Domakihub Replace a Door Lock Yourself and Save in One Afternoon
A straightforward guide for homeowners, landlords, and holiday rental managers who want a secure door without calling a locksmith.
Reviewed by Domakihub home & decor pros · 2026-06-23 · 4 min read
Whether you have just moved into a new home in Athens, handed over keys to departing holiday guests on a Mykonos villa, or inherited a worn-out lock on a Thessaloniki apartment, replacing a door lock is one of the most practical DIY tasks you can do. The video above shows the full process clearly; this guide walks you through every step with the context you need to do it safely and confidently. Most modern cylindrical locksets take less than 30 minutes to swap out with nothing more than a screwdriver.
When Should You Replace a Door Lock?
You should replace a lock any time security continuity is broken — after a tenant moves out, after a break-in attempt, or when keys are lost. In Greece, holiday rental regulations increasingly expect landlords to ensure fresh access credentials between guest stays; changing the physical lock or rekeying it is the simplest way to comply.
Wear is another reason. A lock that sticks, turns stiffly, or no longer latches smoothly is a liability in an emergency. In coastal and island properties especially, salt air corrodes tumblers quickly, so inspect your external locks at least once a year and replace any that show corrosion or play in the cylinder.
Choosing the Right Replacement Lock
Greece uses a mix of European cylinder locks (the oval euro-profile found in most door handles with a separate latch mechanism) and American-style cylindrical locksets (the round knob or lever with the lock built in). Identify which type you have before buying a replacement, because the two are not interchangeable. Most interior and apartment main-entry doors in Greece use euro cylinders; older standalone homes or those fitted with imported hardware often use cylindrical locks.
When buying, match the backset — the distance from the door edge to the centre of the hole — and the overall cylinder length so the new unit fits the existing mortise or borehole without additional cutting. A Class 6 (EN 1303) or Grade 3+ cylinder is worth the modest extra cost for any external door.
How to Replace a Door Lock: 5 Steps
- 1
Gather your tools and the new lock
You will need a Phillips-head and a flat-head screwdriver, a tape measure, and the replacement lockset or cylinder. Before buying, measure the backset (typically 60 mm or 70 mm on Greek doors), the cylinder length from each face of the door, and the distance between screw holes. Take a photo of the old lock to show the hardware shop if in doubt.
- 2
Remove the old lock
Open the door and locate the two long screws on the interior face plate — these pass through the door and hold both sides of the lock together. Unscrew them fully, then pull both rose plates or levers away from the door. The cylinder (euro type) is held by a single small grub screw on the edge of the door; loosen it and slide the cylinder out. For a cylindrical lockset, removing the face plate screws is usually enough to free the entire unit.
- 3
Inspect the mortise or borehole
Check the hole in the door and the latch mechanism in the door edge for any debris, corrosion, or damage. Clean out old grease with a dry cloth. If the strike plate on the door frame is loose or the wood is chewed out, fill the screw holes with wooden toothpicks and wood glue, let it cure for 15 minutes, then re-drill. A solid strike plate is as important as the lock itself.
- 4
Fit the new lock
For a euro cylinder, insert the new cylinder through the hole from the outside, making sure the cam (the small turning tab at the back of the cylinder) aligns with the latch actuator inside the mortise. Tighten the grub screw firmly — this single screw is what keeps the cylinder from being pulled out. Then reattach the interior and exterior rose plates or lever handles and tighten the long through-bolts until snug but not over-torqued. For a cylindrical lockset, slide the latch unit into the door edge first, then insert both sides of the lock through the door and screw them together.
- 5
Test thoroughly before closing up
With the door open, turn the key and the interior thumb-turn multiple times to confirm smooth operation in both directions. Check that the latch bolt extends and retracts cleanly. Then close the door slowly and verify the latch seats in the strike plate without force. Lock and unlock from both sides. If anything binds, loosen the through-bolts slightly and realign before retightening. Only distribute new keys once you are satisfied everything works.
Rather have a pro handle it?
Get a vetted locksmith pro in your city — one number, booked in EN/EL/DE.
FAQ
- Do I need a locksmith to replace a door lock in Greece, or can I do it myself?
- For standard cylindrical locksets and euro cylinder locks you can do it yourself with basic tools. A locksmith is only necessary if the lock is a multi-point mortise system, the door frame has structural damage, or you need a security-grade installation that must be certified for an insurance policy.
- How do I know if I need to replace the whole lock or just rekey it?
- If the lock mechanism works smoothly and the hardware is in good condition, rekeying — having a locksmith reset the pins to match a new key — is cheaper and faster. Replace the whole lock when the cylinder is worn or corroded, the hardware is damaged, or you want to upgrade to a higher security class.
- What lock grade should I use for a holiday rental property in Greece?
- At minimum, use a Class 4 (EN 1303) euro cylinder for any external door. For a property that is frequently handed over to guests, a Class 6 cylinder with anti-snap and anti-pick protection is a worthwhile investment. Smart locks with PIN codes or app access also eliminate the key-handover problem entirely and are increasingly popular among Airbnb hosts in Greece.