Smart Lock Installation

The Appeal of Keyless Entry — and the Catch

Smart locks are increasingly popular for reasons that have nothing to do with security: the ability to let in a contractor without being home, to give a house-sitter a temporary code, to unlock the door with a phone when your hands are full, or simply to stop worrying about lost keys. These are genuine quality-of-life improvements, and the technology behind modern smart locks has matured considerably.

The catch is that the smart lock market ranges from products with serious independent security certification to products that have received none — and the visual difference between them is not obvious to a homeowner browsing online. A cheap smart lock in a smart-looking package may offer no meaningful resistance to physical attack, and may even introduce cyber vulnerabilities that a traditional lock does not have.

What Certification to Look For

The MLA specifies two relevant certifications for smart locks:

• TS007 3-star: The same standard that applies to anti-snap Euro cylinders. A smart lock cylinder that carries TS007 3-star certification meets the same physical security standard as a conventional high-security cylinder — anti-snap, anti-drill, anti-pick.
• Sold Secure SS 504: A standard from the independent Sold Secure testing body that tests both physical and digital security — covering the electronic and communication aspects of the smart lock in addition to the physical cylinder. This is the more comprehensive certification for a connected device.

A smart lock carrying one or both of these certifications has been independently tested against defined attack methods. One without any independent certification has been tested only by its manufacturer.

Insurance Compliance

Most UK home insurance policies were written before smart locks became mainstream and may not explicitly address them. In practice, insurers will apply their standard lock requirements to whatever mechanism is in use: if a policy requires a TS007 3-star cylinder on a UPVC door, a smart lock cylinder that meets TS007 3-star will satisfy that requirement. A smart lock that does not carry this certification may not.

Before installing a smart lock, check your policy schedule and, if the wording is unclear, contact your insurer directly to confirm that the specific product you are considering will satisfy their security requirements. Do this before installation — not after a claim.

Types of Smart Lock

Smart locks come in several forms:

• Smart cylinders: Replace the existing Euro cylinder. Work with existing UPVC multipoint mechanisms. Controlled via Bluetooth, app, or a keypad. Products such as the Yale Conexis and Nuki Smart Lock Pro fall into this category.
• Bolt retrofits: Fit over an existing mortice lock bolt inside the door. Motorised thumbturn operated via app. Do not replace the lock mechanism — they add electronic control to it.
• Full replacement smart deadbolts: Replace both the cylinder and the locking mechanism. More common in the US market; less common in UK residential settings due to the prevalence of multipoint UPVC doors.
• Proximity/Bluetooth passive entry: Unlock automatically when your phone is within range. The MLA notes that proximity systems need careful setup — a lock that opens when your phone is near a window from the outside is not what you want.

What a Professional Installation Involves

An MLA-approved locksmith installing a smart lock will: assess door and cylinder compatibility; check that the smart lock fits flush (a protruding cylinder is vulnerable to snapping); carry out the fitting and any necessary adjustments to door alignment; test the electronic functionality including app pairing and battery life; and advise on backup entry (most smart locks have a key override — you still need a physical key somewhere).

The MLA's guidance emphasises that installers should also check batteries, connections, smartphone app integration, and door alignment as part of a thorough installation — not just drop the device in and hand over the app login details.