Security upgrades
Home security
upgrades
Make your home harder to break into, with stronger locks and extra protection chosen for your doors and your budget.
- MLA member
- Fully insured
- Open 24/7
- Card, cash, Clearpay or Klarna
Quick answer
What is the best way to make my front door more secure?
Start with the lock. Fit an anti-snap cylinder (TS007 3-star or Sold Secure Diamond) on a uPVC or composite door, or a BS 3621 mortice lock on a wooden one. Then add a viewer, chain or limiter so you can check who is there before you open the door.
Checked November 2026 by East London Locksmith Ltd, a Master Locksmiths Association member.
Fault finder
Weak spots we see most and the fix
Find what is happening to you. If it is not here, call us and describe it: we will tell you what it needs and what it will cost.
Tap what is happening to see the usual cause and fix.
| What you notice | Usually the cause | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| Old euro cylinder | Not rated against snapping. | Anti-snap TS007 3-star or Diamond cylinder. |
| Neighbour was burgled | Homes on the same street often have the same doors. | A check of your doors and windows, with prices. |
| Letterbox near the lock | Someone could reach the handle or keys. | A letterbox guard. |
| Callers you do not know | Doorstep crime starts with a knock at the door. | A door viewer, chain or limiter. |
| Ground floor windows | No locks, or locks with lost keys. | Lockable handles and window locks. |
Old euro cylinder
Usually: Not rated against snapping.
Anti-snap TS007 3-star or Diamond cylinder.
Neighbour was burgled
Usually: Homes on the same street often have the same doors.
A check of your doors and windows, with prices.
Letterbox near the lock
Usually: Someone could reach the handle or keys.
A letterbox guard.
Callers you do not know
Usually: Doorstep crime starts with a knock at the door.
A door viewer, chain or limiter.
Ground floor windows
Usually: No locks, or locks with lost keys.
Lockable handles and window locks.
Security upgrades
What we do
We look at every outside door and tell you what is worth doing and what is not.
- Anti-snap and high-security cylinders
- Door chains, bolts and viewers
- Keypad and smart locks
- Window locks
- Letterbox guards
- A security check of your doors
What is included
- A check of every outside door
- Advice on what is worth doing and what is not
- Price agreed before we start
- Locks to match your insurance policy
- Fitted at a time that suits you
Doorstep safety
Viewer, chain or limiter?
These let you see and speak to a caller before you open the door fully. Good for older relatives and anyone who lives alone.
Secured by Design advises using a locksmith registered with the Master Locksmiths Association (opens in a new tab)| Fitting | What it does | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Door viewer | A small lens to see who is outside. | Every front door with no glass. |
| Door chain | Lets the door open a few inches on a chain. | Wooden front doors. |
| Door limiter | A bar that stops the door opening fully. | uPVC and composite doors. |
| Letterbox guard | Stops anyone reaching through to the handle or keys. | Doors with a letterbox close to the lock. |
Good to know
Upgrades that make the most difference
In the order we usually recommend them.
- Anti-snap cylindersThe cheapest upgrade that stops one of the most common break-ins on uPVC doors.
- BS 3621 mortice locksOn wooden front and back doors, to match most insurance policies.
- Letterbox guardStops someone reaching or fishing for keys through the letterbox.
- Window and patio locksEspecially ground floor and at the back of the house.
Good to knowUpgrades that make the most difference
- Anti-snap cylindersThe cheapest upgrade that stops one of the most common break-ins on uPVC doors.
- BS 3621 mortice locksOn wooden front and back doors, to match most insurance policies.
- Letterbox guardStops someone reaching or fishing for keys through the letterbox.
- Window and patio locksEspecially ground floor and at the back of the house.
Four simple steps
How it works
7 days a week
- Book a visitTell us about your doors and what is worrying you.
- We check your doorsWe look at every outside door and window lock.
- You chooseWe tell you what is worth doing, with a price for each item.
- We fit itOn the same visit if we have the parts, or at a time you choose.
Prices
Supplied and fitted prices
All prices are supplied and fitted: the lock, fitting and labour, with no hidden extras. We confirm your price on the call before we come out.
Euro cylinders
On most uPVC and composite doors, and many wooden ones.- Kitemarked 1-star cylinder, usually with 5 keys
- from £95
- Kitemarked 3-star anti-snap cylinder
- from £130
Mortice deadlocks
5-lever British Standard (BS 3621) locks for wooden doors.- Mortice deadlock replacement
- from £120
- New mortice deadlock fitted
- £150
The locks we fit
Quality locks, not cheap imports
Not all locksmiths use the same locks. Some fit cheap unbranded locks that can wear quickly and fail. We do not.
- From proper suppliersEvery lock we fit is bought from reputable, well-established UK locksmith wholesalers.
- British Standard and KitemarkedCylinders carry the BSI Kitemark to TS007, and our mortice deadlocks meet BS 3621, the standard most home insurers ask for.
- Built to lastBranded locks work smoothly for years. Cheap ones can stick, wear and fail, which means another call-out.
- One price, all-inclusiveThe lock, fitting and labour in one price, agreed on the call before we come out.
Where we work
Security upgrades across East London
The same service and the same prices in every borough we cover, 24 hours a day.
What is lock snapping?
A way of breaking some euro cylinders in seconds. A TS007 3-star or Sold Secure Diamond cylinder is designed to resist it.
Are smart locks secure?
Good ones are. We fit smart and keypad locks that carry recognised security ratings, and keep a key option.
Is the security check free?
Phone advice is free. If we come out to look at your doors, we tell you any charge before we book the visit.
Will an upgrade lower my insurance?
It can help you meet your policy wording. Ask your insurer what they need and we will match it.
Do I need planning permission for security bars or a new door?
Not usually for locks, chains or viewers. If you live in a conservation area and want a new door or bars on the front, check with your council first.
Are anti-snap locks worth it?
Yes, on uPVC and composite doors. Lock snapping is a common way in, and an anti-snap cylinder is a quick, low-cost fix.
Checked November 2026 by East London Locksmith Ltd, a member of the Master Locksmiths Association. Standards and advice on this page follow UK guidance.
Sources and further help