Holiday Travel Home Security Checklist for GTA Homes
Before you leave for the holidays, a few lock and key checks make your home harder to get into while you are away. This checklist is written for houses, townhomes and condos across Toronto and the GTA. Most of it takes an afternoon, and none of it needs new equipment unless something is worn or broken.
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1. Check that every door locks properly
Walk around and lock every exterior door, including the side door, the back door and the door between the garage and the house. Each deadbolt should slide fully into the frame without you pushing or lifting the door.
If a bolt only goes part of the way, or the door has to be forced, the lock or strike plate needs attention before you go. A loose strike plate held by short screws is one of the weakest points on many doors. See our lock change page if a lock is worn out.
2. Know who has a key
Over time, keys end up with past tenants, contractors, dog walkers, cleaners and family members. If you cannot account for every copy, the safest step is to rekey. Rekeying changes the pins inside your existing locks, so old keys stop working, and it usually costs less than new hardware. Read more on our rekey page.
If someone will check on your home while you are away, give them one key and get it back when you return. Our page on keys for cleaners and caregivers covers simple ways to share access.
From our jobs
Real photos from GTA Lockman Mobile Locksmith Services visits.
Smart deadbolt above a brass handleset
Door prepared for a new lock
Lever on the door between the house and garage
3. Review smart lock codes
Smart locks make sharing access easy, which also means old codes pile up. Delete codes for anyone who no longer needs them, and set a temporary code for a house-sitter that you can remove later.
Replace the batteries before you leave so the lock does not run flat while the house is empty, and make sure a physical key still works if your lock has one. If you are thinking about adding one, see our smart lock installation page.
4. Secure sliding and secondary doors
Patio and balcony sliding doors often have small latches that are easy to overlook. Check that the latch catches every time, and add a bar or secondary lock in the track if the door is easy to lift or rattle.
Basement doors and garage-to-house doors deserve the same attention as the front door. If one of them only has a knob lock, a deadbolt adds a real layer of protection.
5. Leave no spare key outside
Under the mat, in a planter or above the door frame are the first places anyone looks. Leave a spare with a trusted neighbour instead, or use a smart lock code that you can turn off.
Condos and apartments
In a condo or apartment, your unit door is the main line of defence. Check that the deadbolt locks fully and that the door closes on its own without catching. If you have a fob for the building, keep track of it, and report a lost fob to your property manager before you leave.
If a cleaner, pet sitter or family member has a fob or key to your building, confirm who has it and when you will get it back. Our page on a lost condo fob or building key explains what to do if one goes missing.
If something happens while you are away
Leave your contact details and a local contact with a trusted neighbour, so someone can reach you if a door is found open or a lock is damaged. If you come home to signs of a break-in, contact the police first, then have the locks and door frame checked before the next night.
6. Small extras that help
Set lights on timers so the house does not sit dark every evening. Ask a neighbour to bring in parcels and flyers, and to clear snow from the driveway if you are away after a snowfall. A house that looks lived in is a harder target.
Lock windows on the ground floor and in the basement, and close the garage door fully. If your garage door has an outdoor keypad, change the code if many people know it.
When you get back
If anyone stayed in or checked on your home, collect the key, delete temporary codes and consider rekeying if a key was copied or lost.
GTA Lockman Mobile Locksmith Services has been serving homes across Toronto and the GTA since 2010. We are licensed and insured, quotes are free, and we come to you. Typical costs are on our 2026 price list.
Questions
If you do not know who has copies of your keys, yes. Rekeying makes all old keys stop working and usually costs less than replacing the locks.
Yes, if you give one key to one person and get it back afterwards. A temporary smart lock code you can delete later is another option.
With a trusted neighbour or family member, not outside the house. Hidden keys under mats or planters are easy to find.
Have it checked before you go. A deadbolt that does not fully extend, or a door that has to be forced, is easier to get past.