TL;DR: Check every external lock and identify who holds keys before deciding what needs rekeying. Owners can arrange suitable work; renters should check state rules and permissions first. Reset authorised device accounts and access codes, test your existing equipment and preserve easy escape. A new purchase is optional and depends on delivery.
Why a new home is a genuine security gap
A move creates practical handover questions: which keys exist, which locks work and who still has digital access? National household burglary figures do not show that moving week is the most dangerous time of year. Work through observable gaps instead of treating removalists, neighbours or deliveries as evidence of a threat.
Inspect with the agent or previous owner where possible and photograph defects for the condition report. The Victoria Police prevention guide recommends securing access points and removing hidden spare keys. Apply those steps while keeping doors and windows usable for escape.
The locks and keys you don't actually control
Ask who holds keys and authorised access, then decide whether a locksmith or service provider needs to change anything. An incomplete key handover does not prove a crime risk, but it leaves an access question unresolved. The right action depends on ownership, tenancy rules, the lock design and any shared system.
- External door locks — ask a qualified locksmith whether rekeying, repair or replacement suits the hardware. Owners should check shared or fire-door restrictions. Renters should first check the relevant tenancy rules and permissions.
- Garage remotes and keypads - reprogram or reset the code. Also check the garage-to-house door and the manufacturer’s reset procedure.
- Alarm system codes - if the property already has a monitored system, ask the installer or monitoring company to reset the master code and remove old users before you rely on it.
- Shared gates, sheds and storage cages - in townhouses, units or acreage blocks, check whether outbuildings use a separate lock that was never mentioned in the handover.
Ask the agent or previous owner directly, in writing, how many keys were issued and to whom. Keep the response with the handover record and confirm any remaining authorised users. Do not assume the answer identifies every copy ever made.
Hand over accounts as well as keys
| Item | Confirm before relying on it |
|---|---|
| Smart locks and garage controls | Identify the model, follow its ownership-transfer/reset instructions, remove old PINs and remotes, then test authorised access and manual escape |
| Cameras and doorbells | Transfer ownership legitimately; remove former shared users, review recording privacy and confirm where clips are stored |
| Alarm and monitoring | Have the provider confirm the account holder, authorised contacts, codes, service terms and a supervised test procedure |
| Router and smart-home hub | Set your own credentials and recovery contact; inventory connected devices before a factory reset so essential services are not lost |
For Victoria, Consumer Affairs Victoria explains lock changes, consent and key copies and the rules for other modifications. Other states and family-violence exceptions have different rules; use the authority for your location rather than a nationwide assumption.
Will inherited devices still receive security updates?
Record each connected device’s model and published security-update end date in the handover file, alongside the ownership-transfer instructions. The Australian smart-device requirements exempt products manufactured before 4 March 2026; a device’s age alone does not establish whether it has ongoing security support.
New-home security options compared
Once the locks are sorted, the next decision is what kind of protection to add - and how quickly you actually need it in place. These are the realistic options for a household that has just moved.
Rekeyed locks only
Solves the "who has a key" problem but does nothing about a window, side gate or garage that gets forced rather than unlocked.
Monitored alarm system
May add third-party monitoring. Installation, wireless options, contract terms and availability vary; obtain an actual booking and service quote.
Smart lock and camera
Local keypad or key operation may work without NBN; remote control, video and notifications have separate power and network requirements. Check the model and remove former users.
No-Wi-Fi barking deterrent
A local sound option if you already have a suitable unit, power and time to position and test it. It is not the only offline option and sends no remote alert.
You can combine these options as your needs and budget become clearer. Use working locks and safe routines now, then add the functions you need once suitable equipment and any required installation are available.
Covering the gap before your alarm system is installed
Use confirmed appointments and delivery estimates when planning new equipment. For tonight, secure existing hardware, arrange urgent repairs through the appropriate owner or manager and agree on a safe fallback if an entry cannot be secured. Do not treat an online order as protection that is already installed.
Protect the entry points while everything else is still being organised.
Once delivered and tested, K9-Alert can provide a local motion-triggered sound without Wi-Fi or a monthly fee. Position the sensor under shelter with a clear view of the private approach; it cannot detect through glass or metal and does not send phone alerts.
- Check the placement: power both components, walk-test the approach and check neighbours will not trigger it repeatedly.
- Arm and disarm by remote: useful while removalists, tradespeople and visitors are still in and out.
- Portable: move it with you if you are renting, and reposition it once you know the property properly.
If you are moving into a rental rather than buying, our guide to home security for renters with no drilling or Wi-Fi explains reversible options and when tenancy or strata permission may still be needed. And if the property comes with a garage or shed you have not secured before, the garage security checklist is worth working through in the same week.
Your move-in week security checklist
Work through this list in order during the first few days after you get the keys.
Do this within the first week
- Check authority and arrange appropriate rekeying, repair or replacement of external locks, including any side or back entry that is easy to forget.
- Reset garage remotes and keypad codes so old codes stop working immediately.
- Ask the agent or previous owner in writing how many keys were issued and to whom.
- Reset or transfer any existing alarm system and remove old users from the account.
- Walk every window and door to check the latches and strike plates actually engage properly - a new house does not mean new hardware.
- Break down moving boxes before bin day rather than leaving them visible at the kerb, which advertises new, unpacked purchases.
- Introduce yourself to a neighbour so someone recognises your car, your movers and your visitors in the first fortnight.
- Decide whether you need an additional local warning; any device must be delivered, suitably positioned and tested before you rely on it.
Check the local sound option for your new entry.
K9-Alert provides local barking while armed and powered, without Wi-Fi or a subscription. Check current delivery, placement and power requirements before ordering.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to change all the locks when I move into a new house?
Check who has access and whether each lock works first. An owner may choose rekeying or replacement with a locksmith; those are different jobs. Shared master-key systems and fire doors need extra care. Renters should check state rules and permissions before work, and all changes must preserve safe escape.
Should I rekey a rental property too, or is that the landlord’s job?
Report defective locks to the rental provider promptly and ask what will be repaired. Rules for voluntary lock changes, consent, costs and key copies vary by state and circumstance. Consult the relevant tenancy authority, including any family-violence provisions. Portable equipment still needs appropriate placement and must not obstruct an exit.
What should I check during moving week?
Check inherited keys, access codes, garage remotes, smart-home accounts and damaged hardware. Record defects and assign responsibility for repairs. There is no evidence cited here that moving week is the highest-risk period of your year; this checklist addresses handover gaps without assuming visitors or tradespeople have criminal intentions.
Is a barking dog alarm useful before I install a full security system?
It may add a local sound if it has arrived, both components are powered and the real approach passes a walk-test. It does not repair a lock, record video or notify you remotely. Start with securing existing entries and arrange delivery and installation around confirmed times, not a same-night promise.