Should You Change the Locks After Buying a House in NSW?
You get a set of keys at settlement. What you don’t get is a list of everyone else who has one. Here is why changing the locks is the first job to do on settlement day.
Should you change the locks after buying a house in NSW?
Yes. Do it on settlement day, before you sleep a night in the place. The contract hands you the property, but it doesn’t tell you how many keys exist or who is holding a copy. Previous owners, family, cleaners, tradies, neighbours and agents may all have had one, and you have no way of knowing which keys are still out there.
At a glance
- Should I change the locks on a house I’ve just bought? Yes. Do it on settlement day, because you can’t know who holds spare keys.
- Who might still have a key? The previous owners and their family, past tenants, cleaners, gardeners, tradies, neighbours and the selling agent’s office.
- Do I need to replace the locks, or can I rekey them? Rekeying is usually cheaper and makes every old key useless. Replace the lock if it is old, worn or low quality.
- What else besides the front door? Garage remotes, keypad codes, alarm codes, smart lock accounts, shed keys and window locks.
- What if I’m buying a unit or townhouse in a strata scheme? The front door and lock can be common property, so check the by-laws and ask the strata manager before you change anything.
Why you should change the locks after buying a house
Think about how many people have been through the property over the years. The sellers had keys cut for family. Tradies and cleaners were given a copy. A neighbour kept one for emergencies. The agent’s office held a set during the sale.
Your contract for sale lists the inclusions in the property. It doesn’t record how many keys exist, or who has them. The agent hands over the keys the seller gave them, usually after settlement is confirmed, and that is all anyone can promise you.
Most of those people are completely trustworthy. But you have no way of checking, and a lock change costs very little compared to the house you’ve just paid for.
What buyers think
“The sellers handed over all the keys, so we’re fine.”
“We know the sellers, they wouldn’t do anything.”
“We’ll get around to the locks eventually.”
What actually happens
You get the keys the sellers handed in, not the keys that exist. Spare copies with family, tradies and neighbours stay out there until the lock is changed. The first night is the easiest time to fix it, before the furniture arrives and before anyone has a reason to wonder.
Rekey or replace the locks?
You have two options, and a locksmith can tell you which suits the property.
- Rekey: the locksmith changes the pins inside your existing lock so the old keys no longer work. It is usually the cheaper option and the lock stays the same.
- Replace: a new lock set is fitted. Worth it if the existing locks are old, worn, stiff or low quality, or if you want an upgrade.
Ask the locksmith to make sure every external door on your set works off a single key, so you aren’t carrying a bunch of different ones.
“You can’t count the keys you don’t know exist.”
It’s not just the front door
Locks are only one part of who can get in. On settlement day, also deal with:
- Garage remotes: ask the agent for every remote and reset the code if the opener allows it
- Keypad and alarm codes: change them, don’t keep the sellers’ codes
- Smart locks and cameras: remove the old accounts and set up your own
- Side gates, sheds and windows: check each one has a working lock and key
- Letterbox: change the lock, or redirect your mail
Units and townhouses in a strata scheme
In a strata scheme, the front door and its lock can be common property, depending on the strata plan. That means you may not be free to swap them without approval. Check the by-laws and ask the strata manager before you call a locksmith. Your internal doors, and anything inside your lot, are usually yours to deal with.
You can also check the by-laws before you buy. They are part of the strata documents your conveyancer reviews with your contract.
Your settlement day lock checklist
Book the locksmith before settlement
Line up a time for the afternoon of settlement so you aren’t ringing around once you have the keys.
Collect the keys, remotes and codes from the agent
Keys are normally released once settlement is confirmed. Ask for every key, remote and code, and check them against the inclusions list in your contract.
Rekey or replace the external locks
Front door, back door, garage and any side access. Keep a spare set somewhere safe.
Reset the codes
Alarm, keypad, garage opener and any smart devices.
Settlement coming up? Ask us what else is worth doing on the day. We’ll talk you through it.
The short version
Yes, change the locks after buying a house in NSW. You can’t know how many keys exist or who has them, and the cost is small. Rekey or replace the external locks on settlement day, reset the garage, alarm and keypad codes, and if you’re in a strata scheme, check with the strata manager first because the front door can be common property.
Settlement coming up?
Talk to Justin, Julie, Amanda or Nicole today. We’ll keep your purchase on track right through to settlement day.
