{"id":48758,"date":"2025-10-02T15:54:37","date_gmt":"2025-10-02T14:54:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ratedpeople.com\/blog\/?p=48758"},"modified":"2025-11-11T16:02:55","modified_gmt":"2025-11-11T16:02:55","slug":"are-your-locks-insurance-approved-a-home-security-checklist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ratedpeople.com\/blog\/are-your-locks-insurance-approved-a-home-security-checklist","title":{"rendered":"Are your locks insurance-approved? A home security checklist"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Imagine the worst happens: a break-in at your home. You\u2019ve got a good insurance policy, but when you file a claim, they ask a question you weren\u2019t prepared for: &#8220;Are your locks insurance-approved?&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your answer is wrong, or your locks don&#8217;t meet the requirements, your claim could be denied. It\u2019s a stressful thought, but with a little knowledge, you can make sure your home security is up to standard and your insurance policy is valid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s take the guesswork out of your home\u2019s security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What does &#8220;insurance-approved&#8221; actually mean?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The term &#8220;insurance-approved&#8221; is a bit of a shortcut. In reality, insurance companies don&#8217;t approve locks themselves. Instead, they require the locks on your home to meet specific standards set by the British Standards Institute (BSI), a trusted national body that sets standards for product safety and quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The gold standard: Understanding BS3621 locks<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>BS3621 locks are tested to be resistant to common burglary techniques, including picking, drilling, and force. Having a British Standard lock is a clear sign to insurers that you&#8217;ve taken reasonable measures to secure your home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, how do you know if you have a BS3621 lock?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Look for the Kitemark:<\/strong> The easiest way to tell is by checking the lock&#8217;s faceplate (the metal strip on the edge of the door that you can see when the door is open). It should have a distinctive British Standard Kitemark, which looks like a heart with a key-like symbol inside.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Check for the numbers:<\/strong> Right next to the Kitemark, you should see &#8220;BS3621&#8221; engraved into the metal. This confirms the lock meets the standard.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For doors with a multi-point locking system (common on uPVC and composite doors), insurers often require a high-security cylinder that meets other standards like <strong>TS007<\/strong> and has a 3-star rating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Your home security checklist<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that you know what to look for, here is a quick checklist to assess your home&#8217;s security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">External Doors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Wooden Doors: Do you have at least a 5-lever mortice lock with the BS3621 Kitemark? Is a secondary night latch fitted as extra security?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>uPVC &amp; Composite Doors: Does your multi-point locking system have a high-security cylinder with a 3-star rating or a BS Kitemark?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Patio &amp; Sliding Doors: Do these doors have a key-operated lock and an anti-lift mechanism to stop them from being forced off their runners?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Windows<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Are all downstairs windows and other easily accessible windows fitted with key-operated locks?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Other Security<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Are sheds, garages, and gates secured with a robust padlock, preferably one that has a Sold Secure or British Standard rating?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What If my locks aren\u2019t up to scratch?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Don&#8217;t worry if your locks don&#8217;t meet the standards. Many homes in the UK still have outdated or non-compliant locks. The important thing is to take action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You should call a professional locksmith to upgrade your locks if:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You&#8217;ve just moved into a new home and want to ensure no one else has a copy of your keys.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your external door locks don&#8217;t have the BS3621 Kitemark.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your windows don&#8217;t have key-operated locks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You&#8217;re simply not sure about your current security and want expert advice.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ratedpeople.com\/local-locksmiths\">qualified locksmith<\/a> can assess your home&#8217;s security and fit new, insurance approved locks that will give you complete peace of mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>With Rated People, you have the power to get it done. <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ratedpeople.com\/\"><em>Find a trusted, local tradesperson today<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Imagine the worst happens: a break-in at your home. You\u2019ve got a good insurance policy, but when you file a claim, they ask a question you weren\u2019t prepared for: &#8220;Are your locks insurance-approved?&#8221; If your answer is wrong, or your locks don&#8217;t meet the requirements, your claim could be denied. It\u2019s a stressful thought, but &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":48760,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3050],"tags":[3116,3064],"class_list":["post-48758","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ask-an-expert","tag-advice-feature","tag-locksmith"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Are your locks insurance-approved? | Rated People<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Find out if your locks meet UK standards. 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Use our home security checklist to see if you have BS3621 locks and other security measures to protect your home.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ratedpeople.com\/blog\/are-your-locks-insurance-approved-a-home-security-checklist\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Rated People Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ratedpeople\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-10-02T14:54:37+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-11-11T16:02:55+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/content.ratedpeople.com\/assets\/2025\/10\/marcos-mayer-8_NI1WTqCGY-unsplash-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1707\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Hermione Wright\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Hermione Wright\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ratedpeople.com\\\/blog\\\/are-your-locks-insurance-approved-a-home-security-checklist#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ratedpeople.com\\\/blog\\\/are-your-locks-insurance-approved-a-home-security-checklist\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Hermione Wright\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ratedpeople.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/a03093a9fe4fea72d07157f936af1ede\"},\"headline\":\"Are your locks insurance-approved? 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