of keys and some clients. He wasn't even from the agency we'd bought the house through.

[tigerfort.livejournal.com]

As with everyone else, it does depend. If you're worried, change them; it can't put you nearly as much out of pocket as the alternative if your instincts have good reason.

[sally_maria]

We didn't, but that was over 30 years ago - and we later realised that it was probably the original lock that was fitted to the door when the house was built in the late '30s.

Still I have to agree with people who say that it would be a lot cheaper than the alternative, if someone did decide to misuse their key.

[didiusjulianus.livejournal.com]

I chose no, because I never have so far and I only learned of the idea that one should recently anyway. And in rented accom one can't really unless one makes a big fuss. However, if I bought a house I probably would, esp if I felt any concerns about who I was buying it from (which might or might not be actually representative of any real risks or lack thereof, I grant you) or if my stuff was particularly valuable. Or probably anyway if I could be bothered/had the cash. Our current house that we live in should be fine though because the only other owners are still our landlords (and not criminals as far as we can tell) ;)

[helflaed.livejournal.com]

You have no idea what the previous owner may have done with the keys, or how many are in circulation. I'd change the locks myself.

[inamac.livejournal.com]

It depends on the locks - it's easy enough to change the cylinder on a Yale, but a bit more difficult changing a tumbler lock - and practically impossible to change the multiple lock systems on UPVC doors.

What I do do is make absolutely sure that there's a deadbolt and chain so that even if there are spare keys around they still can't be used.