When Should You Change Your Locks: Comprehensive Guide for Residential, Commercial, Strata, and Real Estate

Top Reasons to Change Your Locks: Residential & Commercial

1. After a Break-In or Attempted Break-In

• Residential: If your home has been broken, it’s critical to change your locks immediately. Even if the intruders didn’t use a key, they might have found one inside or damaged the existing locks. Replacing them ensures that your home remains secure.
• Commercial: Burglars often target businesses for their valuable assets and data. If your office or commercial space has experienced a break-in, don’t take any chances—replace all affected locks to safeguard your premises.

2. Lost or Stolen Keys

• Residential: Losing your house keys can be a stressful experience, especially if you’re unsure where you lost them. Even if you believe they were misplaced rather than stolen, changing your locks is wise to prevent unauthorised access.
• Commercial: In a business environment, keys often change hands frequently. If an employee loses their key or has it stolen, changing the locks is crucial to protect your business assets and sensitive information.

3. Moving into a New Home or Office

• Residential: When you move into a new home, you can never be sure how many copies of the keys are out there. Previous owners, tenants, or contractors may still have access. Changing the locks ensures you are the only one with keys to your new home.
• Commercial: Businesses often move into previously occupied spaces. To ensure your security, replace the locks on all exterior and interior doors that house sensitive information or valuable equipment.

4. After a Relationship Change

• Residential: Changing the locks following a divorce, breakup, or a roommate’s move-out is essential. This step prevents potential issues with unauthorised access and provides peace of mind that your home remains secure.
• Commercial: Changing the locks is essential to maintaining security if a key-holding employee leaves your company, especially under less-than-amicable circumstances. This is particularly important if the employee can access sensitive areas or information.

5. Upgrading Security

• Residential: As security technology advances, so do burglars’ methods. If your locks are outdated, upgrading to high-security or smart locks can provide better protection and convenience.
• Commercial: Businesses need to stay ahead of security threats. Upgrading to more secure locks, such as those with biometric or electronic access control, can significantly enhance the security of your commercial property.

6. Worn-Out Locks

• Residential: Over time, locks can wear out, becoming difficult to operate or less secure. If you notice signs of wear, such as keys getting stuck or the lock mechanism feeling loose, it’s time to replace them.
• Commercial: High-traffic areas in businesses can cause locks to wear out more quickly. Regularly check for signs of wear and replace locks that no longer function smoothly to avoid potential security risks.

Strata and Real Estate Lock Changes: A Complete Guide

1. New Tenancy

• Strata: When a new tenant moves into a strata-managed property, it’s good practice to change the locks. This ensures that previous tenants or anyone with a copy of the key can no longer access the property.
• Real Estate: For real estate professionals managing multiple properties, ensuring that locks are changed between tenants is crucial in maintaining property security and trust.

2. Key Management in Strata Properties

• Strata: In strata complexes, managing who has access to common areas is essential. If keys are lost or stolen, or if a tenant moves out, it’s vital to consider rekeying or changing the locks to prevent unauthorised access to these shared spaces.
• Real Estate: Real estate managers must ensure that only authorised individuals can access properties. This may involve changing locks or rekeying units between tenants or after security incidents.

3. Security Upgrades

• Strata: Strata managers should regularly assess the security of the complex, including the locks on individual units and common areas. Upgrading to more secure locks can prevent break-ins and enhance the overall safety of the property.
• Real Estate: Real estate professionals should recommend lock upgrades to property owners, mainly if the current locks are outdated or there have been any recent security concerns.

4. Compliance with Strata Regulations

• Strata: Strata regulations often require locks on certain doors, such as fire exits and entry points, to meet specific security standards. Regularly reviewing and updating these locks is essential for compliance and safety.
• Real Estate: For real estate properties, ensuring that locks meet local security standards and regulations is crucial for protecting the property and avoiding liability.

When Is It Time to Replace Your Locks?

1. After Significant Wear and Tear

• Residential: If your lock shows signs of significant wear – such as rust, difficulty turning the key, or sticking – it’s time to replace it. A worn-out lock is inconvenient and less effective at securing your home.
• Commercial: Worn locks in a business setting can indicate increased security risks, mainly if they are located in high-traffic areas. Regular maintenance checks should include inspecting locks for wear and replacing them as needed.

2. If You’ve Experienced a Recent Security Breach

• Residential: If a burglary has targeted your home or there have been attempts to force entry, changing your locks immediately is essential to restore your security.
• Commercial: After a security breach, assessing the damage and replacing any compromised locks is crucial. This step should be part of a broader security review to identify and address other vulnerabilities.

3. Outdated Lock Technology

• Residential: Older locks may not provide the level of security needed in today’s environment. Upgrading to modern locks with advanced features, such as smart locks or high-security deadbolts, can offer better protection and peace of mind.
• Commercial: Businesses should stay updated with the latest security technology. Outdated locks may be easier to bypass, and they need the convenience and control offered by modern systems, such as keyless entry and access logs.

4. After Employee or Tenant Turnover

• Residential: Even if the relationship ended on good terms, it’s wise to change your locks after a tenant or roommate moves out. This ensures that you maintain control over who has access to your property.
• Commercial: Employee turnover is a common reason for changing locks in a business setting. Even trusted employees should no longer have access after leaving the company, especially if they have access to sensitive areas.

5. For Peace of Mind

• Residential: Sometimes, changing your locks is simply about peace of mind. Whether it’s after a life change, such as a divorce, or just because you feel uncertain about who has a copy of your keys, updating your locks can provide the reassurance you need.
• Commercial: Businesses thrive on trust, but it’s essential to ensure that trust doesn’t extend to former employees or contractors who no longer need access. Changing locks regularly as a precautionary measure can prevent potential security issues.