when you buy an apartment, do you change the door locks?
Ideally,we do not worry about the main enterance , but we would like to change the apartment's lock.
Wonder what's the norm here?
thanks in advance
Hi,
I've never known it.
The keys they all use (that I know of) are some kind of security key which can't be cut in Switzerland. You have to go all the way to, oh, France, where they cut them no questions asked. Apparently.
But still, no one I know has changed their locks.
can't the previous owner have any extra keys which they might still have after selling apartment.
I know, I might sound paranoid as per swiss standards, quite common in "unsafe" countries to change the lock after you buy any apartment.
The number of keys is usually recorded - you could check with the management agency how many were issued?
Also, you need to think about how many keys would need to be changed?
I think its a bit of paranoia to be honest. The keys are almost a communal responsibility for the building as they open so many common areas (hence the high price to replace if lost).
You can change the lock on your own door if you want to. All it means is that you have 2 keys instead of 1. One for your own front door and one for the common front door and other common areas such as bike shed, garage etc.
Generally if the keys are Kaba keys, Kaba will be able to tell you exactly how many keys have been cut using the refernce number on the key. If they are all in your possession I wouldn't worry too much.
If, as an apartment owner, you don't get the Kaba "key card" which legitimizes you as the owner, you may have to go through the management company.
This really does rather depend on the age of the locks.... I have working Kaba keys from all three of my previous swiss appartments, and only with the last one did I need to order extra copies via the Regie (the new tenants have since been able to get them copied at a normal key-cutting place), the older ones I simply had copied at the local MisterMinute.
I've also had two cut recently at MisterMinute for my son's communal garage, which uses an older style Kaba key.
There might be dozens of copies of 'your' keys out there as people tend give them to family members to simplify access the building.
So if the locks are 10+ years old they're not necessarily that secure.
If you're really worried about it, you could try insisting that as condition of sale the appartment front door lock is changed?
In your position I would change the apartment lock. Then you are sure that no one has access with an old key. Use a lock type where it is not possible to have the keys easily copied so if you have to leave a key with a tradesman or neighbour, there is no risk of them having a duplicate key. If the main entrance to the block is shared and the apartment locks are in the same key system, you will have probably little chance to change the lock on the main entrance. Also with such lock systems, losing a key can be expensive because you may be obliged in the worst case to have all locks changed at your expense.
The apartment is only 5 years old. Unfortunately we didn't think about the locks etc while making sales agreement, and everything is done we are moving in 2 weeks. I assume the keys would have been handed over to trading agency etc when kept on Sale. Though everyone in the agency was "senior" Swiss and We don't have any bad feeling about them , but would feel safer to have new locks, just for our own apartment.
At the handover (or I would let them know ahead of time), they should give you the keys as well as a document/card that they received with the keys when they purchased the apt.
This is proof that you are the owner of the apt. and keys when it comes to making copies. Normally in CH, you will not be able to make new copies without this card . If they do not have the card, you need to deduct the cost of a new lock and keys (keyed to also work with the front door).
You need to give them some time to find this card (don't surprise them at the handover) as the card may be kept at the management company.
If only it were that simple. I've never found anywhere that can do them. Do you (or rather, does your 'friend') have any personal experience of somewhere that does?
Thank you, we wil do the same.
As it is your own apartment you can do as you want with the lock in your very own door. If you feel unsafe change the lock. There a three options.1) Re-key your lock (should be cheaper than a total new lock, as locksmith as only to replace some of the pins in your lock, but knowing Swiss pricing politic I highel doubt it will be the case), the most practical as you will still have one for apartment and house door. 2) Change it with your lock of your likening, maybe the cheapest when you do it on your own. 3) Change it with an Abloy Protec Disc Lock, known as one of the hardest to pick lock (Although there is always other forms of entries , windows are the easiest, even in penthouses ).
PS: once you have the locks id card you should be able to determine how many legitimate copies were made.
I haven't tried to get the new keys copied, but certainly the older type were easily copied in Italy.
Tom
Maybe my friend's apartment uses older style Kaba keys. I've just looked at mine (well, in case my friend has the same type of key) and all I can tell is that it says "KABA 20" on it. Maybe 2.0 or 2-0. And the key cutting place in St Louis in the Geant Casino complex cuts them. For my friend.
Not sure, but believe 2 types of Kaba Key, one with card and one without. Have had a kaba key cut in Locksmith no problem, just paid, not asked for anything else.
This link reply no 8, a place in London where some Kaba keys can be cut
Can someone suggest an affordable key cutting service in London ?
I also enquired at a different London Locksmith, who advised some he could cut and others he could not.
Giving those examples, so you can realise what type of key you have.
Here in Switzerland on occasion when renting have changed the apartment door lock for duration, but there was always a separate key for the main block entrance did not change
Don't know what difference the make or type makes, but all the keys that I'd be interested in getting spares of are labelled "Keso 2000" . Are these distinctly different from the 'Kaba' ones ? They're basically flat with dimples cut into the surface, and some of them also have dimples down the edges. I could probably cut them myself using a Dremel, but would need some suitable blanks, as well as a very steady hand.
Pretty sure I tried the place at Géant some years ago - maybe it's time to try again...
i have the same key and have had them cut at geant, eleclerc and at the key place in rhine centre... all without questions and around 20 - 40 euro.. which renders the whole key egistration scheme useless
I have those as well. It seems we are due a trip to France soon
Here's a solution:
Tom