Quick answer: You should change the locks on a new Preston home as soon as you move in, ideally within the first few days. You have no way of knowing how many keys exist or who holds them, including previous owners, estate agents, cleaners, tradespeople, and past tenants. A full lock change gives you complete control over who can enter, and the cost depends on how many doors you have and the type of locks fitted, with fixed pricing confirmed before any work begins.
You’ve got the keys, the boxes are unpacked, and your new Preston home finally feels real. But before you settle in, there’s one job that should come before hanging pictures or building furniture.
A new home lock change should be your priority, because the keys handed to you at completion are almost certainly not the only keys in existence. September is peak moving season across Lancashire, and every year I meet families who wish they’d changed their locks sooner.
I’ve been a locksmith in Preston and across Lancashire for 15 years. First Pick Locksmiths helps new homeowners take control of their security every week. This guide explains exactly why lock changes matter, what the process involves, and how to protect your new home from day one.
Why Should You Change Locks After Moving House?
You should change locks after moving house because you cannot know how many keys exist or who currently holds them. The previous owners may have given spare keys to family, neighbours, cleaners, dog walkers, or tradespeople, and any of those copies still opens your new home.
Think about your own life for a moment. How many people have you handed a key to over the years? A neighbour for emergencies. A relative who visited often. A cleaner. A builder during a project. The previous owners of your Preston home did the same, and they can’t remember every copy either.
When you change the locks, every one of those old keys becomes useless. You start fresh, with a known number of keys and complete control over who holds them. This is the only way to be certain that you, and only you, can enter your home.
Who Might Still Have Keys to Your New Home?
More people than you’d expect could hold a working key to your new Preston property. The list usually includes:
- Previous owners, who may have forgotten spare copies
- Family and friends of the previous owners
- Estate agents, who often hold keys during viewings
- Cleaners or housekeepers used before the sale
- Tradespeople who worked on the home
- Former tenants, if the property was ever rented out
- Neighbours trusted with an emergency spare
Any one of these copies can open your door without any sign of forced entry. That matters for your safety, and it matters for your insurance, too, because break-ins with no forced entry are much harder to claim for.
Changing the locks removes every unknown key from the equation in one simple step.
When Should New Homeowners Change Their Locks?
New homeowners should change their locks within the first few days of moving in, and ideally on moving day itself. The sooner it’s done, the sooner you have full control over access to your home.
There’s no reason to wait. Every day with the old locks is another day when an unknown key could open your door. Many Preston families put the job off during the chaos of moving, then forget about it entirely once life gets busy.
If you moved in over the summer and haven’t changed your locks yet, September is the perfect time to get it done. The moving rush has settled, and it’s a natural time to tie up the security loose ends you didn’t get to.
New Home Lock Change in Preston: What Does the Process Involve?
A new home lock change in Preston is quick, clean, and less disruptive than most people expect. A professional locksmith handles the whole job in a single visit.
Here’s what happens.
Assessment
The locksmith checks your doors and identifies what type of locks you have. Most Preston homes have either euro cylinder locks (common on UPVC and composite doors) or mortice locks (common on wooden doors). Each needs a slightly different approach.
Replacement
For UPVC and composite doors, the locksmith replaces the euro cylinder inside the existing mechanism. This is fast and cost-effective, and it’s the perfect moment to upgrade to an anti-snap cylinder. For wooden doors, the mortice lock itself is replaced.
New Keys
You receive a full set of brand-new keys, usually five per lock. Only you decide who gets a copy from that point on.
Security Check
A good locksmith also checks your overall door and window security while they’re there, and flags any weaknesses worth addressing.
Most full lock changes take one to three hours, depending on how many doors you have.
How Much Does a Lock Change Cost in Preston?
The cost of a full lock change in Preston depends on your specific home. The main factors are how many doors need work, the type of locks currently fitted, and whether you choose to upgrade to anti-snap cylinders at the same time.
Every home is different. A property with two doors and standard euro cylinders is a simpler job than one with several doors and a mix of mortice locks and multipoint mechanisms. That’s why a fair price comes from looking at your actual doors, not a one-size-fits-all figure.
At First Pick Locksmiths, we confirm fixed pricing before any work begins, so you always know the cost upfront. There are no call-out fees and no surprises once the job is done.
Whatever the figure, it’s a small, one-off investment for complete peace of mind in a home you’ve just spent a great deal on. Set against the average Lancashire burglary loss of £5,190, changing your locks is one of the most sensible steps a new homeowner can take.
Should You Upgrade to Anti-Snap Locks When Moving In?
Yes, moving in is the ideal time to upgrade to anti-snap locks, because you’re already replacing the cylinders anyway. Upgrading during the same visit is far more convenient than doing it later, and it dramatically improves your security.
Many older Preston homes still have basic euro cylinders that can be snapped in seconds using a simple technique. Lock snapping is one of the most common break-in methods in the UK, and standard cylinders offer almost no resistance to it.
Anti-snap cylinders that meet the British Standard (BS3621) are built to resist snapping, picking, and drilling. Homes fitted with them are up to 64% less likely to be successfully broken into, and insurers often prefer or require them.
Since the locksmith is already at your door changing the cylinders, upgrading to anti-snap locks is the smart choice. You get the security upgrade without a second call-out.
What Other Security Steps Should New Homeowners Take?
Beyond changing the locks, a few extra steps can help ensure your new Preston home is properly secured. Once your locks are sorted, work through these.
Check Every Window Lock
Test each window lock, especially on the ground floor. Previous owners may have lost keys or left mechanisms broken. Working window locks are a basic layer of security that’s easy to overlook.
Secure the Back Door Properly
Across Lancashire, 41% of burglaries happen through back doors. Make sure your new home’s back door is as secure as the front, with a strong lock and a properly aligned mechanism.
Locate and Test the Alarm
If your new home has an alarm, get the codes changed from the previous owner’s settings. Test that it works and that any monitoring is set up in your name.
Check External Lighting
Walk around your property at dusk. Dark corners near doors and side access invite trouble. Motion-sensor lights are an affordable, effective deterrent.
Sort the Side Gates
Fit proper padlocks to any side gates. These block the quiet rear approach to the back doors, the most common entry point.
Change the Garage Locks Too
Don’t forget the garage. If it connects to your home, its security is part of your home’s security. Old garage keys could be floating around just like house keys.
When Do Most People Move House in Lancashire?
Most people move house in Lancashire during the summer and early autumn, with July, August, and September being the busiest months. Families’ moving time moves around the school year, aiming to settle before the new term begins.
This creates a September surge of new homeowners across Preston and the wider region, all of whom face the same security question at once. If you’re one of them, you’re not alone, and changing your locks is the single most important thing you can do to make your new house genuinely yours.
A local locksmith can fit you in quickly, even during the busy moving season.
Your New Home Security Checklist
Work through this list in your first week in your new Preston home.
Do First:
- Change all external door locks
- Upgrade to anti-snap cylinders
- Get a full set of new keys
- Decide who gets a spare (and keep a record)
Do This Week:
- Test every window lock
- Check that the back door is properly secured
- Change or reset any alarm codes
- Test external and motion lighting
- Fit padlocks to side gates
- Change garage locks if connected to the home
Save These Numbers:
- Lancashire Police non-emergency: 101
- Emergency: 999
- First Pick Locksmiths 24-hour line
Why Trust First Pick Locksmiths?
First Pick Locksmiths has helped Preston families secure their new homes for 15 years. We have 400+ five-star Google reviews from local customers, and every engineer is DBS-checked and Safe Trader-approved.
We work closely with Lancashire Police on community crime prevention and provide honest, no-pressure advice. When you call us for a new home lock change, we’ll tell you exactly what you need and nothing you don’t.
We accept all major cards, including Google Pay and Apple Pay, and we confirm fixed pricing before any work begins. There are no call-out fees and no surprises.
Make Your New Preston Home Truly Yours
Moving into a new home is exciting, and it should feel completely safe from the very first night. A new home lock change is the fastest, simplest way to make that happen.
You’ve invested so much in this move. Protecting it starts with knowing that you, and only you, hold the keys. Any unknown copies from the previous owner disappear the moment your new locks are fitted.
If you’ve just moved into a property in Preston, our locksmith service can change your locks quickly and install anti-snap upgrades for lasting security. We’ll have your new home fully under your control in a single visit.
Get in touch today and make your new Preston home truly yours.
Service Areas: First Pick Locksmiths provides new-home lock changes across Preston, Chorley, Leyland, Buckshaw Village, Euxton, Bamber Bridge, Lostock Hall, Standish, and throughout Lancashire.
Preston Locksmith Services: https://firstpicklocksmiths.co.uk/the-local-locksmith-preston-trusts-lancashire/
Lock Repairs and Replacement: https://firstpicklocksmiths.co.uk/lock-repair-replacement-chorley/
24-Hour Emergency Locksmith: https://firstpicklocksmiths.co.uk/24-hour-emergency-locksmith-chorley/
