Moving Home Locksmith Checklist 2026 (Don't Skip Step 3)

You don't know who else has the keys. The previous owner had years to make copies. Their cleaner had a key. Their builder did. Their neighbour might have one. Their teenager's friends might have one. The standard locksmith move-in checklist exists because the only way to know who can let themselves in is to be the only person who can let themselves in. This guide is what to do, in order, in the first 48 hours.

Front door, back door, side door, conservatory door, garage door if it has a household-style cylinder. Standard euro cylinder swap is a 30-minute job per door, costs £85-180 per cylinder fitted depending on whether you go for standard or anti-snap. If the property has 3 external doors, budget £255-540 for a full rotation. This is the single most important locksmith job at move-in and the one most often skipped.

While the locksmith is there changing cylinders, ask them to check every mortice deadlock for the BS3621 Kitemark. If any are non-compliant (the Kitemark is missing from the brass faceplate), get them upgraded now. £150-180 fitted per door. Insurance requires this; the previous owner may have had non-compliant locks and you've inherited the gap.

While the cylinders are out, decide on your key strategy. Standard practice is one key per adult plus one spare. If you want every external door on a single key (one key for the whole house), ask for keyed-alike cylinders — same job, no extra cost beyond the cylinders themselves. If you want a key for a cleaner or dog-walker that opens only specific doors, ask for a master suite. Both choices need to be made at fitting time, not after.

Every ground-floor and first-floor accessible window needs a working key lock. Check each one. If keys are missing, ask the locksmith to fit replacement key locks while they're on site. Window key locks cost £15-30 each fitted. Insurance requires functional window locks on accessible windows in most policies — broken or missing locks here will void a break-in claim.

If you want a backup key accessible without leaving one with a neighbour, fit a key safe. Police-approved Sold Secure 'Gold' key safes cost £80-120 fitted. They're invaluable for letting in cleaners, dog walkers, AirBnB guests, or just yourself when you've locked yourself out. Mount it out of sight (back of the house, behind a planter) and never share the code over text or email.

Typical 3-bedroom UK house with 2 external doors, both with euro cylinders and one BS3621 mortice that needs upgrading, plus 4 ground-floor window locks: £255 for cylinder upgrades + £150 for BS3621 mortice + £80 for window locks + £100 for key safe = £585 total, completed in a single 3-hour visit. Less if your locks are already compliant; more if you want anti-snap upgrades on every door.

Most home insurance policies have a 'security requirements' clause requiring BS3621 mortice locks on external doors and functional key locks on accessible windows. Some additionally require TS007 3-star anti-snap cylinders on UPVC and composite doors. Check your policy summary before completing — non-compliance can void a claim. Ask your locksmith for a written certificate detailing what was fitted; insurers want this for the file.