In this guide
Make an entrance-by-entrance inventory
Walk around the property and list the entrances you actually use. Include the front and back doors, accessible side doors, garage-to-house connection and gates. For an apartment, separate your own door from shared building entrances and other managed access.
Match the supplied keys, fobs and remotes to the relevant entrance. Label your inventory by location rather than attaching the property address to a keyring. Store any key-code information securely instead of sharing it in public photos.
Scroll across the table to see every column. →
| Entrance | Check | Record |
|---|---|---|
| Front and back doors | Does each supplied key operate smoothly? Does the door latch normally? | Key label, copies received, any difficulty |
| Side access and gates | Is the entrance secure and is its key accounted for? | Missing keys or damaged hardware |
| Garage and shared access | Which remotes or fobs were handed over? Who manages them? | Items received and contact for access changes |
Front and back doors
Entrance
- Check
- Does each supplied key operate smoothly? Does the door latch normally?
- Record
- Key label, copies received, any difficulty
Side access and gates
Entrance
- Check
- Is the entrance secure and is its key accounted for?
- Record
- Missing keys or damaged hardware
Garage and shared access
Entrance
- Check
- Which remotes or fobs were handed over? Who manages them?
- Record
- Items received and contact for access changes
Separate key control from hardware condition
There are two different questions: who can operate the lock, and whether the door and hardware work properly. A lock can be in good condition while its key history is uncertain. Another may have a full set of keys but a loose handle or a latch that catches.
Record those concerns separately. Rekeying a compatible lock changes which key operates it; it does not repair a sagging door or damaged handle. Hardware problems may need adjustment, repair or replacement after assessment.
Choose the change that addresses your concern
If your concern is unaccounted-for copies, ask about changing access through suitable keying work. If the hardware is worn, unsuitable or unreliable, ask about replacing damaged or unsuitable hardware after its condition has been assessed. You do not need to choose every part before asking for advice.
Our rekey or replace guide compares the two jobs. Use it to prepare questions rather than assuming every lock in the home can be treated in the same way.
Confirm who can approve the work
If you rent, check the approval process with your landlord or agent. NSW rules also provide exceptions in certain circumstances, including emergencies. Read the current NSW Government guidance on keys and locks in rental properties before treating prior consent as a requirement in every situation. In a strata building, ask who manages shared keys, restricted systems, fobs and any requirements affecting your entry door. Permission to change one lock does not automatically cover a shared system.
If it is a new build, ask the builder what keying system was supplied and what the handover process includes. Do not assume every construction key becomes inactive automatically: that depends on the actual system and its setup.
Plan the handover after any work
Agree how many working keys you need and which doors they should operate. Check every affected entrance before considering the job complete, then give keys only to the people who need them. Keep a simple private record of spare-key holders so the next access decision is easier.
Common questions
Assess key history and hardware condition first. Changing suitable keying may address access concerns without changing every component.
Sometimes compatible locks can be arranged that way. Ask which entrances can be included and which would need different hardware.
Your suburb, the number of entrances, photos of the hardware and the concerns recorded in your inventory. Avoid sending sensitive key or access-code details unnecessarily.
Planning access changes? Describe the entrances and what you want to change.