New locks - Safety and security information in Torrevieja - Torrevieja forum - Costa Blanca forum in the Alicante province of Spain
Jennifer Cunningham Insurances SL
Airport Service Taxi Mil Palmeras  Torre de la Horadada
Costa Blanca Building Specialists
Gentlevan Removals
James Spanish School
Blacktower Financial Management
interior building work
ASSSA Insurance
AA Free English TV
Gran Alacant Insurances
Espana Dream Properties
Thy Will Be Done
Car Key Solutions
Expat Services

Join the Torrevieja forum

Join the Torrevieja forumMy name's Alex and this is my website all about Torrevieja in Spain. Register now for free to talk about Safety and security information in Torrevieja and much more!

New locks

Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2020 9:20am
8 replies391 views4 members subscribed
Tony100

Posts: 18

1 helpful points

Location: Torrevieja

Joined: 23 Feb 2020

Hi everyone, 

I've just received my keys of my new apartment in Torrevieja and I've been advised to change the locks. Are Spanish locks the same as English locks? I'm still in the UK awaiting Covid 19 restrictions to lift. I have seen the apartment, but never thought to check what the locks are. I have a picture of the door and it looks like they are your every day YALE lock? In the UK a simple enough job to just replace the lock barrels. Would this be the same in Spain? If so can you recommend where to buy these. Alternatively can you recommend a good locksmith. The apartment is completely empty, so no immediate concern. Just wondering if I could bring lock barrels with me from UK. Would they fit? Maybe to buy in Spain would be safer? Need 2 in door so Keyed Alike, 1 key fits both locks. Can buy on Amazon in UK for 20 quid each. Can I get in Spain? Is there a Spanish Amazon of equivalent? 

Thanks, any advice much appreciated

Stay safe

Tony

UKHandyMan4Hire

Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2020 11:28am

UKHandyMan4Hire

Very helpful member

Posts: 800

916 helpful points

Location: Aspe

Joined: 22 May 2018

Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2020 11:28am

Tony

Without knowing the specific locks it is not easy to say that they can be swapped out for locks purchased in the UK, however, my experience so far is that they are different. (I obviously haven't come across all lock types)

There are ferreteria's (DIY / Hardware shops) that you can typically turn up with your actual lock and be provided with an equivalent new lock. I have seen prices vary between 20€ and 75€ per lock but the higher costs I have noted are in the more tourist locations where I was seen as easy prey because I was English. I only made that mistake once!

Apologies that the response is vague but it will actually be a case of you / someone taking the lock for a replacement, even a photograph is on dodgy ground as the hole pitch varies also even for similar type locks.

In a lot of case removal of a lock barrel is simple. Open the door and locate the barrel fixing screw, remove that screw. Insert the key and partially turn it and the barrels simply slips out or may need a nudge to help! There is the obvious security issue if there is no one in the property and you have removed all the locking barrels!

Hope it helps!

Tony100

Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2020 12:15pm

Tony100

Original Poster

Posts: 18

1 helpful points

Location: Torrevieja

Joined: 23 Feb 2020

Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2020 12:15pm

UKHandyMan4Hire wrote on Sun Jun 21, 2020 11:28am:

Tony

Without knowing the specific locks it is not easy to say that they can be swapped out for locks purchased in the UK, however, my experience so far is that they are different. (I obviously haven't come across all lock types)

There are ferreteria's (DIY / Hardware shops) that you can typically turn up with your actual lock and be provided with an equivalent new lock. I have seen prices vary between 20€ and 75€ per lock but the higher costs I have noted are in the more tourist locations where I was seen as easy prey because I was English. I only made that mistake once!

Apologies that the response is vague but it will actually be a case of you / someone taking the lock for a replacement, even a photograph is on dodgy ground as the hole pitch varies also even for similar type locks.

In a lot of case removal of a lock barrel is simple. Open the door and locate the barrel fixing screw, remove that screw. Insert the key and partially turn it and the barrels simply slips out or may need a nudge to help! There is the obvious security issue if there is no one in the property and you have removed all the locking barrels!

Hope it helps!

Thank you. Sound advice. I should wait until I'm there. I have changed locks in the UK so know it's not a difficult job.

Purple gran

Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2020 10:11pm

Purple gran

Helpful member

Posts: 325

379 helpful points

Location: Torrevieja

Joined: 23 Jan 2018

Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2020 10:11pm

I can safely say that the locks differ. Before moving here, we lived just over the border in France.  We had great fun getting extra keys cut for our locks, some were French, some were Spanish. It is apparently impossible to have the other country ‘s keys cut, as the blanks, even Yale type are different, and the U.K. different again.  I could recommend a locksmith we’ve used here in Spain, but have mislaid his details. If you private message Alavib, he may have the details

Tony100

Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2020 10:32pm

Tony100

Original Poster

Posts: 18

1 helpful points

Location: Torrevieja

Joined: 23 Feb 2020

Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2020 10:32pm

Purple gran wrote on Sun Jun 21, 2020 10:11pm:

I can safely say that the locks differ. Before moving here, we lived just over the border in France.  We had great fun getting extra keys cut for our locks, some were French, some were Spanish. It is apparently impossible to have the other country ‘s keys cut, as the blanks, even Yale type...

... are different, and the U.K. different again.  I could recommend a locksmith we’ve used here in Spain, but have mislaid his details. If you private message Alavib, he may have the details

Thank you for the info it's most helpful

Advertisement - posts continue below

Tony100

Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2020 10:35pm

Tony100

Original Poster

Posts: 18

1 helpful points

Location: Torrevieja

Joined: 23 Feb 2020

Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2020 10:35pm

Thank you. I thought as much. A good locksmith will do the trick

Kenbo

Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2020 7:44am

Kenbo

Very helpful member

Posts: 999

799 helpful points

Location: La Florida

Joined: 6 Dec 2017

Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2020 7:44am

Hi Tony

I picked this up from the forum last year sometime, maybe you could try an email to enquire if he is still in business ? Or maybe others could confirm this ? The links still work.

David Beck always gets very good reviews:

Website: http://www.lockandkeyspain.com/ 

Phone: (0034) 620 627 640.

Email:  [email protected]

Tony100

Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2020 9:05am

Tony100

Original Poster

Posts: 18

1 helpful points

Location: Torrevieja

Joined: 23 Feb 2020

Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2020 9:05am

Kenbo wrote on Mon Jun 22, 2020 7:44am:

Hi Tony

I picked this up from the forum last year sometime, maybe you could try an email to enquire if he is still in business ? Or maybe others could confirm this ? The links still work.

David Beck always gets very good reviews:

Website: http://www.lockandkeyspain.com/ 

Phone: (0034) 620 627 640.

Email:  [email protected]

Thank you, much appreciated info. I'll give it a try

Danny17

Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2020 11:37pm

Posts: 6

Location: Torrevieja

Joined: 2 Jul 2019

Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2020 11:37pm

Hi, 

I work in sucurity, and my advise is always change locks. I hear it all the time, but they can also use bumping keys, it's like a master key. So no proof of break-in. 

Also Torrevieja is a place of many squatters so an alarm is not a bad thing and often for new home owners for free

Let me know if you wanna know more) 

Sign up for free or login to reply to this topic

Want to reply to this topic? Login or register for free to post your message:

Find more Safety and security information topics from a particular area:


Register for free!

Login to your account

Jennifer Cunningham Insurances SL
Airport Service Taxi Mil Palmeras  Torre de la Horadada
Costa Blanca Building Specialists
Gentlevan Removals
James Spanish School
Blacktower Financial Management
interior building work
ASSSA Insurance
AA Free English TV
Gran Alacant Insurances
Espana Dream Properties
Thy Will Be Done
Car Key Solutions
Expat Services
Advertise your business here
Advertise your property
Help with my computer