At A Glance
- Owners of student flats should regularly replace Euro cylinder locks after tenants move out
- In the event of a lost key or broken door lock, replace the door lock cylinder ASAP
- Use our step-by-step guide to remove the old cylinder and replace it with ease
- Make replacing and upgrading cylinder Euro locks a priority for your rentals
Learning how to replace door lock styles is very important for anyone who owns rental property. If you own student flats, you might already have had quite a few callouts, right? Unfortunately, students can be a little carefree when it comes to taking home security seriously. Not only that, but student rentals tend to have a lot of turnover in terms of residents. Swapping out your locks becomes essential.
Most of the time, it would be wise to call a locksmith to do the job for you. However, if you have a Euro cylinder lock, swapping it out isn’t quite as difficult as it might first appear. In this guide, brought to you by insight from staff at Multipointlocks, you can make relatively short work of this DIY task. Make sure you can keep your student rentals safe amid lost keys, broken locks, and student turnover.
Why Do Student Flats Require Regular Lock Cylinder Changes?
There are two main reasons for this: turnover and the maturity of students. Look, most students are fairly young, right? We all remember being young. For some of us, it was some time ago, but still!
Youth means learning, and often making expensive, painful mistakes along the way. For students renting your flats, it could be something like losing their keys. Or breaking the locks by using the keys incorrectly or applying too much force. It could even just be down to the locks wearing out thanks to the march of time.
Often, though, the need to replace cylinder Euro locks comes down to turnover. When a student moves out, it makes sense to reconfigure the flat, right? This is especially true if the previous tenant reported lock issues. Or, if they never returned the keys to you when they moved out. Unfortunately, this is more common than it needs to be!
Turnover and key loss/theft are common reasons to think about upgrading your lock cylinder. If you learn how to replace door lock mechanisms on your own, though, you can avoid always having to turn to a locksmith. So, how do you get started? What do you need to do to swap out this Euro cylinder?
The Steps To Replace Euro Cylinder Locks
The path to learning how to replace door locks is relatively simple. Here are the steps you need to follow if you wish to make short work of a Euro cylinder lock replacement in student flats:
Gather Your Tools
First off, you’ll need a few tools. Grab a screwdriver; you’ll likely need a Philips or Flathead screwdriver, but we recommend having both. You’ll also need some measuring tape to make sure you get the right size of replacement Euro cylinder lock. Next, invest in a replacement that is the same size as your current lock and, ideally, meets or exceeds the old lock’s security rating.
Lastly, you’ll need the key for your old lock cylinder and the key for your new one. Don’t have the key for your old lock cylinder? You might need a locksmith to help you in this case. If you have all of the above, though, let’s get started!
Removing The Old Door Lock Cylinder
The first step is to remove the old cylinder. To do this, you’ll need to locate what is known as the fixing screw. This is usually found at the door edge and should be near the centre of the lock mechanism. Unscrew this and then keep the fixing screw – you’ll need it later.
Next, put the old lock cylinder key into the lock. Turn it around 10 to 15 degrees so that the central locking mechanism aligns correctly with the lock body. Once you do this, give the cylinder a gentle tug. With the fixing screw released and the cam aligned, the cylinder should slide out. If it won’t pop out, you should add some lubricant to the cylinder to see if that helps move it.
Replacing The Euro Lock Cylinder
Now, you’ll need to get an exactly sized replacement. Measuring the old cylinder should help you to find a suitably sized replacement. Measure from the central fixing hole to the end of each cylinder. You should have two different sizes: use these same sizes to find a compatible Euro cylinder lock.
Buy a replacement that is British Standard or TS007 3-Star rated. This ensures the highest-quality lock is installed in your door. Take your new cylinder and slide it into the gap left behind by the old cylinder.
If you measured everything correctly, it should slide in with no fuss. Make sure the lock is flush to the surface of the door: any overhang means the lock is too large.
Replace the fixing screw we removed earlier to fix the lock into place. Avoid tightening the fixing screw too much, though, as it can impact lock performance.
Now, test it out. Turn the key to lock and unlock the door. Does it all work smoothly? Does the lock fight against you? The door should lock and unlock with no resistance felt. Open and close the door several times, and test the lock from both sides. Be thorough!
Rapid Lock Changes Secures Your Flats & Keeps Tenants Safe
So, now you know how to go about changing a Euro cylinder lock, it’s time to take action. As soon as a tenant reports a problem with their lock or an issue like lost/broken keys, get your toolkit out!
Get started ASAP. Replace the old lock cylinder with a new one. Upgrade if you can – get something that meets British Standards and adheres to your insurance policy requirements. Carry out the Euro lock cylinder replacement and test everything out before you leave. Make sure your tenant – new or old – knows exactly how to use the locks and how to avoid damaging or breaking them.
Struggling to make the change yourself? Well, at least you tried. In that case, Locks & Handles recommends calling a locksmith. It’s always better to try to learn how to replace door locks on your own first, though. It’s a valuable skill to have, and could save you money in the future.
Keep your residents secure and protect your property investment. By changing the lock cylinder after any problems are reported and/or a tenant moves out, you stay on top of your property’s security. Is that not better than hoping for the best?
