Securing your home from intruders is important for protecting your family and your belongings. Taking some measures to protect your home is even more crucial if you are living alone. One essential way of doing that is to change the locks of your house. However, before you consider changing the locks, here’s a detailed guide on when to change the locks of a house and why.
When to Change the Locks of a House?
There are certain circumstances that make it necessary to change the locks of your house on an urgent basis. These are some instances where you should consider changing the locks immediately:
- Moving to a new place
- Losing your keys
- Break-in or burglary
- Divorce
- Damaged locks
- Evacuating a tricky tenant
While the names of these situations are enough to give you an idea about why it’s mandatory to change the locks of your house, let’s discuss each of these situations in detail to give you a better idea about the implications you might face later on.
Moving to a New Place
Irrespective of whether you have bought a new property or have just rented a new home, it is always recommended that you change the locks of your house once you have moved in. There are several reasons for doing so. The biggest reason for changing the locks is to ensure better home security on a budget. While your landlord might have assured you that they changed the locks after the previous tenant moved out, you should not take your security for granted.
The previous owner or a renter might have a spare key to the existing locks, so it is best to install new ones and make sure that your landlord and your family members are the only ones with keys to the new locks. Ensure that you change the locks for every entrance to the home. This includes the backdoor as well as your garage door, or the main gate to your property that allows entrance into the yard or garden.
Losing Your Keys
Losing your keys is one of the most common reasons for changing the locks. It is important to install new locks as soon as you realise that you have lost your keys. While there is always an option of simply creating another set of keys for your own use, using the spare one, it is best to avoid a delay and risk the safety of your home and family, even if you do hope to find them eventually.
Break-In or Burglary
Most burglars target homes with poor security measures, but even if that wasn’t the case, you should install new locks immediately after a theft. Circumstances, where it becomes crucial to change the locks, is when your purse gets stolen/snatched with your house keys and your CNIC (with your address) inside. Or when a thief robs you inside/outside/near your home and takes your belongings, including your house keys. Or when someone actually damages the lock while attempting to enter the home. The attempt, irrespective of whether it was successful or not, might have damaged the lock and it is best to change it to ensure better home security.
Divorce
It’s hard when a couple faces a divorce because they could no longer stay happy together, but it’s even worse if the divorce happens on unfriendly terms, with bitter arguments and fights over property possession. If you want your ex to stay out of your house, and not be faced with unexpected visits, change the locks on the main doors as soon as you officially have ownership of the property.
This rule applies to broken friendships between rental roommates, too. While you may have worked hard to find the right rental roommate, if they’ve left the premises after an argument, it’s best to talk to your landlord and get the locks changed, so they are not able to trespass.
Damaged Locks
Locking mechanisms face wear and tear over time, and will break down eventually. Some locks will show visible damage, and that’s easy enough to spot. However, others will take you by surprise. What happens is that the lock gets torn apart on the inside, and refuses to open or close without any signs on the outside. This means that if you haven’t changed your locks for a very long time, you could very well get stuck in your room one day and need a locksmith to get you out.
Evacuating a Tricky Tenant
This one is for landlords everywhere. If you’ve had a tough time booting a tenant, don’t make the mistake of keeping the same locks on your rental units. Change them immediately so that you don’t face another illegal occupation of the flat or house with a key that’s been copied by the sly tenant.
Now you know exactly when to change the locks of a house and why. It is also important to only share your house key with trusted individuals and to always take it back from people you’ve loaned it to, even if they are someone you trust. Stay safe!
You can also check out the different types of door locks available in Pakistan and their prices in our detailed guide. Keep reading more posts on Zameen Blog. You can also send us your suggestions and comments at blog@zameen.com. Meanwhile, don’t forget to follow us on Facebook.
