What Locks Does Your Home Insurance Actually Require?
Most policies require a BS3621 mortice deadlock on timber doors and a TS007-rated cylinder on UPVC. Fitting the wrong lock can void your claim after a break-in.
## The answer depends on your door type
For timber doors: most insurers require a BS3621 5-lever mortice deadlock on all external doors. For UPVC and aluminium doors: a multi-point locking system with a TS007-rated cylinder is the typical requirement. For back doors and secondary entry points: at minimum a single-point deadlock.
Read the 'security conditions' section of your policy. Do not assume.
Timber doors: BS3621
BS3621 is the British Standard for thief-resistant mortice locks. A lock that meets this standard has:
- A bolt that throws at least 14mm - A hardened steel bolt insert to resist cutting - A 5-lever mechanism to resist picking - A keyhole with a hardened steel plate
The mark is usually stamped on the lock backplate inside the door, or on the packaging. You can also find it on the faceplate on the door edge — look for "BS3621" or a kite mark symbol.
A standard Yale night latch alone does not meet BS3621. Neither does a basic deadlock with fewer than 5 levers. If your only external lock is a Yale spring latch, you are probably not compliant.
UPVC and aluminium doors: TS007
UPVC and composite doors use euro cylinders. The relevant standard is TS007. A TS007 3-star rating can be achieved:
- By the cylinder alone (3-star cylinder), or - By the cylinder (1-star) combined with a 2-star door handle and escutcheon
Most insurers accept either route. The cylinder needs to be anti-snap, anti-pick, anti-drill, and anti-bump to achieve 3-star on its own.
A standard euro cylinder — the kind fitted as standard on most new-build UPVC doors — is typically not TS007 rated.
How to check your current locks
On a timber door: look at the edge of the door when it is open. If there is a large bolt that only operates with a key (not a spring that snaps shut on its own), it is a deadlock. Check the backplate inside the door for a BS3621 mark.
On a UPVC door: look at the cylinder. Check for a brand name (Ultion, Avocet ABS, Mul-T-Lock, Yale Superior, Banham) or a TS007 star rating on the face of the cylinder. If you see no markings and do not recognise the brand, assume it is not rated.
The insurance gap most people do not know about
You can have a strong door, a solid frame, and a good multi-point locking system — and still have a claim refused because the cylinder is standard-grade. The insurer's requirement is usually specific to the security rating of the lock components, not just the door type.
We fit BS3621 locks and TS007 cylinders as standard when a customer asks for a "secure" lock without being specific. If you tell us you want to be insurer-compliant, we check your policy wording and fit to that standard. It is worth the extra 15 minutes.