Changing Locks When Moving House: Should You Rekey or Replace?
The removal truck is unpacked, the kettle is on, and your new home finally feels like yours. But before you settle in, ask one uncomfortable question: how many other people still have keys to this house? Changing locks when moving house is the single most overlooked security step of any move, yet the keys handed over at transfer are rarely the only set in existence. Previous owners, tenants, estate agents, domestic workers and contractors may all have held copies over the years. The real decision is not whether to act, but how — rekey or replace?
Why This Comes First When You Move In
Security experts are unanimous: changing the locks should be one of your first tasks in a new home, ideally before you move your belongings in. The reason is “key control” — knowing exactly who can open your doors. When you receive keys at handover, you have no reliable way of knowing how many duplicates exist or who still holds one.
This matters more in South Africa than in most places. Housebreaking remains the country’s most common household crime, with an estimated 1.5 million incidents recorded in 2024/25. An intruder who already has a working key does not need to break anything — and a theft without forced entry can also complicate an insurance claim. Changing locks when moving house closes that gap on day one.
Rekey or Replace? How to Decide
Both options achieve the same core goal — old keys stop working — but they suit different situations.
Rekeying keeps your existing lock hardware and changes its internal mechanism so previous keys no longer fit. It is usually the cheaper, faster choice, and it makes sense when:
- The existing locks are good quality and in sound condition.
- You are happy with the current hardware and just want fresh key control.
- You want several locks keyed alike, so one key operates multiple doors.
Replacing swaps the lock out entirely for new hardware. It is the better call when:
- Locks are old, worn, damaged, or a low security grade.
- You want to upgrade to stronger, more tamper-resistant hardware.
- The lock type cannot be rekeyed — common with many gate and padlock-based locks.
That last point matters. Rekeying is mostly a door-cylinder conversation. When it comes to changing locks when moving house, your gates usually need a different approach altogether.
The Entry Point Most People Forget — Your Gates
Front doors get all the attention, but in South African homes the first physical barrier is usually a gate — and gates are frequently left exactly as the previous owner had them. That is a blind spot. When changing locks when moving house, treat every gate as seriously as the front door:
- Gate locks and padlocks — replace or re-key them; you don’t know who holds a copy.
- Gate motor remotes — fixed-code and dipswitch remotes are very easy to copy or clone, so re-code the receiver or replace old remotes.
- Sliding and pedestrian gates — confirm the locks are solid and the gate cannot simply be lifted or crowbarred.
The previous owner may have handed over two remotes while three more sit in a drawer somewhere. Re-coding the gate motor and upgrading tired gate locks removes that uncertainty completely.
Securing Your Gates the Right Way
Once you have decided to upgrade as part of changing locks when moving house, choose gate hardware built to last. Ultralock, a South African manufacturer, makes tamper-resistant, weldable gate locks engineered for exactly this job. A few features are worth looking for:
- Tamper-resistant steel that resists cutting and prying.
- Weldable construction so the lock becomes part of the gate, not a bolt-on weak point.
- Emergency locking that secures a gate fast, without hunting for a key.
- Keyed-alike sets, so a single key can operate several gates — the same convenience people love about rekeying, applied to your gates.
For heavier sliding gates, Ultralock’s roller kits carry safe working loads from 450kg to 750kg per wheel, keeping a large gate on its track and hard to lift. It is a straightforward way to make sure the barrier visitors see first is genuinely secure.
Your Move-In Security Checklist
Use this quick checklist to stay on top of changing locks when moving house:
- Rekey or replace every exterior door lock — front, back, side and garage.
- Assess each gate lock and replace or re-key as needed.
- Re-code your gate motor and account for every remote.
- Change any alarm codes and access PINs left by the previous owner.
- Prioritise the busiest entry points first if you are working to a budget.
Getting your keys and access under control is the foundation everything else builds on. For a closer look at why this matters, read this guide to understanding the key security risk.
Conclusion
Changing locks when moving house is not about assuming the worst of the people who lived there before you — it is about starting your new chapter with full control over who can get in. Weigh rekeying against replacement for your doors, then give your gates the same attention: fresh locks, re-coded remotes, and hardware strong enough to matter. Do it in your first week, before life gets busy, and you turn a house you have just bought into a home you can genuinely trust.
Get In Touch
Ready to take full control of who can enter your new home? While you are changing locks when moving house, make your gates part of the plan — not an afterthought. Ultralock manufactures tamper-resistant, weldable gate locks and load-rated roller kits trusted by South African homeowners, so every gate on your property can be as secure as your front door. Contact Ultralock to find the right locks for your gates and secure every entry point from your very first night.
