Locks, doors and security

The short answer

A let must be secure: sound external doors, working locks, windows that close and lock where fitted, and controlled keys. Changing or re-pinning locks between tenancies is the single most effective step, because a landlord cannot know how many copies exist. Insurers often specify particular lock standards, so check the policy before replacing.

What the work involves

Checking external doors and frames, testing every lock and window catch, replacing or re-pinning cylinders at changeover, and recording how many keys are issued to whom.

Rules and responsibilities in Scotland

Security features fall within the Repairing Standard where they affect the property being in proper working order, and insurance policies commonly require a specified lock standard on final exit doors.

What commonly goes wrong

Reusing the same cylinder across several tenancies, and fitting a lock that breaches the insurance specification or blocks the escape route.

What it usually costs

Indicative ranges only, to help you judge a quote. They are not an estimate for your property — only the business doing the work can give you that.

• Re-pinning or replacing a cylinder is inexpensive compared to a security claim.
• Multi-point locking mechanisms on modern doors cost more but fail less often.
• Common stair entry systems in tenements are a shared cost between owners.

What to do, in order

1. 1Check external doors, frames and locks before each let.
2. 2Replace or re-pin cylinders at every change of tenancy.
3. 3Confirm the lock type meets the insurance requirement.
4. 4Record how many keys were issued and get them all back at the end.
5. 5Make sure escape from inside does not need a key.

Local detail for the Lothians

• Tenement door entry systems are common property; a failed handset in one flat is often part of a wider system fault.
• Ground and basement flats in Edinburgh benefit from attention to rear window security onto shared drying greens.
• Traditional timber doors in conservation areas often cannot be replaced with modern composite doors without consent.

When you need a professional

Use a locksmith who works to recognised lock standards; a joiner for door and frame repair in traditional property.

Common questions

Should locks be changed between tenancies?

Yes, changing or re-pinning the cylinder is standard practice because previous key copies cannot be accounted for.

Do window locks have to be fitted?

Where they exist they must work. Adding them may be required by the insurance policy, and escape routes must not be compromised.

Related pages

• Lock changes and key control

  Who holds keys during a void, and how to hand over cleanly to the next occupier.

• Meeting the Repairing Standard

  The legal condition test every private let in Scotland has to meet, and how landlords evidence it.

• The annual property inspection

  What to look at on a periodic inspection, how to record it, and how to raise issues with tenants.