Anti-snap locks
Anti-snap locks: do you actually need one, and which star rating?
Wolverhampton, Stafford and Cannock. Insurance-grade cylinders fitted, honestly priced.
If your home insurance renewal has just landed with a clause that says "TS007 3-star Kitemark cylinder on all accessible external doors", or if you have read about lock snapping and want to know whether the £450 "premium security pack" a national locksmith has quoted you is honest, this is the page. Anti-snap is a cylinder upgrade, not a whole-lock replacement, the part costs £30 to £50 more than a basic cylinder, the labour is the same as any other lock change, and the doorstep fitting time is 15 to 20 minutes. The honest call on most Wolverhampton, Stafford and Cannock uPVC doors is a 3-star anti-snap on the front and a 1-star (or no upgrade at all) on the rear. Read the four sections below before you book.
- No Call-Out Fee
- No VAT Added
- Standard DBS Checked
- £1M Insured
- 12 months Guarantee
What an anti-snap lock actually is, and the attack it resists
An anti-snap lock is a euro-profile cylinder (the brass part with the keyhole, the one that sits in the strip-edge of your uPVC or composite door) built with a deliberate sacrificial snap line cut into its body. The cylinder is engineered so that when someone tries the "snap attack" (mole grips on the protruding section of the cylinder, then a sharp downward pull or tap), only the outer sacrificial section breaks off. The inner section, with the cam that drives the gearbox, stays exactly where it is. The multi-point hooks stay engaged. The door stays shut.
The snap attack itself is one of the more common UK domestic break-in methods on uPVC doors precisely because basic unrated cylinders are easy to snap. Two minutes with a pair of mole grips and a screwdriver. The Master Locksmiths Association published a detailed piece on lock snapping that explains the mechanics and the cylinder profile that makes it possible. A correctly fitted TS007 3-star cylinder is independently tested to resist the snap attack, and also carries baseline resistance to drilling, picking and bumping. Kicking the door is a separate question because that depends on the door set, keeps and frame, not the cylinder.
TS007 1-star vs 2-star vs 3-star: what the Kitemark actually means
TS007 is a British Standards Institution (BSI) Kitemark scheme, run by an independent test body, covering both the cylinder and the security door furniture around it. The 1-star cylinder rating covers basic resistance (drilling, picking, bumping) without including the snap-attack test. The 3-star cylinder rating adds snap-attack testing. The 2-star rating is awarded separately to the door HARDWARE (handles and escutcheons) that physically protects the cylinder against snapping. The three tiers therefore have very different implications for which part of the door the protection sits in.
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TS007 1-star: a basic cylinder rating, NOT a snap-resistance rating
The 1-star cylinder rating covers basic attack resistance (drilling, picking, bumping) but does NOT include the snap-attack test. A 1-star cylinder on its own does not give you snap protection. To get the required snap-protection solution you pair the 1-star cylinder with TS007 2-star security door furniture: the 2-star handle and escutcheon physically protect the cylinder from snapping, and the combined "1+2" assembly counts as the compliant 3-star security solution. Fitted price from £110 including the part. The right call if your handle is already TS007 2-star, or if your insurer has named "1-star cylinder + 2-star handle" specifically.
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TS007 2-star: the rating that applies to security door furniture (handles and escutcheons), not the cylinder
Worth being clear about, because the trade press and the kit labelling both blur this. 2-star is awarded to the door HARDWARE (the handle and escutcheon that sit around the cylinder), not to the cylinder itself. The 2-star handle adds the protection a 1-star cylinder lacks. In practice, on most uPVC front doors I either fit a 1-star cylinder behind an existing 2-star handle, or I step straight to a 3-star cylinder and skip the 1+2 route entirely, because the price difference between 1-star and 3-star on the same brand is usually only £15 to £25 and 3-star alone is the simpler proof for the insurer.
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TS007 3-star: the cylinder alone passes the highest snap test
No special handle required. The cylinder on its own is independently tested to resist the snap attack at the highest TS007 level. Where a UK home insurance policy uses the loose phrase "anti-snap locks" without further qualification, a 3-star cylinder is usually what they will accept (check your own policy wording). Fitted price from £130 to £170 including the part (Avocet ABS at the lower end, Ultion mid-range, Mul-T-Lock at the top end). On most Wolverhampton, Stafford and Cannock uPVC front doors, this is the upgrade I fit by default and the one I would put on my own house.
Alongside TS007, a separate UK rating body (Sold Secure) issues its own cylinder grades, with Sold Secure Diamond (SS 312) sitting at the top of their scale. Many premium cylinders carry both stamps. If your insurer's wording names "Sold Secure Diamond" or "Sold Secure Gold" specifically, look for the Sold Secure logo on the cylinder face as well as the BSI Kitemark.
Do you need anti-snap locks for your home insurance?
The honest answer: it depends on your specific policy. UK home insurance is not standardised on this point and the wording varies between insurers. Some policies name "TS007 3-star Kitemark cylinder on all accessible external doors" explicitly. Some name "BS3621 mortice OR TS007 3-star cylinder", giving you the option of either upgrading the cylinder OR fitting a full BS3621 mortice lock body. Some policies simply use the loose phrase "anti-snap locks" without further qualification, in which case 1-star with a 2-star handle, or 3-star alone, will usually satisfy. Check your own schedule or ask your insurer in writing before upgrading.
The pattern I have seen on a number of renewal letters this year is a clause loading the premium where cylinders are not 3-star, removed once the customer emails the insurer a photo of the BSI Kitemark stamp on the new cylinder. Your policy may behave differently, so ring them before banking the saving. I photograph the stamp before and after every fit so the evidence is ready either way. The Master Locksmiths Association covers the BS3621 British Standard as the deadlock standard often named alongside TS007, so if your front door is a wooden door with a mortice deadlock rather than a uPVC door with a euro cylinder, that is the standard your policy is more likely to refer to.
What an honest locksmith will tell you about the insurance clause
If your insurer has named TS007 3-star and your cylinders are unrated, the cheapest legitimate route is a like-for-like cylinder swap. A 3-star cylinder alone is compliant from £130 to £170 fitted (depending on length and brand). If your existing door handle already carries the TS007 2-star Kitemark, a 1-star cylinder behind it is also compliant and lands from £110 fitted. Either way, you do NOT need to replace the whole lock body, the gearbox, or the multi-point hooks. A national locksmith number quoting "full lock change for insurance compliance" at £400-plus per door is selling labour you do not need. The cylinder is the whole job.
Avocet ABS, Ultion, Yale, Mul-T-Lock: which brand and why
The four brands I fit most often, in honest order of "what I would put on my own house" rather than "what costs the most". Differences matter less than fitting the right cylinder length for the specific door, but each brand has a real reason to choose it.
- Avocet ABS 3-star. The workhorse anti-snap cylinder for most UK domestic uPVC doors. Well-priced (£35 to £55 part cost), widely stocked so I can usually get one out of the van the same day, easy to re-key, lifetime guarantee from Avocet. Carries both the TS007 3-star Kitemark and the SS312 Sold Secure Diamond accreditation (Diamond is the top Sold Secure cylinder grade). If your insurer has just asked for "3-star Kitemark" with no further qualification, this is what I fit by default. Fitted price from £130.
- Ultion 3-star. Patented rotating central pin called Lockdown Mode: when the cylinder is attacked, an internal pin rotates and acts as a second locking element. Comes with a Brisant break-in payout from the manufacturer if a house is breached through one (currently £2,000 as standard, rising to £5,000 if the owner activates KeyControl registration), independent of and stacking with your home insurance. Slightly higher part cost (£55 to £75) but the manufacturer guarantee is genuinely useful, particularly if you have a known reason to expect a determined attack rather than an opportunistic one. Fitted price from £150.
- Yale Platinum 3-star. Big brand, reassuring for customers who have heard of Yale and want a name they recognise on the receipt. TS007 3-star, snap-resistant, drill-resistant, pick-resistant. Slightly less convenient to re-key in the field than Avocet ABS, but functionally equivalent in protection. Fitted price from £135.
- Mul-T-Lock. Higher-tier cylinder for properties with a genuine higher risk profile (commercial sites, residential properties with a specific named threat, or owners who want stronger individual key control). Higher part cost (£90 to £160). On the restricted-profile Mul-T-Lock ranges (Interactive, MT5+, Classic Pro), spare keys are slower to source because they require an authorisation card; the standard Mul-T-Lock ranges (Integrator, 7x7) cut on the van like any other cylinder. Almost never the right call for a standard UK domestic door, but the right call when it is. Fitted price from £170.
For roughly four out of five domestic uPVC fronts I see in Wolverhampton, Stafford and Cannock, Avocet ABS 3-star is the honest fit. For homeowners specifically asking about "the Ultion thing with the break-in payout" (currently £2,000 as standard, £5,000 with KeyControl), Ultion is the honest fit and worth the £20 difference. Mul-T-Lock is the right answer in maybe one job a month, when the situation justifies it. And if you are weighing up a smart lock, this is the same cylinder that matters: the best smart lock for a UK door (the Ultion Nuki) is a smart motor built onto exactly this kind of 3-star cylinder, which is the whole point of my honest guide to smart locks and phone keys.
How to tell if your current cylinder is already anti-snap
You do not need a locksmith to check. Stand outside your own front door and look at the brass disc that surrounds the keyhole. Most cylinders have a flat oval face the size of a fifty-pence piece. You are looking for stamped markings on that face:
- BSI Kitemark logo (a heart shape with a stylised K inside) with star markings next to it. On the cylinder face you will see either a 1-star or 3-star Kitemark (the cylinder ratings). A 2-star Kitemark appears on the handle or escutcheon plate, not on the cylinder, because 2-star is the security-hardware rating. Three stars next to the Kitemark on the cylinder face means you are on the top tier and your insurer will accept the cylinder on its own.
- Sold Secure diamond logo (a small diamond outline with "SOLD SECURE" lettering). Sometimes alongside or instead of the BSI Kitemark. Sold Secure Diamond (SS 312) is the highest grade. Sold Secure Gold and Silver also exist at lower grades.
- No markings at all, or just the brand logo (Yale, Avocet, ERA). Almost certainly an unrated basic cylinder. If your insurer has named TS007 3-star and you can see no Kitemark stamp, you are not currently compliant.
If you would rather not squint at the cylinder face yourself, take a phone photo of the cylinder from outside the door (close enough to read any stamped markings clearly) and WhatsApp it to me on 07386 341725 with the postcode. I will tell you on the spot whether you are insurance-compliant, what the upgrade would cost if you are not, and whether I would actually recommend the upgrade in your case. Free to ask, no obligation, no upsell if the honest answer is "you are already fine".
The 10-minute fitting process, doorstep to keys
If you ring me with "I want a 3-star anti-snap cylinder fitted to my front door", here is what actually happens. I take the postcode, the door type, the brand of cylinder if you can see it on the strip edge, and a rough measurement (length from the centre of the fixing screw to either side of the cylinder, or just the brand name on the cylinder face). I quote the all-in price on the phone with the brand options. You pick one. I arrive in the time window I gave you, usually within a couple of hours for same-day, or a planned slot if you would rather book ahead.
On the doorstep, I open the door, remove the existing cylinder by undoing the single fixing screw (almost always under the handle plate on uPVC doors), measure the cylinder lengths front and rear of the cam (this matters: the wrong length will either stand proud and re-create the snap risk, or sit recessed and refuse to operate the gearbox cam), select the matching new anti-snap cylinder from the van, fit it with the same single screw, hand you two or three new keys on a fob, test the door six times from both sides with the new keys, photograph the BSI Kitemark stamp on the new cylinder face for your insurance, and write you a receipt itemising the labour, the part, the BS or TS standard and the brand. If you want a separate VAT-style invoice to email your insurer, tell me on the phone and I will have it ready.
Recent anti-snap upgrades in Wolverhampton, Stafford and Cannock
Three recent anti-snap jobs. One insurance-renewal driven, one post-burglary insurance claim, one new owner I actively talked out of the upsell. Real-pattern situations, real prices on the receipt, sat next to what was quoted by a national locksmith number for the same job. Customer details lightly anonymised at their request.
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Tuesday 19 May 2026 at 9.30am · Wolverhampton
Mr Thomson, Wolverhampton
Insurance renewal letter on a WV4 detached arrived with a new condition: "TS007 3-star Kitemark cylinder on all accessible external doors, or premium loaded by 22%". Front and rear uPVC doors both had basic unrated cylinders. He sent me a photo of each cylinder face on WhatsApp, I quoted the all-in on the phone.
A national number quoted the customer £260Paid to me £215Avocet ABS 3-star on the front (high-exposure street-facing door). Avocet ABS 1-star on the rear (rear has an integrated security handle already, snap risk lower because the back garden is fully enclosed and overlooked by neighbours). Insurer accepted with photos of both BSI Kitemark stamps, premium loading removed. Total £215, took 35 minutes on the doorstep, paid the insurance saving back in the first year.
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Saturday 16 May 2026 at 6.45pm · Stafford
Ms Whittaker, Stafford
Post-burglary callout in ST17. Front cylinder had been snapped using a mole-grip and Allen-key attack, attempt failed because the gearbox jammed, but the cylinder was destroyed and the door would not lock. She had reported it that morning and the insurer asked for a 3-star Kitemark replacement before settling the claim.
A national number quoted the customer n/aPaid to me £155Ultion 3-star with the patented rotating central pin (the "second lock" Ultion patents specifically as an anti-snap counter-attack). Replaced same evening as an out-of-hours callout. Photographed the snapped basic cylinder, the new Ultion in place, and the BSI 3-star stamp on the face. Insurer settled the claim within two weeks. Ultion comes with a Brisant break-in payout from the manufacturer if a house is breached through one (independent of the home insurance), currently £2,000 as standard rising to £5,000 with KeyControl registration, which I always tell people about because it can cover the typical insurance excess.
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Friday 22 May 2026 at 2.30pm · Cannock
Mr Rai, Cannock
New owner of a detached in WS11, wanted "the absolute best security money can buy". National locksmith number had quoted a £450 "premium security pack": Ultion 3-star front, full Banham deadlock retrofit on the back, full Avocet ABS suite on side and patio doors.
A national number quoted the customer £450Paid to me £165I talked him out of the upsell on the phone. Avocet ABS 3-star on the front (the only street-facing door, the genuinely high-risk one). Yale 1-star on the rear (rear opens onto a fenced garden behind a 2-metre side gate, snap risk negligible). Side and patio kept as-is, with the option to upgrade later. Saved him £285 in 20 minutes of doorstep conversation. Six weeks later he texted me a photo of the renewal quote from his insurer: accepted on both stamps, no premium loading.
The mechanics of the snap attack and the rationale for anti-snap cylinders are documented by the Master Locksmiths Association's lock-snapping page and the MLA's guidance on BS3621 British Standard locks. My from-prices for the work above start at £110 for a TS007 1-star fitted and £130 to £170 for TS007 3-star fitted, depending on the brand and the cylinder length your door needs.
What customers say about anti-snap upgrades
Verified Google reviews from homeowners across Wolverhampton, Stafford, Cannock and the surrounding villages.
Great service. Quick to reply, came the following day & patiently answered all my toddlers questions haha. Would recommend.
It was a pleasure helping you and your son in Essington yesterday Abbie. I'm very happy that I could provide you with a new Euro Cylinder and new keys to your property. Sean - Lockerfella Locksmiths 24/7
Absolutely brilliant service from Lockerfella Locksmiths. We left Sean a whatsapp message at 2.30am as we had stupidly left our front door keys inside when leaving the house. He answered pretty much immediately. Sean arrived with us in Stafford within 30 minutes and had us back in within 5 minutes and fitted us with some upgraded anti snap locks. Thankyou!
You're more than welcome Matt 😊
I locked myself out my house and phoned Sean at 1.32am. He arrived at my house in Bilston 35 minutes later. He lives 30 minutes away. He was very professional and tidy. I would recommend him to anyone. Within 1 hr and 15 minutes of calling him he had come out, sorted my lock and on his way home. You can call him anytime and he will get to you asap. Worthy of the 5 star rating
Thankyou for your review Shell. Real pleasure to assist you both with your emergency call-out. Sean - Lockerfella Locksmiths 24/7
Sean from Lockerfella Locksmiths came out to fit 4 new locks and handles for us in Lichfield. Great communication from start to finish. Would highly recommend and use again.
My pleasure James. Enjoy your new home. Sean.
Phoned this lovely man this morning before 8am , it's now 11.28 am and my lock is fixed , thank you Sean , as I live alone i was feeling vulnerable, thank you so much , fir your prompt response
Thankyou so much for your review Maureen. Real pleasure assisting you today in Walsall to replace your Euro Cylinder and Door handles. Sean ☺️
I had a great experience with Lockerfella Locksmith, especially with Mr Sean. He was professional, patient, respectful, and took the time to make sure everything was done properly. My door lock turned out to be much more difficult than expected, but Sean stayed calm and worked hard until the job was completed perfectly. I really appreciated his honesty, kindness, and excellent workmanship. I highly recommend Sean and Lockerfella Locksmith to anyone looking for a reliable locksmith. Thank you again, Sean, and I wish you continued success in your business!
It was an absolute pleasure helping you today Saeideh in Wolverhampton. Thankyou so much for the kind words. Sean - Lockerfella Locksmiths 24/7.
I was locked out of the house so gave Lockerfella a message. Sean was incredibly swift in his initial response, giving an ETA and an estimate cost at the same time. I immediately booked in with Sean and he came as arranged, tried his best to pick the lock, however it wasn’t to be so he changed the lock and was all done and dusted in a reasonable time. He was polite, prompt and professional. I would recommend anyone needing a locksmith to contact Lockerfella
Thankyou so much James. It was a pleasure to assist you in cannock that day with your emergency locksmith call-out.
I contacted Sean in a panic after our back door wouldn’t lock at 21:15 on a Sunday night. Sean came back with a price almost immediately and offered to come and look at it straightaway. At my request, I asked him to come Monday morning and he sent me an ETA and turned up bang on time. Sean quickly diagnosed the problem, he had to go off to get a a part and when he was on his way back to me, he even shared his location via WhatsApp so I knew when he would be back. Part fitted, worksite cleaned up and he was on his way. Reasonably priced, fantastic communication from start to finish and a great bloke to speak too as well. Thanks Sean, you’re an absolute star!
Absolute pleasure meeting you and your wife today in Codsall / Wolverhampton. I'm really pleased I was able to repair your faulty upvc door mechanism. Thankyou for the glowing review....it's really appreciated. Sean - Lockerfella Locksmiths 24/7
Prices
From-prices for anti-snap cylinder upgrades
The figures below are the floor prices for the most-fitted anti-snap upgrades on UK domestic uPVC and composite doors. They include attendance, labour and a standard-length cylinder of the brand named, with no separate call-out fee. Longer or non-standard cylinder lengths add £10 to £30 to the part cost. The full price list with covers and affects sits on the dedicated pricing page.
- TS007 1-star cylinder (for use behind existing TS007 2-star security handle hardware), fitted from £110
- TS007 3-star anti-snap cylinder, compliant alone (Avocet ABS or Yale), fitted from £130
- Ultion 3-star anti-snap with Brisant break-in payout (£2,000-£5,000), fitted from £150
- Mul-T-Lock 3-star high-security cylinder, fitted from £170
- Full house upgrade to 3-star (front + back + side / patio) from £325
No VAT added on top. No call-out fee. The from-price includes a standard cylinder; any upgrade is itemised on the receipt with the BS or TS standard it meets, so you can email it straight to your insurer. See the full price list and what each one covers →
About the locksmith
The locksmith answering your call
I'm Sean Hamilton. I run Lockerfella as a one-man-band out of Brewood. If your insurance renewal has just asked for 3-star Kitemark cylinders, or if you want to know honestly whether a £450 "premium security pack" is worth it for your particular front door, ring me with the postcode and a photo of the cylinder face on WhatsApp. The price on the phone is the price on the receipt. No call-out fee. No upsell to brands or grades you do not need.
- 30+ years fascinated by locks. I've been picking, stripping and studying locks for the love of it for over 30 years. Lockerfella is what happens when a lifelong interest in how locks work becomes the day job.
- Trained and certified. Certificate of Locksmith Skills from A'Jam Locksmiths covering cylinder, mortice, padlock, wafer and euro lock picking, plus re-keying and mortice bypassing.
- Standard DBS checked, £1M insured, 12 months workmanship guarantee. Redacted DBS and insurance certificates are published on the About page, with originals available to view in person before work starts.
- One man, one van, one phone number. The phone rings on me directly. No call centre. No third-party fitter. If I quote you a price, that's the price you pay.
Common questions about anti-snap locks
Straight answers about TS007 stars, Kitemark stamps, home insurance compliance, which brand to pick, and what an honest anti-snap upgrade actually costs.
What is an anti-snap lock?
An anti-snap lock is a euro-profile cylinder built with a deliberate sacrificial snap line, so when an attacker tries the "lock snapping" technique (mole grips on the protruding cylinder, then a sharp downward pull or tap to break it), only the outer section breaks off and the inner cam stays locked. The lock body, the gearbox, and the multi-point hooks all stay engaged. Anti-snap is a cylinder upgrade, not a whole-lock replacement: the rest of the door stays exactly as it is. The visible mark to look for on the cylinder face is the BSI Kitemark TS007 stamp with either a 1-star or 3-star marking next to it (the cylinder ratings). The 2-star TS007 rating applies to the handle and escutcheon hardware that physically protects the cylinder, not to the cylinder itself.
Do I need anti-snap locks for my home insurance?
Depends on your policy. UK home insurance is not standardised on this. Some schedules name "TS007 3-star Kitemark on all accessible external doors". Some name "BS3621 mortice OR TS007 3-star cylinder", giving you the option of either upgrading the cylinder or fitting a full BS3621 mortice lock body. Some leave it as a general "anti-snap locks" requirement. Some make no specific demand at all unless a claim has been made. Check your own policy wording or ask your insurer or broker before upgrading. I will tell you on the doorstep whether your cylinder meets the named standard, and photograph the BSI stamp before and after fitting so you can email the photo straight to the insurer. Cost is from £90 for the labour plus £30 to £50 for a 3-star part (£130 to £170 total fitted).
What is the difference between TS007 1-star, 2-star and 3-star?
TS007 is a British Standards Institution (BSI) Kitemark scheme that covers BOTH the cylinder and the door hardware around it. The three star ratings have very different meanings. 1-star is a CYLINDER rating covering basic attack resistance (drilling, picking, bumping), but it does not include snap-attack testing and is not snap-resistant on its own. 2-star is a SECURITY DOOR-FURNITURE rating (handles and escutcheons), awarded to the hardware that physically protects the cylinder against snapping, not to the cylinder itself. 3-star is a CYLINDER rating that adds snap-attack testing, so a 3-star cylinder is compliant on its own. A compliant installation is therefore either a 3-star cylinder by itself, or a 1-star cylinder paired with TS007 2-star handle hardware (the "1+2" combination). Where a UK home insurance policy specifies TS007, it will usually accept either route. Wordings vary, but an unrated cylinder is rarely accepted, so check your own policy. On a typical front door with a standard (non-rated) uPVC handle, a 3-star cylinder is the simpler upgrade. Sold Secure Diamond (SS 312) is a separate but compatible rating from a different standards body that some cylinders also carry.
Do anti-snap locks really work?
Yes, against the snap attack itself, which is one of the more common UK domestic break-in methods on uPVC doors. The MLA published a detailed page on lock snapping that explains the mechanics. On a basic unrated cylinder, mole grips will snap it in seconds. On a 3-star, the sacrificial outer section breaks off as designed, the inner cam stays locked, and the gearbox stays engaged. A 3-star also carries baseline resistance to drilling, picking and bumping. Kick-in resistance is a separate question because it depends on the door set, keeps and frame, not the cylinder. If your specific door warrants more (a Sold Secure Diamond cylinder, or a full lock-body upgrade), I will say so honestly. For most uPVC front doors in Wolverhampton, Stafford and Cannock, 3-star is the highest-value upgrade you actually need.
Avocet ABS vs Ultion vs Mul-T-Lock: which is best?
They are all good, and an honest locksmith will tell you the differences matter less than fitting the right cylinder length for your specific door. Avocet ABS 3-star is the workhorse: well-priced, widely stocked, easy to re-key, lifetime guarantee from the manufacturer. Ultion 3-star has a clever rotating central pin that locks down when the cylinder is attacked, and Brisant publish a break-in payout if a house is breached through one (currently £2,000 as standard, rising to £5,000 with KeyControl registration; rare claim, but it exists). Mul-T-Lock is a higher-tier choice for properties with a genuine higher risk profile, more expensive parts, harder to source spare keys quickly. For most domestic uPVC doors in this part of the country I fit Avocet ABS 3-star by default and only step up to Ultion or Mul-T-Lock if the specific situation justifies it.
How do I tell if my current locks are already anti-snap?
Look at the cylinder face from outside (the brass disc with the keyhole in it). A TS007-rated cylinder will have the BSI Kitemark logo (a heart shape with a stylised K inside) stamped on the face, with either a 1-star or 3-star marking next to it. A 2-star Kitemark on the cylinder face is not a thing; 2-star is the rating for the door HARDWARE (handle and escutcheon) that surrounds the cylinder, so the 2-star stamp lives on the handle plate. A Sold Secure Diamond cylinder will have the Sold Secure diamond logo. If you can see neither, it is almost certainly an unrated basic cylinder. Phone me the postcode and a photo of the cylinder face on WhatsApp, and I will tell you on the spot whether you are insurance-compliant. Free to ask, no upsell if the answer is "you are fine".
How much do anti-snap locks cost fitted?
A TS007 1-star cylinder (for use behind existing TS007 2-star security hardware) is fitted from £110, covering attendance, labour and the 1-star part, with no separate call-out fee. A TS007 3-star anti-snap cylinder, which is compliant on its own without a 2-star handle, is fitted from £130 to £170 depending on the cylinder length your door needs and the brand (Avocet ABS at the lower end, Ultion mid-range, Mul-T-Lock at the top end). A full house upgrade (front, back and side / patio all to 3-star) is from £325 to £450 depending on the cylinder lengths. No VAT added on top. Parts itemised separately on the receipt with the BS or TS standard the part meets, so you can email it straight to your insurer.
Ready when you are
Insurance asking for 3-star? Get the honest quote on WhatsApp.
Send me the postcode and a photo of your current cylinder face. I will tell you on the phone whether you are already compliant, what the upgrade would cost if you are not, and which brand makes sense for your specific door. No call-out fee. No deposit. No surprises.
Page last reviewed: . Reviewed by Sean Hamilton, the locksmith behind Lockerfella, under our editorial standards.