Door & Lock Repairs — All 33 London Boroughs
Door & lock repairs London
Anti-snap euro cylinder replacement, BS 3621 mortice deadlocks, multi-point lock gearboxes, sticking door adjustment, frame repair, and uPVC door servicing across every London borough. Insurance-grade upgrades with same-day attendance available.
London context
Why door security is a particular concern in London
London has the highest residential burglary rate of any UK region. Metropolitan Police Operation Bumblebee data consistently identifies the front door as the primary point of entry in the majority of forced-entry burglaries. Of those, snapping of standard euro cylinders — the oval barrel fitted to nearly every uPVC and composite door in the city — accounts for a disproportionate share of attacks. A standard euro cylinder can be snapped in under ten seconds using tools available in any hardware shop.
London’s housing stock compounds the problem. The city’s Victorian and Edwardian terraces — which make up the majority of housing in inner London boroughs — were built before modern security standards. Period front doors are often fitted with nothing more than a Yale-style nightlatch and a two-lever rim lock, neither of which satisfies current insurer requirements. Seasonal timber movement in these older frames is also the single most common cause of sticking doors across the city.
The Metropolitan Police Secured by Design programme, the Mayor of London’s Design for Security guidance, and most home insurance policies now converge on a consistent minimum: an anti-snap TS007 3-star euro cylinder (or Sold Secure Diamond equivalent) on uPVC and composite doors, and a five-lever BS 3621 mortice deadlock as a secondary lock on timber doors. We specify and fit to these standards as a matter of course.
Metropolitan Police Secured by Design
The Met's Secured by Design (SBD) programme sets out minimum physical security specifications for doors and windows in new and refurbished residential properties. SBD-compliant door sets require PAS 24-rated doors with anti-snap cylinders and multi-point locking. For existing properties, SBD guidance recommends upgrading to TS007 3-star cylinders and BS 3621 mortice deadlocks as a minimum. Our engineers are familiar with SBD requirements and can specify upgrades accordingly.
London borough security marking schemes
Many London boroughs — including Southwark, Lambeth, Lewisham, and Hackney — run property marking and crime prevention schemes in partnership with the Metropolitan Police. Door security is consistently identified as the primary vulnerability in residential burglaries. Operation Bumblebee data confirms that snapping of euro cylinders remains the dominant method of forced entry for uPVC and composite doors across London. We advise on upgrades that align with borough-specific recommendations where applicable.
Landlord obligations under the Landlord and Tenant Act
Landlords are obliged under section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 to keep the exterior structure of a dwelling — including external doors, frames, and locks — in good repair. This implied covenant means that a defective lock, a warped door that cannot be secured, or a damaged frame does not just present a security risk: it constitutes a breach of the tenancy agreement. Tenants can report disrepair, and landlords can face enforcement action through local authority environmental health if disrepair is not remedied.
HMO licensing and BS 8220 security guidance
Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) licensed under the Housing Act 2004 are subject to licensing conditions set by each London borough. BS 8220 (Guide to security of buildings against crime) recommends minimum five-lever BS 3621 deadlocks, or anti-snap euro cylinders with internal thumbturn, on all external doors of HMOs. Most London borough HMO licence conditions explicitly reference this standard. We provide written compliance confirmation for HMO landlords following any lock upgrade work.
What we repair and replace
Door and lock repair services across London
We carry a broad range of lock cylinders, gearboxes, mortice lock cases, and door hardware on our vans to maximise first-visit fix rates. Whether you need a single cylinder swap to meet your insurer’s requirements, a complete multi-point lock overhaul, or adjustment to a seasonal sticking door, we attend on a fixed-price or time-and-materials basis — confirmed before any work begins.
Euro cylinder replacement (anti-snap)
The euro cylinder is the oval barrel fitted to virtually all uPVC and composite doors. Standard cylinders are vulnerable to snapping — the Metropolitan Police and most insurers now require TS007 3-star anti-snap cylinders as the minimum for insured London properties. We supply and fit anti-snap cylinders (ERA, Ultion, Avocet ABS, Brisant Secure) in the correct size for your door, including an internal thumbturn for safe exit. Supply and fit: £80–£150.
Mortice deadlock repair and replacement
The five-lever BS 3621 mortice deadlock is the standard secondary security lock required by most UK home insurers on timber front and back doors. Faults include broken levers, worn bolt mechanism, key shear inside the lock, and damaged striking plate housing. We repair the mechanism where possible, or supply and fit a new BS 3621 deadlock where repair is uneconomic. Repair: £80–£200; replacement from £120.
Nightlatch (Yale-style) repair and upgrade
Yale-style nightlatches are the standard latch on London front doors and many flat entrance doors. They can be repaired (replacing the cylinder, renewing the backplate fixings, adjusting the keep) or upgraded to a superior grade. A nightlatch alone does not satisfy most insurer requirements for front door security — it should be supplemented by a BS 3621 deadlock or a high-security nightlatch (BS 8621 for deadlocking nightlatches). We advise on the most appropriate combination for your door and building type.
Multi-point lock (MPL) repair
Multi-point locking systems on uPVC and composite doors secure the door at three or five points using shoot bolts driven by a central gearbox. Common faults: gearbox seizure (the door will not lock from the outside, or the handle is stiff/loose), broken shoot bolt carriers, worn handle spindle, and misaligned striker pockets. Gearbox replacement is the most frequent repair; we carry common ERA, Mila, Yale, and Fullex patterns for first-visit completion. Gearbox supply and fit: £150–£280.
uPVC door adjustment
A uPVC door that drags on the threshold, will not latch, leaves a visible gap at the top or hinge side, or lets in a draught at the edges is almost always correctable by 3D hinge adjustment and striker plate repositioning. We identify the adjustment required on arrival and carry the appropriate Allen keys and striker tools. No frame work or door replacement is needed in the great majority of cases. Door adjustment: £80–£160.
Sticking and dropping timber door adjustment
Victorian and Edwardian softwood doors in London period properties are the single most common source of door complaints. Seasonal moisture expansion causes binding at the top corner, the latch side, or the floor. We identify the binding point, adjust or shim the hinges to correct the hang, and plane only where hinge adjustment is insufficient. We also check for dropped hinges, loose screwfixings into rotted softwood, and broken coach bolts — common in doors that have been adjusted multiple times.
Door frame repair
Splintered or split door frames — usually caused by a forced entry attempt or long-term moisture ingress — compromise both security and weather resistance. We repair frames using hardwood fillets and two-part epoxy wood filler where the damage is localised, or section-replace the jamb where the structural integrity is compromised. All frame repairs include a security-grade striking plate (minimum 3-screw, 25 mm fixing length) as standard.
Composite door lock replacement
Composite doors (GRP skin over foam core) use the same euro cylinder and multi-point locking systems as uPVC doors, but door adjustment is more limited because the slab is dimensionally stable. The most common composite door fault after gearbox failure is cylinder wear — particularly on high-use doors. We replace cylinders and gearboxes on all major composite door brands including Solidor, Rockdoor, and Endurance.
Letterbox draught-proofing and security
Standard letterboxes are a significant source of draughts in London flats and houses, and can be used for fishing attacks (using a rod to hook keys left on a hall table) in ground-floor and street-level properties. We fit letterbox draught-excluding brushes, letterbox restrictors, and where required, internal security cages that prevent hand and rod access without obstructing mail delivery.
Door closer installation and adjustment
Door closers are required on fire doors within HMOs and on certain doors under the Building Regulations. Hydraulic overhead closers (DORMA, Geze, Perko) can be adjusted for closing force, latch speed, and delayed action. We install new closers to the correct standard for the door classification, and adjust existing closers that slam, fail to latch, or require excessive force to open.
Lock types explained
Common lock types found in London properties
London’s housing spans more than a century of building types — from Victorian terraces with period rim locks to 1970s council flats with mortice deadlocks to modern composite-door new-builds with multi-point locking. Understanding which lock type is fitted, and whether it meets current insurance and security standards, is the starting point for any door security assessment.
BS EN 1303 / TS007 3-star
Euro cylinder (uPVC and composite)
The most common lock type in London. Insurance minimum is now anti-snap grade (TS007 3-star or Sold Secure Diamond). Sizes range from 35/35 to 45/55; we measure and cut to exact size on site.
BS 3621
Five-lever mortice deadlock
Required by most home insurers on the main external door of timber-frame properties. The five levers provide significantly greater pick resistance than two- or three-lever versions. Must be BS 3621 kite-marked to satisfy insurer requirements.
BS 8621
Nightlatch (deadlocking)
A deadlocking nightlatch double-locks from outside with a key to prevent the internal knob from being turned — important where a letter flap or accessible glazing could be used to reach through and release the latch. Suitable as the primary lock where a mortice lock is impractical.
PAS 24 / SBD
Multi-point locking (MPL)
Standard on all modern uPVC and composite doors. Three-point and five-point systems secure the door at the top, bottom, and centre (and intermediate points on five-bolt versions). Resistant to spreading attacks that can defeat single-point locks.
Original period hardware
Rim lock (Victorian/Edwardian)
Surface-mounted locks on the inside face of the door, common on pre-1920 London properties. Period-correct rim locks can be repaired (replacing the springs, levers, and bolt mechanism) or supplemented with a mortice deadlock for improved security while preserving the original hardware.
uPVC doors
uPVC door repair without replacement
A poorly functioning uPVC door is almost never a reason to replace the door. The door slab itself is dimensionally stable and rarely fails structurally. The components that do fail — hinges, gearboxes, handle spindles, locking points, and weather seals — are all replaceable independently, and doing so costs a fraction of a new door installation.
The first step is identifying the fault type. A door that will not latch when pushed normally suggests a misaligned striker plate or a gearbox that has seized with the shoot bolts partially extended. A door that is difficult to lift the handle on indicates a failed gearbox compression spring or an over-tight multi-point lock under load. A door with a visible gap at the top or bottom of the frame indicates hinge sag, correctable in minutes with 3D-adjustable hinge screws.
We carry Mila, ERA, Fullex, and Yale gearbox patterns in common dimensions on our vans. Handle sets in white, gold, and chrome are stocked for same-day replacement. For cylinders, we supply anti-snap TS007 3-star barrels cut to the exact size of your door, measured on site.
Period timber doors
Victorian and Edwardian door adjustment in London
Softwood timber doors in period London properties move seasonally. In a wet London winter, moisture content in an unprotected softwood door can rise enough to add several millimetres to the door’s width and height. This manifests as a door that jams against the head of the frame in winter but rattles and lets in a draught in summer. The seasonal cycle is predictable and the correct response is adjustment, not replacement.
The preferred approach is to identify the binding point — usually a bright rub mark on the door edge or frame face — and then move the door within the frame by shimming or adjusting the hinge leaves. Most Victorian doors have two or three butt hinges recessed into the door edge and jamb; packing the hinge leaf outward with a card shim moves the hanging edge away from the frame. This is preferable to planing because the door will move back in summer and an over-planed door will then be too small for the opening.
Where hinge adjustment is insufficient, selective planing of the stile or top rail is carried out — but only by the minimum amount required, and the planed surface is immediately sealed with primer to slow re-absorption of moisture. We also check for dropped hinge fixings (screws pulling out of softwood jamb) and rotten sections that require consolidant treatment before re-fixing.
Indicative pricing
Door and lock repair costs in London
All prices below are indicative and include labour and standard parts unless noted. Final cost is confirmed before work begins. VAT is applicable where stated.
Euro cylinder (anti-snap TS007)
£80–£150
Supply and fit, including internal thumbturn
Mortice deadlock repair
£80–£200
Mechanism overhaul or full lock replacement
Multi-point lock gearbox
£150–£280
Supply and fit common gearbox patterns
Door adjustment (sticking/dropping)
£80–£160
Hinge adjustment and minor planing as required
Door frame repair
From £120
Epoxy fill or section replacement + security striker
Letterbox draught-proofing
£60–£120
Brush seal, restrictor, or security cage
Prices vary by door type, lock brand, cylinder size, and access requirements. We confirm the exact price on site before beginning any work. No call-out charge is applied where work proceeds on the same visit.
Before we arrive
How to help us fix your door first time
The more information we have before arrival, the more likely we are to carry the right parts and complete the repair on the first visit. The following information is particularly useful.
Door material and type
Is it a uPVC, composite, timber, or aluminium door? Single or double rebate? This determines the type of gearbox, cylinder size, and adjustment method.
Lock type already fitted
Is there a nightlatch, a mortice deadlock, a multi-point lock, or a combination? If there's a cylinder barrel in the door, is it a single or double cylinder (thumbturn on the inside, or keyed both sides)?
The specific fault
Won't latch, key won't turn, handle stiff, door binding on frame, door dropping, draught at the seal, lock snapped, door won't close? The more precisely you can describe the symptom, the better.
Approximate door age
For uPVC and composite doors, the gearbox type can vary significantly by manufacturer and era. An approximate install date or door manufacturer name (e.g. Solidor, Rockdoor, Safestyle) helps us stock the right parts.
Any recent events
Has the door been forced? Has the key been lost or copied? Has anyone attempted a repair already? Have you noticed the problem getting gradually worse, or did it happen suddenly?
Insurance requirements
Do you know what your insurer requires? If so, tell us the exact wording from your policy schedule. If not, we'll advise on current insurer minimum specifications based on your door type and property.
Common questions
Door and lock repairs: frequently asked questions
What lock does my home insurance require in London?
Most UK home insurers require a five-lever mortice deadlock conforming to BS 3621 on the main front door and any other external timber door, plus a matching lock on the back and side doors. A Yale-style nightlatch on its own does not satisfy most policy conditions, even if your door has one fitted as standard. For uPVC and composite doors, insurers increasingly specify an anti-snap euro cylinder meeting TS007 3-star (or equivalent Sold Secure Diamond grade), because standard euro cylinders are vulnerable to snapping attacks — the single most common burglary method in London. If you are unsure what your policy requires, call your insurer and ask for the security specification section; we can then advise on what work is needed to bring your door locks into compliance.
How do I fix a sticking door in a Victorian or Edwardian house?
Sticking doors are the most common maintenance complaint in London's Victorian and Edwardian housing stock. Softwood door frames and door blanks absorb moisture in winter and expand, causing the door to bind against the frame or the floor. The correct approach is to identify where the door is binding — look for a bright rub mark on the door edge or frame — and then adjust the hinges to move the door away from the bind point. On most period doors, the hinges are recessed (morticed) into the frame; shimming the hinge leaf outward moves the hanging edge away from the jamb. Planing should be a last resort, used only after hinge adjustment has been exhausted, because an over-planed door will rattle and draughts in summer when the timber dries back. We identify the binding point on arrival and prefer adjustment over planing wherever the movement permits.
What is an anti-snap cylinder and why does it matter?
A standard euro cylinder — the oval barrel used in most uPVC and composite doors — can be snapped in half with a pair of mole grips in under ten seconds. Once snapped, the locking cam drops out and the door opens. Anti-snap cylinders (also called anti-snap, anti-pick, anti-drill, or TS007 3-star cylinders) include a sacrificial snap point designed to break off the exposed section of the barrel without compromising the internal locking mechanism. Even if the outer portion is snapped off, the door remains locked. The Metropolitan Police Secured by Design programme and most UK home insurers now specify TS007 3-star or Sold Secure Diamond grade cylinders as the minimum standard for insured properties. We supply and fit anti-snap cylinders from reputable manufacturers — including ERA, Ultion, Avocet ABS, and Brisant Secure — with an internal thumbturn as standard so the door can be opened from inside without a key in an emergency.
Can a uPVC door be adjusted without replacing the door or frame?
Yes, in almost all cases. The most common uPVC door faults — difficulty latching, dragging on the threshold, misalignment causing a draught gap, stiff handle operation — are adjustment and component issues, not structural faults with the door slab or frame. Modern uPVC doors are hung on 3D-adjustable hinges that allow the door to be moved up, down, in, or out within the frame, usually with a 5 mm or 6 mm Allen key. Correct hinge adjustment resolves most latching and draught problems. The gearbox (the internal mechanism that drives the multi-point lock's shoot bolts) can seize or shear internally; this is replaced as a unit via the existing faceplate channel without frame work. Handle spindle breakage, loose handle fixings, and worn weather seal are all standard repairs. We carry common gearbox patterns and handle sets on our vans for first-visit completion.
Do landlords have to provide specific lock types in rented London properties?
Landlords have an implied covenant under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (section 11) to keep the structure and exterior of the property, including doors and door frames, in good repair. While the Act does not specify lock grades, the Metropolitan Police Secured by Design guidance and BS 8220 (security of buildings against crime) both recommend that external doors in residential lettings meet a minimum standard. For HMOs licensed under the Housing Act 2004 and the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006, local authority licensing conditions routinely require a minimum five-lever BS 3621 mortice deadlock or an anti-snap euro cylinder on all external doors. Landlords who fail to maintain adequate security and who are aware of the deficiency may face civil liability if a tenant is burgled. We provide written reports confirming lock specification and compliance that landlords can retain for their records.
Book a repair
Door and lock repairs across all 33 London boroughs
Anti-snap euro cylinders, BS 3621 mortice deadlocks, multi-point lock gearboxes, sticking door adjustment and uPVC servicing. Same-day attendance available. Price confirmed before work begins. 60 Checkatrade reviews and 120 MyBuilder reviews.