Lock changes & door security in Leicester

Should I change the locks after moving house or losing a key?

Yes, it is usually worth it. You rarely know how many keys to a new home are still out there, and a lost key may have your address with it.

Previous owners, tenants, builders and neighbours may all have had copies. On most modern doors, changing the lock means swapping the Euro cylinder, the part the key goes into, so it is often a quick job. On older timber doors it may mean a new mortice lock or nightlatch.

It is also a good time to think about keys. A key-alike set means several cylinders open with the same key, so the front door, back door and garage can share one key. Landlords often like this for communal doors, with a separate key for each room.

What is an anti-snap Euro cylinder, and do I need one?

An anti-snap cylinder is designed to resist lock snapping, a common way burglars break a standard Euro cylinder by force. If your uPVC or composite door has a basic cylinder, an upgrade is often worth considering.

Look for cylinders tested to a recognised standard. Two common examples are TS 007 3-star, and Sold Secure Diamond, which is usually treated as a higher level. Check the current standards and your insurer's wording, as they can change.

Size matters as much as the rating. A cylinder that sticks out more than a few millimetres past the handle is easier to attack. We measure from the centre screw to each end so the new one sits close to flush.

Standard cylinder

Fine for many internal doors, weaker against snapping.

TS 007 3-star cylinder

Tested against snapping, picking and drilling on its own.

Sold Secure Diamond

Commonly seen as a higher security level.

Security handles

Can add protection with a lower-rated cylinder.

Does my insurance need a BS 3621 mortice lock?

Often, yes, for timber front and back doors. Many home insurance policies ask for a 5-lever mortice deadlock to BS 3621 on final exit doors, but every policy is different, so check yours.

A mortice lock sits inside a pocket cut into the edge of the door, rather than on its surface. A BS 3621 lock is marked with the standard and a kitemark on the faceplate, so a photo of the door edge usually tells us what you have.

If the existing lock is the same size, we can usually swap it straight into the same pocket. If the new lock is a different size, the door and frame may need recutting, which we include in the price once we have seen your photos.

Why won't my uPVC door lock properly?

Usually because the door has dropped or moved, so the hooks and rollers no longer line up with the keeps in the frame. Sometimes the multipoint gearbox inside the door has worn out.

uPVC and composite doors lock at several points along the edge when you lift the handle. If the handle is stiff to lift, or the key only turns when you push the door, the cause is often alignment, not the lock. Doors move with the seasons and hinges settle over time.

We start with the simple fixes: adjusting hinges and keeps so the door closes cleanly. If the gearbox has failed, the handle may go floppy or stop locking at all. We then match a replacement to your door and price it separately before fitting.

Stiff handle when lifting

Usually alignment of hinges or keeps.

Key turns only when pushing the door

Keeps need adjusting, or the door has dropped.

Floppy handle, door will not lock

Often a worn or broken gearbox.

Timber door sticking

May need planing or hinge adjustment.

Which locks suit bedroom doors in an HMO or shared let?

Usually a lock that opens from inside with a thumb-turn, without a key. Tenants can lock their room, but nobody can get locked in during a fire.

In houses in multiple occupation and other shared lets, a key-operated lock on the inside of a bedroom door can block an escape route. A thumb-turn inside with a key outside is a common answer, but the rules depend on the property. Check your council's HMO licence conditions and your fire risk assessment before choosing.

Many HMO bedroom doors are also fire doors, and changing the lock should not weaken them. Tell us if your doors are fire doors, so we can use suitable hardware. We can fit several rooms in one visit, with a different key for each room.

Can you fit locks to windows?

Yes. We fit locking window handles, sash locks on timber windows and window restrictors. Window locks often make a big difference on ground-floor and easy-to-reach windows.

Most uPVC windows can take a locking handle that swaps straight onto the existing spindle. Timber sash windows can take sash stops or locks that stop them being slid open from outside. Restrictors limit how far a window opens, which helps with child safety on upper floors.

One thing to keep in mind: windows used as an escape route in a fire must still open easily. Keep the keys close by, and use restrictors that an adult can release quickly.

Can you help if I'm locked out?

Sorry, no. We are not an emergency locksmith and we do not open locked doors, so if you are locked out, please call a locksmith.

We plan and book our lock work in advance. That covers changing locks after you move in, upgrading cylinders, fixing doors that are hard to lock and fitting new locks across a rental property. Once you are back inside, we are happy to replace a damaged lock or fix the door. Send us photos and we will reply within 24 hours with a fixed price.