Mortice Locks & Yale Nightlatches
Forest Gate's mix of Victorian terraces, Edwardian semis and newer blocks of flats along Woodgrange Road and Forest Lane means front doors come in all shapes and ages — and so do the locks fitted to them. Many older properties still rely on a Yale-type nightlatch paired with a 5-lever mortice deadlock, and when either of those fails, wears out, or needs upgrading to meet an insurer's requirements, our mobile locksmith team is on hand around the clock to put things right.
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week · Fully insured
We are a 24/7 mobile locksmith service based in and around Forest Gate, E7. We come directly to your door — no shop, no waiting room, no need to remove anything and bring it to us. Whether you need a new BS3621-rated mortice deadlock fitted to satisfy your home insurer, a worn Yale nightlatch replaced after years of heavy use, or an urgent lock change following a lost key, our trained and insured technicians carry the right hardware in the van and work with the goal of getting your door secure again with as little disruption to the door frame and furniture as possible.
What we do
Available 24/7
Day, night, weekends and bank holidays — a real local locksmith answers and sends a fully-stocked van.
We come straight away
Based in Forest Gate, we send a locksmith straight away — we're usually with you in about 30 minutes.
Fully insured
Vetted locksmiths, a clear price on the phone, and no surprise add-ons when we arrive.
Damage-free entry
We pick and bypass locks the right way, so most lockouts are solved without drilling anything.
Frequently asked questions
My home insurer says I need a BS3621 lock — what does that actually mean, and can you fit one today?+
BS3621 is a British Standard specification for thief-resistant locks. To carry that mark, a mortice deadlock must have at least five levers, a hardened steel bolt with anti-saw pins, anti-pick features, and a keyhole cover. Most insurers who specify it are referring to a 5-lever mortice deadlock fitted to your front and sometimes your back door. We carry BS3621-rated locks in the van and can fit one on the same visit, any day of the week including evenings, weekends and bank holidays. We will confirm the exact up-front quote before we begin — no surprises on the invoice.
What is the difference between a mortice deadlock and a Yale nightlatch, and do I need both?+
A mortice deadlock is set into the body of the door itself. When you turn the key, a solid bolt shoots into the frame and stays there until you unlock it — it cannot be pushed back or slipped open. A Yale-type nightlatch is a rim-mounted lock screwed onto the inside face of the door; its spring latch engages automatically when the door closes, which is convenient, but the latch can in some cases be manipulated if the cylinder is of a low security grade. Having both is the standard recommendation for a timber front door in the UK: the nightlatch for everyday convenience and the deadlock for the security standard your insurer expects. Many older Forest Gate properties have both already — the question is usually whether they are in good condition and of a suitable grade.
How long does a lock change or new mortice lock fitting take?+
A straightforward like-for-like mortice lock replacement on a timber door usually takes between 30 and 60 minutes. If we are cutting a new mortice pocket into a door that has not had one before, or if there is frame damage to address, the job will take longer. Replacing a Yale nightlatch cylinder is typically quicker still. We will give you a realistic time estimate on the phone before we come out, and we keep you informed if anything unexpected comes up once we are on site.
I have been locked out of my house in Forest Gate — what should I do before calling a locksmith?+
First, check whether a spare key is held by a neighbour, a family member, your landlord, or your letting agent. It is worth trying any other accessible entrance to the property — a back door through the garden, for instance — provided you can reach it safely and without trespassing. If you are a tenant, contact your managing agent or housing association, as they may hold a copy. If none of those options are available, call us on 020 3757 6136. We will ask you a few straightforward questions to verify that you are the resident, then send a technician straight away — we are usually with you in around 30 minutes. We always aim to open the door without damage where the lock and door condition allow.
Can you replace just the cylinder on my Yale nightlatch without replacing the whole lock body?+
In most cases, yes. The rim cylinder on a Yale-type nightlatch is a separate component from the latch body, and replacing the cylinder alone is usually sufficient unless the latch mechanism itself is worn or damaged. Swapping the cylinder is also a good opportunity to upgrade to a higher-security version without any significant change to the appearance of the door. We will assess the existing latch body when we arrive and advise you honestly on whether a cylinder-only replacement is the right approach or whether the whole unit needs to come off.
How is the price for a lock fitting or replacement worked out, and will I know the cost before you start?+
Yes — we confirm an exact price before any work begins, so there is nothing to sign off on blindly. The figure we quote depends on several factors: the type and grade of lock required, whether parts need to be sourced from stock in the van or ordered in, the time of day you call (evening, weekend and bank holiday callouts are priced differently from standard daytime visits), and the travel distance to your address in or around Forest Gate. There is a call-out charge, and we will be clear about that on the phone. We do not add costs once work is under way without discussing them with you first.