If you have recently moved into a new home in Northampton or anywhere across Northamptonshire, changing the locks is the single most important security step you can take. You have no way of knowing how many copies of the key exist or who holds them. Previous owners, their family members, estate agents, removal crews, tradespeople, and neighbours who held a spare key may all still have access to your property. A Keytek survey found that 74% of homeowners do not change their locks after moving home. Fensome Locksmiths can change all the locks in your new home in a single visit. MLA-approved, Licence No: 003910. DBS checked. No call-out fee. Over 22 years serving Northampton and Northamptonshire. Call Craig directly on 01604 661 872.

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Changed the Locks Since You Moved In?

Most people do not. Keytek research found that 74% of homeowners don't change their locks after moving home, and a separate YouGov survey found that 34% of new homeowners never change the locks at all. That means for every four new homeowners moving into a property in Northampton right now, three of them are potentially living with keys in circulation that they know nothing about.

Think about everyone who may have held a key to your new home before you arrived. The previous owners almost certainly gave spare keys to family members, friends, or a trusted neighbour. Their estate agent likely held keys throughout the sale. Any tradespeople who worked on the property before completion may have held a key. Removal crews who worked on behalf of the previous occupants may have had access. Some of those keys will have been returned. Some will not.

Changing the locks does not mean the previous owners were dishonest. It simply means you take control of who has access to your home from the moment you move in. It is the only way to be certain.

November is one of the busiest months for property completions in the UK. HMRC data shows an average of more than 79,000 residential transactions completing in November as buyers race to complete before Christmas. If you are one of the many new homeowners settling into a property across Northampton and Northamptonshire right now, getting the locks changed quickly is the most practical thing you can do in the first week.

Call Craig on 01604 661 872. He can often arrange a same-day or next-day visit and can give you a clear price over the phone before coming out. No call-out fee. Available 24 hours a day.

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How Much Does a Lock Change Cost in Northampton?

The cost of a lock change in Northampton depends on the type of door, the lock standard required, and how many doors need changing. Here is a clear picture of what to expect.

Single UPVC euro cylinder change. A single euro cylinder replacement, supplied and fitted, typically costs from around £80 to £150 inc VAT. This covers the most common type of lock on UPVC and composite front doors across Northampton.

Full house lock change. Changing all the external locks in a typical three-bedroom home typically costs from around £260 to £450 inc VAT, depending on the number of doors and the lock types fitted. Fensome Locksmiths apply a discount when multiple doors are done in a single visit, which keeps the total cost of a full house change lower than booking separate call-outs.

Keyed-alike locks. If you want all your external doors to operate on a single key, keyed-alike cylinders are available to order. Craig will discuss this option when he visits and include it in the quote. It is a practical choice when changing all the locks at the same time.

There is no call-out fee. Craig confirms the full price before any work starts. The same rate applies day or night, including bank holidays and weekends. If the job turns out to be more involved than expected, Craig tells you before he proceeds, not after.

Call 01604 661 872 for a no-obligation quote. Craig can usually give you an indication of the likely cost over the phone before coming out.

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How Long Does a Lock Change Take?

Most UPVC door lock changes are completed within the hour. Craig removes the euro cylinder, measures the replacement, fits it, and tests it before you have finished unpacking the first box. If your new home has multiple UPVC external doors, Craig can work through them all in a single visit and complete the full house change in one session.

Wooden doors fitted with mortice locks take longer, typically up to two hours per door. Mortice locks sit inside the door itself and require more careful removal and fitting to ensure the replacement aligns correctly. Craig will assess the doors when he visits and give you a clear time estimate before starting.

If you want to know how long the full job will take before Craig comes out, call 01604 661 872 and describe your doors. He will give you a realistic estimate on the phone and confirm when he arrives.

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Should You Change the Locks on a New Build?

Yes. This is one of the most common misconceptions about new build security. Because the property is brand new, many buyers assume the locks are fresh, and the keys are accounted for. They rarely are.

During the construction of a new build home in Northampton or Northamptonshire, a significant number of people hold keys to the property. Builders and site staff need access throughout the build. Subcontractors working across multiple trades come and go over weeks or months. Snagging inspectors, building control officers, and housing association representatives may all have held keys at some stage. The developer's sales and marketing team may have shown the property to prospective buyers using the same key set. And the estate agent handling the sale will have held keys during the conveyancing process.

By the time you move in, the original key set has passed through many hands. Most developers fit basic builder-grade lock hardware as standard. This is often a standard euro cylinder with no anti-snap protection, which is also the most common entry point for lock snapping, one of the fastest-growing burglary methods in the UK.

Changing the locks on your new build on moving day, and upgrading to a TS007-rated anti-snap cylinder at the same time, gives you complete key control and significantly better security from day one. For more information on anti-snap upgrades, visit our anti-snap locks Northampton page.

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Rekeying vs Changing Locks - What Is the Difference?

When Craig visits to quote for a lock change, he may discuss rekeying as an alternative. It is worth understanding the difference so you can make the right choice for your new home.

Rekeying changes the internal mechanism of an existing lock so the old key no longer works. The lock body, the handle, and all the visible hardware stay exactly as they are. A new key is cut and tested. Rekeying is faster and cheaper than a full replacement, and it is a practical choice when the existing hardware is in good condition and meets your home insurance's security requirements.

Changing a lock means removing the entire hardware and fitting a new lock in its place. This takes longer and costs more, but it also lets you upgrade the security standard. If your new home has standard euro cylinders without TS007 anti-snap protection, or older mortice locks that don't meet BS3621 specifications, a full replacement is the better long-term choice.

Craig will assess each door on site and tell you honestly which option is right for it before any work starts. You are never pushed into a more expensive option if a cheaper one achieves the same result.

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Will Your Home Insurance Cover You If You Do Not Change the Locks?

This is a question many new homeowners do not think to ask until something goes wrong. The answer has two parts.

First, most home insurance policies specify minimum lock standards as a condition of cover. If the locks on your new home don't meet BS3621 for mortice locks or TS007 for euro cylinders, your policy may not pay out fully after a break-in. Moving into a property with unknown previous hardware means you may already be non-compliant from the moment you arrive. Craig can confirm which standard each door meets when he visits and advise on any needed upgrades.

Second, and more directly: if someone enters your property using an old key that was never returned, it does not count as forced entry under most home insurance policies. There is no sign of a break-in. There is no damaged door or window. In those circumstances, making a claim is significantly harder. Changing the locks removes this risk entirely. From the moment Craig fits and tests the new locks, only the keys he hands you will open the door.

Changing the locks on moving day is one of the most cost-effective insurance compliance steps you can take as a new homeowner.

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Why Choose Fensome Locksmiths for Your Lock Change in Northampton?

Over 22 years of experience. Fensome Locksmiths was founded in April 2004. Craig has been serving homeowners and businesses across Northampton and Northamptonshire for more than two decades. That local experience means he knows the properties, the common lock types fitted across the area, and the most practical solution for every door type he encounters.

MLA-approved. Craig is approved by the Master Locksmiths Association, Licence No: 003910. MLA approval means he has been vetted, inspected, and assessed against strict professional standards. In an unregulated trade, MLA approval is the most reliable indicator that a locksmith is qualified and accountable. You can verify Craig's credentials at the MLA website or read more on our how to check locksmith credentials page.

DBS checked. Craig is DBS checked. When you move into a new home and invite a locksmith to work on every external door, it matters that the person doing the work has passed a criminal record check.

No call-out fee. You are never charged simply for Craig coming out. You pay for the work carried out and the parts fitted.

Same rate around the clock. Craig charges the same rate at any time of day or night, including bank holidays and weekends. No out-of-hours surcharges. Moving day rarely goes entirely to plan, and if you need Craig at seven in the evening on a Friday, the price is the same as a Tuesday morning.

Discount for multiple doors. When multiple doors are changed in a single visit, a discount applies. This makes a full house lock change on moving day the most cost-effective option.

Clear price before work starts. Craig confirms the full price before beginning. If anything changes once he has assessed the doors, he tells you before he proceeds.

12-month warranty. All parts and labour are covered by a full 12-month warranty. If anything Fensome Locksmiths installs develops a fault within that period, Craig will return and fix it at no additional charge.

You speak directly to Craig. When you call 01604 661 872, you speak to Craig. Not a call centre, not a national booking system. He can usually give you a clear indication of the cost and availability over the phone before coming out.

For a full list of locksmith services available across Northampton, visit our locksmith services Northampton page. For general locksmith information and advice, visit our Northampton locksmith page.

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Areas We Cover for Lock Changes in Northamptonshire

Fensome Locksmiths cover Northampton and a wide area of Northamptonshire for lock changes. Whether you are in the NN1, NN2, NN3, NN4, NN5, NN6, or NN7 postcode areas, or further afield, Craig can reach you quickly.

Regular service areas for lock changes include Northampton town centre, Kingsthorpe, Duston, New Duston, Weston Favell, Abington, Hardingstone, East Hunsbury, Great Billing, Delapre, and Semilong. We also cover Wellingborough, Kettering, Rushden, Corby, Rothwell, Olney, Newport Pagnell, Moulton, Kislingbury, Blisworth, Earls Barton, Wootton, and Milton Keynes.

If you are unsure whether we cover your location, call Craig on 01604 661 872, and he will confirm straight away.

If you have an urgent security situation or are locked out, visit our emergency locksmith Northampton page. For UPVC door faults such as a stiff handle or a door that will not lock properly, visit our UPVC lock repair Northampton page. For anti-snap cylinder upgrades, visit our anti-snap locks Northampton page. For domestic locksmith services, visit our domestic locksmith Northampton page.

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Frequently Asked Questions - Lock Change Northampton

Should I change the locks when I move into a new house?

Yes. When you move into a new property, you won't know how many key copies exist or who has them. Previous owners, their family members, estate agents, tradespeople, and anyone else who held a spare key may still have access. A Keytek survey found that 74% of homeowners do not change their locks after moving home. Changing the locks on moving day is the only way to be certain your home is secure from the start. Call Fensome Locksmiths on 01604 661 872.

How much does a lock change cost in Northampton?

The cost depends on the door type and the number of locks. A single UPVC euro cylinder change typically costs around £80 to £150 inc VAT, including supply and fitting. A full house change covering all external doors on a typical three-bedroom home typically costs from around £260 to £450 inc VAT. Fensome Locksmiths charge no call-out fee, confirm the full price before starting, and apply a discount when you change multiple doors in a single visit. Call 01604 661 872 for a no-obligation quote.

How long does it take to change all the locks in a house?

Most UPVC door lock changes are completed within the hour. Wooden doors with mortice locks typically take up to two hours per door. If you need all the external locks in a house changed in a single visit, call Craig on 01604 661 872 before he comes out and describe your doors. He will give you a clear time estimate over the phone and confirm again when he arrives.

Do I need to change the locks on a new build property?

Yes. New builds are particularly vulnerable because builders, subcontractors, site staff, snagging inspectors, and estate agents all held keys during construction. New builds are also commonly fitted with basic builder-grade hardware that offers limited security. Craig can change the cylinders and fit TS007-rated anti-snap locks at the same time, giving you complete key control and improved security from moving day onwards.

What is the difference between rekeying and changing locks?

Rekeying changes the internal mechanism of an existing lock so old keys no longer work, keeping the hardware in place. It is faster and cheaper than a full replacement. Lock replacement removes the entire hardware set and installs a new lock. Replacement is recommended when hardware is damaged, worn, or does not meet your home insurance requirements. Craig will assess each door on site and advise which option is right before any work starts.

Will my home insurance be affected if I don't change the locks after moving?

It may be. Most home insurance policies specify minimum lock standards as a condition of cover. If existing hardware does not meet BS3621 or TS007 requirements, a claim may be affected. More critically, if someone enters your property with an old key that was never returned, it does not count as forced entry, making a claim significantly harder. Craig can confirm which standard each door meets and advise on any needed upgrades.

Can I get all my external doors to use the same key?

Yes. Keyed-alike cylinders, which let multiple external doors operate on a single key, are available to order. Craig will discuss this option when he visits and include it in the quote. It is a practical, popular choice when changing all the locks in a new home at the same time, so you don't have to carry multiple keys for different doors.

Do you cover lock changes across Northamptonshire?

Yes. Fensome Locksmiths cover Northampton and a wide area of Northamptonshire, including Wellingborough, Kettering, Rushden, Corby, Daventry, Olney, Milton Keynes, Newport Pagnell, and surrounding towns and villages. Call Craig on 01604 661 872 to confirm coverage for your location. He aims to reach you within 30 minutes across Northampton and the surrounding area.

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Moving into a new home in Northampton or Northamptonshire? Call Craig directly on 01604 661 872. MLA-approved. DBS checked. No call-out fee. Same rate around the clock. Discount for multiple doors. 12-month warranty. Available 24 hours a day for over 22 years.