As a locksmith in East London, the best British standard lock for a UK front door is in our opinion, either a 5-lever Mortice Deadlock BS3621, which is predominately used on timber doors, or, alternatively, if you have a uPVC/composite door, a 3-star-rated Euro Cylinder lock. These locks have gone through rigorous testing against theft, are also approved by the Met Police, and are quite often required by the insurance companies.

To find out more about British Standards and Insurance Policies, it is best to check the site below: www.confused.com

For more defined advice, our recommendations below will undoubtedly help to decide on the best British standard lock for a UK front door:

For Timber Doors: If funds are not an issue and you perhaps wanted to choose something that is a top choice, we will recommend the Banham M2002 mortice lock, as the bolt is actually a hook rather than the normal bolt and makes it harder for anyone to saw the hook. The other cheapest option that we quite prefer is the Era Deadlock. This particular deadlock has layers on the bolt that work extremely well and do not cost as much.

For a uPVC or a composite door: In order to prevent lock snapping, a 3-star TS007-rated euro cylinder lock is advisable, like, for example, an Ultion, Yale, or perhaps an Avocet ABS lock. These specific locks are quite alien to burglars, as the keyholes are dimple keyholes like ones for a car. Therefore, a burglar’s reaction is “Let’s move on.”

Key advice:

Look for a British Standard Kitemark: Ensure that the new lock has BS3621 and the British Standard Kitemark engraved on the actual faceplate and, of course, specified on the packaging.

If you have a uPVC/composite door, ensure that your cylinder lock is 3-star rated; this is in order to prevent “lock snapping”, “drilling”, and picking.

For maximum protection you can try combined security on your locks; for example, a 1-star Euro cylinder can be accompanied with a 2-star handle, which will give you extra protection, as these handles often have anti-drill plates, which makes it 2 stars.

Another combination for added security on a timber door is a 5-lever British Standard deadlock accompanied by a BS3621-approved night latch. However, we do not recommend a British Standard night latch, which will be elaborated further on in a separate blog. Please see our other blogs on this subject that provide a lot more advice.

The types of manufacturers that we prefer and that provide these types of security measures are Yale, Union, ERA, Banham, Ultion, and Avocet ABS.

Please try to avoid manufacturers like Securefast, Zoo, Smith & Locke and anything purchased online, for example, from Amazon or eBay. These are very low-security locks and are very cheap locks.

If on the other hand, you are feeling lazy and electric locks are something that you prefer, then these locks are not advisable from a locksmith’s point of view. Please ask for any further details if you have any questions on +44 7377 991577 or via email at info@eastlondonlocksmith.co.uk.