What Is a Keyless Entry Lock?
A keyless entry lock opens a door without a physical key. You authenticate with a PIN, a fingerprint, a fob, a card or a phone — and the bolt turns. The category splits into three families: mechanical pushbutton locks (no power at all, just a numbered keypad driving a bolt), electronic keypad locks (battery-powered, with more features) and smart PIN locks (app + code + usually fingerprint).
In the UK, keyless entry has its own dialect. A back door on a tired timber frame gets a Codelocks CL200 or Borg 3000 — no batteries, no apps, just a pushbutton combination that's been used on corner shops and community halls for forty years. A front door on a new-build composite needs a TS007-rated cylinder behind the keypad so home insurance pays out if something ever goes wrong. A serviced apartment wants time-limited PINs that expire at checkout. These are different jobs with different locks — and fitting the wrong one is the most common reason we get called back.
We've fitted keyless entry across South London since 2015 — offices, HMOs, back doors, Airbnbs, workshops and front doors. Every install starts with a free compatibility audit and ends with a printed backup-code sheet. If you're weighing keyless against a phone-first smart door lock, a classic digital keypad, or a biometric setup, read our Locksmith Advice blog or get in touch. We also cover access control for commercial sites — it's the right upgrade path once you're past a single door.
The Three Types of Keyless Entry Locks
Before you pick a brand, pick a family. These are not interchangeable — each one suits a different door, budget and use case.
Pushbutton, No Power
A purely mechanical keypad. No batteries, no wires, no apps. You press a code (usually 4 digits) and a sprung bolt retracts. Runs for decades. Perfect for back doors, offices, community halls and workshops.
- Codelocks CL200/CL400, Borg 3000
- Single shared code
- Weatherproof, vandal-resistant
- Changeable in 5 minutes
Electronic Keypad
Battery-powered, backlit keypads that accept multiple PIN codes, store audit logs, and block intruders after failed attempts. The sweet spot for busy households, HMOs and private offices. Every unit keeps a mechanical override.
- Up to 250 PIN codes
- Time-limited & one-off codes
- Optional fob & fingerprint
- 9–12 month battery
App + PIN Hybrid
Everything an electronic keypad does, plus an app for remote codes, live audit logs, Apple Home / Google Home integration and auto-unlock geofencing. Ideal for Airbnbs, serviced lets and smart-home homes.
- Yale Keyless, Aqara U100/U200
- PIN codes via app, email or text
- Matter & Thread ready
- Remote unlock & auto-lock
How a Keyless Entry Lock Actually Works
The process is the same in every lock — capture a credential, verify it, drive the bolt. The how changes dramatically between mechanical and electronic. Understanding the difference tells you which one to buy.
Levers, Springs and One Clever Plate
No electronics at all. A code plate inside the lock body is machined with slots that only line up when the correct buttons are pressed. Press the wrong combination and the plate stays out of alignment — the lever bar can't move and the bolt won't retract.
- Press the combinationPins on the back of each pressed button drop into slots on the code plate.
- Code plate rotatesIf (and only if) the slots line up, the plate is free to turn when you squeeze the handle.
- Clutch engagesTurning the plate drags the clutch bar, which retracts the deadbolt or latch.
- Reset cam wipesReleasing the handle pushes everything back to zero — ready for the next press.
- Code changeA small cover on the back of the lock lets you re-slot the code plate in about five minutes.
Capacitive, Encrypted, Battery-Driven
A capacitive or matrix keypad feeds key presses into a secure microcontroller. If the PIN matches a stored hash, the controller drives a small motor that moves the latch or cylinder cam. Every event is time-stamped in memory.
- Keypad wakes on touchA sleep-mode chip draws almost nothing; a finger press wakes the controller.
- PIN hashed and comparedThe typed code is hashed and checked against a list of stored, encrypted PIN hashes.
- Motor runs the camA stepper or DC motor turns the cylinder cam (or deadbolt) through a reduction gearbox.
- Failed attempts throttledAfter 3–5 wrong PINs the keypad freezes for a minute — and logs the event.
- Override stays physicalA brass key override or 9V external contact means a dead battery never locks you out.
How to Choose (and Protect) a Keyless Entry PIN
The lock is rarely the weak point — the code is. These are the rules we run through with every customer before we leave.
Use at least 6 digits
A 6-digit PIN has 10× the combinations of a 4-digit one. Most UK electronic keypads support 4–12 digit codes — always use the maximum.
Different codes per person
Family, cleaner, lodger and contractor all get their own PIN. When someone's access expires, delete just their code — not everyone's.
Rotate every 6–12 months
Treat your lock PIN like a router password. Change it after every tenant move-out and every big life change.
Use a birthday or house number
These are the first guesses a thief tries. Avoid anything on a social profile or visible on the door.
Use sequential runs
1234, 0000, 1111, 2580 (straight down the middle column) and 1397 (four corners) are all in the UK top 20 PIN list.
Wipe the keypad regularly
Worn-smooth buttons tell someone which four digits to try. A quick wipe once a fortnight resets the fingerprint smudges.
Enable failed-attempt lockout
Every electronic keypad we fit can be set to freeze for 60 seconds after 3–5 wrong tries. It beats brute force.
Use one-time guest codes
For deliveries and first-time cleaners, issue a code that dies after a single use or a single day. Nobody needs permanent access for a one-off visit.
Write it on the frame
Please don't. Not inside the doorframe, not on the meter box, not in the "hidden" chalk on the wall. Use a printed backup stored off-site instead.
Where Keyless Entry Earns Its Keep
Six scenarios where going keyless pays off faster than any other lock upgrade — and the lock we'd fit in each one.
Side & Back Doors
Mechanical, No PowerMud, rain, dog noses, teenagers with forgotten keys. A mechanical pushbutton ignores all of it — no batteries to die, no apps to crash, no keys to lose under the garden bench.
Airbnb & Short Lets
Smart Keypad + AppTime-limited PINs generated per guest, expiring automatically at checkout. No more meeting strangers at the door, no key handovers, and a full audit log if anything's contested.
HMO & Shared Houses
Electronic KeypadOne code per room, one code per communal door. When a tenant moves out you delete one PIN. Nobody re-cuts keys, nobody loses a deposit over missing fobs.
Home Offices & Studios
Mechanical or ElectronicClient coming round for a meeting? A time-limited PIN lets them into the studio without you cutting keys. When the project ends, you change the code in thirty seconds.
Families Who Lose Keys
Electronic KeypadKids, grandparents, dog walker, piano tutor. Nobody needs a physical key, nobody gets locked out, nobody triggers a 1am callout because a key fell out of a pocket in a pub.
Sheds, Garages & Workshops
Mechanical or Digital CamA keyless cam lock on a shed door, a digital padlock on a tool cupboard, a weatherproof keypad on the garage side door. Cheap kit, high peace of mind, zero key churn.
Can a Keyless Lock Stay Insurance-Compliant?
Short answer: on the main front door, yes, as long as the mechanical cylinder behind the keypad meets your insurer's spec. Back doors, offices and Airbnbs are usually unaffected by policy wording — but we always check.
How We Keep You Covered
Before we fit anything we ask to see the Locks clause in your buildings insurance schedule. Three steps after that.
Policy-first audit
We identify whether your front door needs BS3621 (timber) or TS007 3-star (uPVC/composite) before we choose a keypad.
Cylinder upgrade if needed
We fit a TS007 3-star anti-snap or Sold Secure Diamond cylinder behind the keypad — ratings match or exceed what your policy demands.
Signed compliance sheet
A printed A4 with the exact lock model, cylinder spec, install date and engineer's signature. Keep it with your policy documents.
Where Keyless Fits the Rules
Main front door: most insurers specify a lock standard, not a locking method. A keypad fitted to a BS3621 or TS007 3-star cylinder is compliant — written confirmation on request.
Back door & side door: usually fall outside the "Locks" schedule entirely. Mechanical pushbutton keypads are almost always fine.
Commercial property: depends on the policy — access-control style keypads and master-key systems often win favour with insurers for HMOs and shared buildings.
The hard rule: keyless is the interface; the cylinder decides compliance. We upgrade cylinders whenever it matters.
See Our Insurance-Approved LocksThe Keyless Entry Brands We Fit in South London
Five workhorses across the three families. We're brand-agnostic — we'll recommend what suits your door, your insurance and your budget, not what pays the best margin.
| Feature | Codelocks CL5510 | Yale Keyless Connected | Borg BL3000 | Aqara U100 | KitLock KL1000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family | ElectronicUK-made | Smart + PINApp + keypad | MechanicalNo batteries | Smart + PINFingerprint | Electronic CamCabinet / locker |
| Max codes | 100 | 250 (via app) | 1 shared | 50 PIN + 50 prints | 10 standard |
| Fingerprint | No | Add-on model | No | Yes (built-in) | No |
| App / Remote | No | Yes (Matter) | No | Yes (HomeKit) | Cloud add-on |
| Battery life | 12 months | 9–12 months | N/A (no power) | 8–10 months | 12 months |
| Suits | Office & HMO | Front doors & Airbnb | Back & gates | Family front door | Lockers / cabinets |
Prices depend on model, cylinder and door type. Send a WhatsApp photo of your current lock for a fixed quote or book a free compatibility audit.
Keyless Entry Lock Key Features
Four numbers that matter more than any feature list in a catalogue.
Target cylinder rating when a keypad is fitted to a front door. Mechanical and lower-rated units are fine on back doors and offices.
Mechanical pushbutton locks need no power at all. Electronic and smart models run 9–12 months on AA or CR123A batteries.
From a shed padlock to a communal HMO entrance to a front-door Airbnb — there's a keyless form factor that fits.
Priced per-door from photos. Mechanical kits are usually cheapest; smart keypads sit at the top of the range.
Is Keyless Entry Right for Your Door?
We'd rather tell you not to fit a keyless lock than leave a bad one on your door. Here's the rough sorting rule we use on every site visit.
Yes — go keyless if…
Two or more of these apply to you.
- Your household has three or more people in and out every day.
- You rent the property short-term (Airbnb, serviced lets, corporate lets).
- You manage an HMO or shared house and hate cutting keys after every tenant change.
- Your back door gets regular traffic from gardeners, cleaners or dog walkers.
- You've had two or more lockouts in the last year.
- Your office or studio has occasional visitors who need access without you being there.
Maybe not — stick mechanical if…
Any of these should pause you before ordering kit.
- Your insurer requires two BS3621-rated mechanical locks used at all times.
- Your door is dropped, sticking or the frame is out of square — fix the door first.
- You share a communal front door where the freeholder controls the lock spec.
- Your household is uncomfortable with any electronics on a door (and that's a valid preference).
- You need master-keying across many doors — access control is usually a better fit.
Our Keyless Entry Services in South London
Four ways we help — everything priced per job from photos, usually done in a single visit.
Mechanical Keypad Fit
Codelocks CL200/CL400 or Borg BL3000 fitted to your back door, office or shed. No batteries, no apps, just a PIN.
WhatsApp quoteElectronic Keypad Install
Codelocks CL5510 or KitLock on your front door, HMO or office. Multiple PINs, one-time codes, audit log.
WhatsApp quoteSmart Keyless Install
Yale Keyless Connected, Aqara U100 or RemoteLock for Airbnbs and serviced lets. PIN codes via app, audit log in the cloud.
WhatsApp quoteCode Reset & Service
Forgotten your PIN? Lost override keys? Battery dead? We can reset, re-code and re-fit — without destroying the lock body.
from £120How It Works
Three short steps. Most keyless entry installs finish within 90 minutes of arrival — including codes programmed and a printed backup sheet.
Call or WhatsApp
Send a photo of your current lock. We confirm compatibility, keypad choice and fixed price within 10 minutes. No pushy sales, no call-out fee.
We Arrive & Audit
DBS-checked locksmith on your doorstep in 30–90 minutes across most of South London. Door audit, cylinder check, lock choice confirmed before fitting.
Fit, Program, Train
Keypad fitted, cylinder upgraded if needed, PINs programmed, fingerprints enrolled, printed backup codes handed over. One visit, done.
Ten Reasons Locals Trust Us With Keyless Installs
Independent, DBS-checked, and local since 2015. Your booking, your audit, your install — all with the same engineer.
DBS Checked
Every engineer background-checked — crucial when you're sharing door PINs.
Compatibility First
Free door audit before we recommend a keypad — no wrong-kit surprises.
Insurance-Compliant
Written TS007 / BS3621 spec sheet with every install for your insurer.
30-Minute Response
Across most SW, SE, CR, SM and BR postcodes — seven days, every hour.
Fixed Prices
No call-out fee, no VAT surprises. Quote on WhatsApp, price on the invoice.
5.0 Google Rating
155+ genuine reviews from South London homeowners, landlords and agents.
12-Month Guarantee
Labour and parts covered — whether the keypad acts up in week 2 or month 11.
No Subcontractors
The person who books the job does the install. End-to-end accountability.
PIN Training Included
We set up codes, enrol fingerprints, test overrides and print you a backup sheet.
South London Since 2015
10+ years fitting keyless locks between Wandsworth and Bromley — not a pop-up trade.
Keyless Entry Lock Prices in South London
Keypad models vary widely in price and the door decides the rest. We quote from a WhatsApp photo rather than print a made-up figure. Card or cash accepted.
Mechanical Keypad Fit
No batteries, no apps, just a PIN.
- Codelocks CL200/400, Borg BL3000
- Fitted, coded, override tested
- Back & side doors, offices
TS007 Cylinder Upgrade
Keep insurance cover; add the keypad on top.
- Sold Secure Diamond & TS007 3-star
- Written compliance certificate
- Pairs with almost any front-door keypad
Emergency Lockout / Reset
Lost code, dead battery, stuck keypad.
- Non-destructive entry first
- Code reset and re-issue
- After midnight — prices increase, call for quote
Smart & Multi-Door
Airbnb fleets, HMO rollouts, smart keypads.
- Yale Keyless Connected, Aqara U100
- RemoteLock + guest PIN flow
- Portfolio-wide install plans
All prices exclude the cost of the lock itself — supply your own or we'll source at cost and pass it through. Card or cash accepted. No call-out fee, no VAT surprises.
South London Customers, Fresh From the Keypad
Three recent jobs across very different doors — a back gate, an HMO and a serviced apartment.
My teenagers lost three sets of back-gate keys last summer. Fitted a Codelocks BL3000 in about an hour — weatherproof, no batteries, and the code change takes two minutes. Wish we had done it years ago.
I run a six-bed HMO in Tooting and used to cut keys every couple of months. We moved the whole house to Codelocks CL5510 units. Tenant moves out, I delete one PIN. Saves me hours and the deposit fights over missing keys are gone.
Needed a keyless solution for our serviced apartment that automatically expired codes at checkout. They specced a Yale keyless with a RemoteLock integration, fitted it in an afternoon, and walked me through the booking-platform setup. Bookings haven't touched a key since.
Keyless Entry FAQs
The questions South London homeowners, landlords and agents ask us every week. Missing one? Send it over.
What is a keyless entry lock?+
A keyless entry lock lets you open a door without a physical key. You use a PIN code on a keypad, a fingerprint, a key fob, a smartphone or a short-range card instead. Keyless entry covers three families: mechanical pushbutton locks (no batteries), electronic keypad locks (battery powered) and smart PIN locks (app + PIN + often fingerprint).
Are keyless entry locks safe for a UK front door?+
Yes, when paired with the right cylinder and properly configured. On uPVC and composite doors we fit keyless locks over a TS007 3-star anti-snap cylinder so the mechanical rating meets insurance requirements. On timber doors we can specify a BS3621-compliant setup. The biggest real-world risk is a predictable PIN, not the lock itself.
Do keyless entry locks need batteries?+
Mechanical pushbutton keyless locks (Codelocks CL200, Borg 3000 etc.) need no power at all. Electronic and smart keyless locks run on four AA or CR123A batteries, which typically last 9 to 12 months and warn you in advance. Every battery-powered unit we fit also has a mechanical override or emergency external power contact.
How much does a keyless entry lock cost to install in South London?+
Mechanical keypad retrofits and electronic installs are priced per-door after a WhatsApp photo — the lock model, cylinder size and door type all affect the total. TS007 cylinder upgrades start from £200; emergency lockouts start from £120. No call-out fee, no VAT surprises.
Can I have multiple PIN codes on one keyless lock?+
Most keyless locks support between one (basic mechanical) and 250 codes (electronic / smart). You can usually set permanent codes for family, time-limited codes for a cleaner, and one-time codes for a delivery. Smart locks log every entry — useful for landlords and Airbnb hosts.
Do keyless locks work on uPVC doors?+
Yes. The standard uPVC door uses a euro cylinder, and almost all smart keyless locks retrofit onto that. We confirm the cylinder length, thumb-turn clearance and multi-point gearbox alignment first, then fit the keyless module in 30–60 minutes. Send a photo on WhatsApp for a compatibility check.
What happens if I forget my PIN?+
Mechanical keypads have a master override code that you keep in a safe place. Electronic locks can be reset with a small key you store off-site. Smart locks can be reset from the app. We set all of this up during installation and give you a printed backup sheet — so a forgotten PIN never means a callout.
Related Keyless & Electronic Locks
Narrow in on the exact form factor that matches your door, your door count, or your use case.
Keyless Entry Installation Across South London
Every postcode from SW to BR — plus the pages you'll probably want next.
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Free compatibility audit. Fixed price on WhatsApp. Keypad fitted, codes programmed and a printed backup sheet in your hand — all in a single visit across most South London postcodes.
24/7 emergency locksmith serving South London since 2015 — trusted by homeowners, landlords and businesses across Sutton, Mitcham, Wallington, Cheam, Purley and surrounding areas.