Window and door security standards

Why it matters

A double cylinder deadlock on a final exit door can trap a household in a fire and invalidate your position entirely.

Legal requirements

• The property must be free from serious hazards including entry by intruders and fire escape risk.
• Escape windows in newer properties must meet minimum opening dimensions.
• Final exit doors should open without a key from the inside in most residential settings.
• Insurance conditions often require specific lock standards on external doors and accessible windows.

Common mistakes

• Fitting thumb turn free deadlocks on the only escape route.
• Leaving accessible ground floor windows with no key lock, breaching the policy.
• Ignoring rotten frames that fail under modest force.
• Handing over keys without recording how many exist.

Practical guidance

• Specify a lock on the final exit door that opens from inside without a key.
• Fit locks meeting the recognised standard to other external doors and accessible windows.
• Check every window opens, closes and locks between tenancies.
• Record key numbers issued and change cylinders when a set is unaccounted for.

Fire escape versus intruder security

The rule of thumb is simple: people must be able to get out without hunting for a key, and intruders must not be able to get in easily. That usually means a compliant multipoint or nightlatch arrangement on the exit door, keyed locks on other openings, and window restrictors on upper floors where children may be present, chosen so they can still be released for escape.

Between tenancy checks

Test every handle, hinge, lock and restrictor. Look for dropped sashes, failed double glazed units showing condensation between panes, and perished seals. Note the condition with photographs in the inventory. Security defects reported later are always harder to attribute, and a dated photo set removes the argument.