Lock change and upgrade

Door Lock Replacement and Lock Change in Harrow

Just moved in, lost track of who’s got a key, had keys lost or stolen, or want to bring your security up to standard? A lock change or full door lock replacement buys real peace of mind. I fit British Standard and anti-snap locks across Harrow and the surrounding areas: labour from £89, no call-out fee, and a 12-month warranty, with a fixed price agreed before I start. See my prices for full rates.Not sure whether your lock needs replacing or just repairing? Have a look at the common lock problems in Harrow homes I get called out to most.

Short answer: lock changes start at £89 labour plus the lock itself, with no call-out fee and no VAT. I show you the options and what each one costs before I start. You choose, I never decide your budget for you.

You may need a lock change if:

Moved to new home or office, your locks are damaged or you want to upgrade the locks to highest security level, whatever the reason I am here to help. It is important to choose a right lock and get professional advice. Andrew the Locksmith can suggest the best lock for your doors, needs and budget. I only install the highest quality locks made by the leading manufacturers in the industry. 

Old basic euro cylinder next to a new 3-star anti-snap cylinder

Repair or Replace?

If your locks are faulty or broken, is it better to have them repaired or completely replaced? In a lot of cases, locks can be fixed with just a minor adjustment, or with a lock cylinder replacement. I will always do my best to repair the lock if possible. However, especially when the locking mechanism, mortice lock or cylinder is old, it has a high potential of causing more issues in the future. In that case I would recommend that you have the entire lock replaced. 

British Standard locks

Choosing the right lock is crucial. When upgrading your security I recommend high-security British Standard locks. I fit British Standard mortice locks, cylinders and nightlatches from leading manufacturers, and I’ll suggest the right one for your door, needs and budget. I don’t upsell locks you don’t need.

Anti-snap euro cylinders: if you’ve got a uPVC or composite door, the euro cylinder is the weak point. A basic one can be snapped in seconds. As part of a lock change I fit British Standard TS007 3-star / SS312 Diamond anti-snap cylinders, cut to the correct length. Want the full story? Read what lock snapping is and how to prevent it.

From basic to British Standard

The same lock change, done to the standard insurers ask for. Here is the difference on the two doors we see most.

uPVC & composite doors: basic cylinder → 3-star anti-snap
BeforeWorn basic euro cylinder on a uPVC door before upgrade
Basic euro cylinder. Unrated, snaps in seconds.
AfterNew APECS 3-star BSI Kitemark anti-snap euro cylinder fitted to a uPVC door
APECS 3-star anti-snap. Kitemarked to the British Standard.
Timber doors: basic 3-lever → BS3621 mortice
BeforeOld worn Yale 3-lever mortice lock on a timber front door before upgrade
Old 3-lever mortice. Worn, and never insurance rated.
AfterNew ERA BS3621 British Standard mortice lock fitted to a timber front door
ERA BS3621 mortice. The lock most insurers ask for.
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Hicham Bouissa profile picture
Hicham Bouissa
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Excellent service from Andrew! We contacted him after having an issue with our van door, which wouldn't open. We urgently needed someone to come out, and after contacting several locksmiths, Andrew was the only one willing to help at such short notice. He arrived within just 30 minutes and managed to get the door open, allowing us to carry on with our work for the day without any further disruption. Fantastic service, very professional, reliable and efficient. It's not often you find someone so willing to help at short notice. I would highly recommend Andrew to anyone needing a locksmith and would definitely use his services again. Thank you, Andrew!
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Amy Radon profile picture
Amy Radon
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Andrew was fantastic at fixing our door lock and also picking one of our window locks when we had misplaced the key to it. Prompt, reliable, and very professional. We’ll definitely make sure to call Andrew for all our locksmith needs!
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Alexandros Skoteiniadis profile picture
Alexandros Skoteiniadis
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Great service , quick and thorough , highly recommended .
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Marc profile picture
Marc
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Andrew was really excellent. Fixed the front door yale, and garden door locks, for a good price. Efficient, quick, came on time, communicated well. Gave very good advice about what needed to be replaced, and what did not, and explained why. I would definitely use him again. Always great to find a first class tradesman/woman.
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Dan Leon profile picture
Dan Leon
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Amazing locksmith and did the job very quickly. Highly recommend
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Yulong Hu profile picture
Yulong Hu
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Andrew provided fantastic service and I highly recommend it. I am writing to express my gratitude for your assistance. We recently experienced another minor issue with the lock, but Andrew arrived promptly and resolved it quickly at no extra charge. Thank you once again for your excellent service.
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Evelyn Kaputolo profile picture
Evelyn Kaputolo
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Great service! Arrived within the promised time and changed the lock very quickly. Very professional, efficient, and reliable. Highly recommend!
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Rosy profile picture
Rosy
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Andrew is very professional and has offered excellent service every time.
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Munira Asaria
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Very honest ,efficient and quick.
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Mark Adefila profile picture
Mark Adefila
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Excellent service from Andrew. I could not unlock my garden gate it was stuck in the lock position. Called Andrew on the Wednesday and he visted the same day. New lock required, not an off the shelf lock so Andrew had to ordered it. The lock was delivered on the Friday and Andrew fitted it the same day. I'm happy with the service and will definitely use him again if needed.
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Andrew’s Qualified Master Locksmith certificate from the Master Locksmiths Association

Independent Locksmith in Harrow.

I work independently and I will be able to assess your problem by phone as well as by coming out to you. I am 5* rated in Google. And I don’t charge call out fees. I am fast, efficient, qualified and friendly. Started my business in Harrow and now I cover all surrounding areas including Brent, Ealing, Hillingdon, Barnet, Hertsmere, Watford, Three Rivers.

Are anti-snap cylinders worth it? The numbers say yes. After the TS007 3-star and Sold Secure Diamond standards arrived, recorded lock snapping fell from about a quarter of break-ins at its peak to under 10%. It’s the single most cost-effective upgrade on a uPVC or composite door. See how break-ins actually happen locally: Burglary in Harrow.

Banham locks fitted on a mahogany front door in Harrow by Andrew the Locksmith

Banham lock replacement

Banham is about as strong as door security gets, so if you want the best, I fit and replace them across Harrow and the surrounding areas. I can put a Banham in place of your existing lock, even if that’s already British Standard, for a proper step up in security, or install one from scratch on a new or upgraded door. It isn’t the cheapest lock out there, but for the protection it gives you, the price is fair.

One thing I’ll always be straight about: Banham keys are registered to you, so copies are cut by Banham direct, at their showroom with your ID. I can fit and replace your Banham locks, but if you need extra keys later, that part goes through Banham, not me.

British Standard marking on a brass Banham lock, fitted in Harrow

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be home for a lock change?

Ideally yes. I need access to the door and someone to take the new keys and confirm they’re happy. It’s quick though; most straightforward changes are done within the hour.

Can you change just the cylinder, or does the whole lock come off?

Often just the cylinder, on a uPVC or composite door that’s usually all that’s needed, and it’s the cheaper route. On a wooden door it’s the mortice lock body itself. I’ll tell you which your door needs and what each costs before I start.

How many keys will I get with a new lock?

Standard cylinders come with three. Need more for family or tenants? Tell me and I’ll cut extra keys to the new lock, so everyone’s sorted from day one.

Do you take the old lock away, and is the door secure straight after?

Yes. Old lock out, new one fitted and tested from both sides, keys in your hand. Your door’s fully secure before I leave, and I’ll take the old hardware away unless you want to keep it.

Got another question? See my full Locksmith FAQs page.