The keys you were handed at settlement are probably not the only set. The previous owners, their cleaner, a dog walker and a tradie from three years ago may all still have one. The same goes for the garage remote, the alarm code and the Wi-Fi password printed on the modem.
Most moving house checklists cover removalists and electricity accounts. This one covers the security reset most people forget. Download the free PDF, work through it in the first week, and you will know exactly who can get into your new home.
TL;DR:
Change or rekey every external lock, reset the garage remote codes, change the alarm master and user codes, factory-reset any cameras or doorbells left behind, change the Wi-Fi name and password, and check that sensor lights, smoke alarms and window locks work. Do the lock and garage changes on day one.
Why security belongs on your moving checklist
The ABS estimates 1.8% of Australian households experienced a break-in in 2024-25. A new home adds risk you cannot see: unknown key holders, old codes and devices still linked to someone else's app. A burglar using a key leaves no sign of forced entry, which can make an insurance claim harder.
Day 1: locks and access
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Rekey or replace every external lock, including the laundry, garage side door and sliding door locks. Rekeying is usually cheaper than replacing.
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Reset the garage remote codes and pair only your remotes. Most openers have a "learn" button on the motor unit.
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Change gate and keypad codes on side gates, pedestrian gates and any electric gates.
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Collect every key and remote from the agent and count them against the handover list.
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Check window locks on every opening window, especially ground floor and next to drainpipes or patio roofs.
Day 1 to 3: alarm system
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Find the alarm panel model (Bosch, Ness, Hikvision AX PRO, Ajax and Paradox are common).
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Change the master code and delete old user codes. If you cannot, ask the previous owner or the installer for the installer code, or book a service.
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Cancel or transfer monitoring so alerts go to you, not the old owner.
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Test every sensor: walk past each PIR and open each reed switch.
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Replace the backup battery if it is more than three years old.
Our home alarm systems buying guide helps if the old system is not worth keeping.
Week 1: cameras, doorbells and smart devices
This is the step almost nobody does. Cameras and video doorbells left in the house may still be linked to the previous owner's app, which means they can watch your driveway.
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Factory-reset every camera, NVR and doorbell left behind, then set them up on your own account.
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Change the NVR admin password and create your own user.
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Remove old shared users in apps like Hik-Connect, DMSS or EZVIZ.
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Update firmware on the NVR and each camera.
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Check the hard drive is recording and how many days it stores.
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Reset smart locks, smart speakers and smart switches.
If the home has no cameras, a 4-camera kit covering the driveway, front door, back door and side gate is the standard starting point. Browse our 4-camera kits or add a video doorbell first.
Week 1: network and Wi-Fi
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Change the Wi-Fi network name and password if you inherited a modem.
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Change the router admin password.
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Check connected devices and remove anything you do not recognise.
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Set up a separate network for cameras and smart devices if your router supports it.
Week 1 to 2: safety basics
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Test every smoke alarm and check its manufacture date. Replace any older than 10 years. In Queensland, all homes must have interconnected photoelectric alarms by 1 January 2027.
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Check sensor lights at the front door, driveway and back yard.
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Locate the switchboard, water main and gas meter and check safety switches.
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Trim shrubs that hide windows and doors from the street.
Renting? What you can and cannot change
Renters usually need landlord permission to change locks, install hardwired cameras or drill into walls, and rules vary by state. You can ask the agent to rekey at the start of the lease, use battery or Wi-Fi cameras that need no drilling, and add a video doorbell that mounts on an existing screw. Check your state's tenancy authority before changing anything permanent.
What's in the free PDF
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A 2-page tick-box checklist split into Day 1, Days 1 to 3, Week 1 and Week 2
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A key and remote register (who has what)
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A codes record page (keep it somewhere safe, not on the fridge)
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A camera and device reset log
Frequently asked questions
Should I change the locks when I move into a new house?
Yes. You never know how many keys exist. Rekeying external locks on day one is one of the cheapest security upgrades you can make.
How do I reset an alarm code in a new house?
You need the master or installer code. Ask the previous owner, the agent or the original installer. If nobody has it, a technician can default the panel.
Can the previous owner still access my cameras?
Possibly, if the cameras or NVR are still linked to their app account. Factory-reset each device and set it up under your own account.
What should I check first when moving into a new home?
Locks, garage remotes and alarm codes on day one. Then cameras, Wi-Fi and smoke alarms in the first week.
Do renters need permission to install security cameras?
Usually for anything that drills into walls or connects to mains power. Battery cameras and doorbells that need no permanent fixing are generally easier to approve.
Start your new home secure
Moving is hectic, but an hour on this checklist closes the gaps most new owners leave open for months. Print the PDF, stick it in your moving folder, and tick it off by the end of week one.
Need to upgrade what the last owner left? Browse our CCTV kits and alarm kits.
