uPVC Multi-Point Locking SystemRepair, Replace & Full Strip Upgrade
Hook bolts, compression rollers, shootbolts, centre deadbolts and keeps — the whole locking strip that clamps your uPVC, composite or aluminium door into its frame. We diagnose, repair and upgrade every major brand (Yale, ERA, Mila, GU Ferco, Winkhaus, Fuhr, Fullex, Avocet, Millenco) same-visit across every South London postcode.
Fixed prices · No VAT · No call-out fee
The whole locking system — not just one mechanism, but the hardware running the full height of the door.
A multi-point locking system is the complete engagement hardware fitted to modern UK uPVC, composite and aluminium doors. It is not a single lock. It is a coordinated assembly: a steel strip (the espagnolette) running almost the full height of the door edge, driving between four and eight independent locking points into matching keeps in the frame. Hooks, compression rollers, a centre deadbolt and — on French, patio and taller doors — shootbolts at the top and bottom. One handle lift engages every point simultaneously. One key turn through the euro cylinder holds every point locked until the key turns back.
The gearbox cassette sits in the centre. The shoot bars run above and below. The hooks rotate 90 degrees out of the door edge. The rollers compress into angled strikes to pull the door tight against the weather seal. The centre bolt throws straight into a reinforced keep at handle height. None of these parts work alone — the strength of a uPVC door comes from all of them holding the door in position at the same time, spreading force across multiple anchor points in the frame rather than concentrating it on a single mortice pocket.
What this page covers (and what it does not)
This page is the system-level overview: what each component does, how many locking points UK building regulations require, what PAS 24 and Approved Document Q mean for new-builds, when a strip needs full replacement versus a gearbox-only swap, and how the system interacts with your euro cylinder and home insurance wording. If you already know the fault is in the gearbox cassette alone, see our uPVC door lock mechanism page. For the broader door overview see uPVC door locks. For the repair service see uPVC door lock repair.
The quickest way to a fixed quote is one photo of the multi-point faceplate (the silver or brass strip on the door edge) sent to our WhatsApp line. We identify the manufacturer, the exact strip reference, every locking point fitted and whether a gearbox-only swap or a full strip replacement is the right call. No visit required just to quote. Coverage across every CR, SW, SE, SM and BR postcode — see areas we cover or skim about us and contact us for the quickest route to book. Wider reading lives on our locksmith advice blog.
Nine hardware components that make up a complete multi-point locking system.
The strip itself is only the visible part. Each locking point has a matching keep in the frame, each element is joined by couplers, and the whole run is anchored by the faceplate screwed into the door edge. Here is every part that plays a role in holding your door shut.
Faceplate (Espagnolette)
The long steel strip visible on the door edge, usually 240-300cm long. Screws into a routed channel in the door. Houses every other component and bears the brand stamp used to identify the system.
Gearbox / Centre Case
The sealed cassette at handle height that converts handle rotation into vertical shoot-bar drive. The single most common failure point — covered in depth on our dedicated mechanism page.
Hook Bolts
Curved steel hooks (usually two, one above and one below the gearbox) that rotate 90 degrees out of the door edge. Bite into hook keeps in the frame to resist spreading and jemmy attacks.
Compression Rollers
Mushroom-shaped cams that compress into angled roller keeps. Their job is not security — it is pulling the door tight against the weather seal. Usually two per standard residential door.
Centre Deadbolt
A square keyed bolt at handle height on higher-spec systems. Fires into a reinforced box keep. Adds a hardened resistance point no hook can substitute for. Common on PAS 24 systems.
Shoot Bolts (Top & Bottom)
Straight steel pins that extend from the top and bottom of the strip into sockets in the frame head and threshold. Fitted on taller doors, French doors and patio sets. Handle the passive leaf on double-door configurations.
Couplers & Shoot Bars
The vertical steel bars running above and below the gearbox that transmit drive to the top and bottom locking points. Couplers are the small hardened pins that link gearbox to shoot bar.
Keeps (Strike Plates)
The frame-side receiving plates for each locking point. Each has its own shape: hook keeps are deep steel pockets, roller keeps are angled ramps, shoot-bolt keeps are flat sockets. Cheap keeps let a door be jemmied even with a working mechanism.
Handle & Euro Cylinder
External interface. The handle transmits rotational drive to the gearbox via the spindle; the euro cylinder locks the whole assembly in position. Both swap independently of the strip.
Four kinds of locking point — and what each one actually does for your door.
The terminology matters because only one of these types does real anti-forced-entry work. The rest handle sealing, stability and compliance signalling. Getting the mix right at specification time is why PAS 24 doors survive attempts that non-compliant doors do not.
Hook Bolts
The workhorse. When the handle lifts, two hardened steel hooks rotate 90 degrees out of the door edge and bite into deep steel keeps in the frame. Because the hook shape wraps around the keep, it resists spreading attacks — you cannot crowbar the door open by prying between door and frame.
- Primary job: anti-spread / anti-jemmy
- Typical count: 2 per residential door
- Material: hardened steel, 10-12mm thick
Compression Rollers
Mushroom-headed cams that compress into angled roller keeps. Their actual job is to pull the door tight against the weather seal to stop drafts and noise ingress — not security. A door with rollers-only can sometimes still be forced; the hooks are what stop that.
- Primary job: draft seal, door alignment
- Typical count: 2 per residential door
- Not security-rated — do not count for insurance
Shoot Bolts
Straight steel pins that extend upward and downward from the strip into sockets in the frame head and threshold. Fitted on French doors, patio doors, and taller-than-average residential doors. The single point holding the passive leaf of a double-door set.
- Primary job: anti-lift + tall-door anchor
- Standard on: French, patio, stable doors
- Resists: door-lifting attack (removing from hinges)
Centre Deadbolt
A square-profile keyed bolt at handle height that throws into a dedicated reinforced box keep. Adds a hardened locking point at the weakest level of the door — where handle pressure and forcing energy concentrate. Standard on PAS 24 and Secured by Design systems.
- Primary job: hardened centre resistance
- Required for: PAS 24, Secured by Design
- Key-driven — cannot fire accidentally
What PAS 24, Approved Document Q and your insurer actually want from a multi-point system.
There is no single "approved lock" for a uPVC door — there are three overlapping frameworks, and your multi-point system has to answer to all of them. Here is what each one specifies, and how to tell whether the strip on your door already meets it.
PAS 24
The British attack-resistance standard for doorsets. A PAS 24 compliant multi-point system has to pass mechanical load tests (the bolt holding under static force) and dynamic attack tests (resistance to impact, picking and drilling using common burglary tools).
Typical spec: five or more locking points with at least two hardened deadlock points (hooks plus a centre deadbolt), a TS 007 3-star cylinder or equivalent, and reinforced handle backplate.
Approved Document Q
The Building Regulations requirement for new-build homes in England and Wales. States that every door and accessible window on a new dwelling must resist burglary attempts to a tested standard — in practice, PAS 24 is the accepted route to compliance.
If your door was fitted as part of a new-build since 2015, it is already spec'd to Approved Document Q. Replacement strip must maintain or exceed the original spec.
Secured by Design
The UK police-led product accreditation scheme. Doors with a Secured by Design licence have been tested to PAS 24 and installed to a specific standard. Most home insurers treat Secured by Design as the gold-standard installation evidence.
Not every PAS 24 door is also Secured by Design — the latter requires installer accreditation as well as the product certification.
How this plays into your home insurance
UK home insurance policies split into three typical wordings for external doors: (1) "final-exit locks must conform to BS3621" (old wording, usually for timber doors), (2) "anti-snap TS 007 3-star or SS 312 Diamond euro cylinder" (common modern wording for uPVC), (3) "PAS 24 or Secured by Design doorset" (newer wording on higher-risk postcodes and larger sums insured).
If you have been asked to upgrade to a named standard by your insurer, our BS3621 insurance guide explains which upgrade solves which wording. We supply a compliance certificate naming the fitted product on every job — insurers accept this as evidence without a physical surveyor visit.
"All final exit doors to be fitted with a multi-point locking system engaging a minimum of five locking points, conforming to PAS 24 or equivalent, and incorporating an anti-snap cylinder to TS 007 3-star."
Fire escape legality on a multi-point lock — where landlords get it wrong.
Tenanted and shared properties sit under a different regulation framework than owner-occupied homes. The multi-point system on an HMO final-exit door has to let tenants out without a key in a fire — and most standard uPVC locking configurations fail that test straight out of the box.
Double-cylinder multi-point without thumb-turn
The cheapest configuration, fitted by many non-specialist installers. Requires a key on both sides to operate the gearbox — meaning tenants cannot exit in a fire if they cannot locate the key. This fails LACoRS fire safety guidance for HMOs and shared dwellings.
Councils inspecting HMOs routinely serve enforcement notices against double-cylinder final-exit doors. Insurers can refuse claims on fire-damage or personal-injury policies where a tenant was unable to exit.
Thumb-turn cylinder or split-spindle gearbox
Two compliant configurations: (1) a thumb-turn cylinder on the inside that retracts the cam without a key; (2) a split-spindle gearbox where the inside handle always retracts every locking point even when the cylinder is locked from outside.
Both let tenants exit in under a second without a key, maintain security from the outside, and satisfy the LACoRS and ADB fire-escape wording that HMO inspectors look for.
HMO Multi-Point Checklist — landlord-ready
- Thumb-turn or split-spindle gearbox on every flat entrance door
- Multi-point strip with minimum 5 locking points
- TS 007 3-star cylinder (anti-snap) on every exterior door
- No deadlocks requiring keys on final-exit fire-escape route
- Self-closing hinges on flat entrance doors (for fire compartmentation)
- Written compliance certificate signed by the fitter
- Keyed-alike sets if multiple doors share a master (landlord access)
- Annual lock maintenance log kept for council inspection
Six system-level faults — and how regular maintenance stops most of them.
Multi-point systems are built to last 15-20 years with minimal intervention, but most fail at 10-12 because nothing was lubricated and keep alignment drifted unnoticed. Below are the six failure patterns we see — and the maintenance routine that extends service life by around a third.
Handle stiff, hard to lift
The handle works but takes visible effort to lift to the locked position. Hooks and shoot bars are catching on the keeps rather than sliding in cleanly. Left unchecked, this breaks the gearbox inside 6-12 months.
Hooks deploy unevenly
Watch the door edge as you lift the handle. If one hook extends fully and another stops short, the couplers linking the gearbox to the shoot bar have worn. The door will bind when you try to lock it.
Grinding noise when locking
A loud rasp or grind each time the handle lifts. Internal gears have run dry, or dust and grit have contaminated the cassette. Continued operation destroys gear teeth quickly.
Door does not pull tight to seal
Door locks and feels secure but you can push against it from outside and feel movement. Rollers are not compressing into their angled keeps properly. Drafts, noise and rain all start getting in.
Handle lifts but won’t stay up
You have to hold the handle up while turning the key because it falls back down before the cylinder cam engages. The internal return spring has lost tension. Usually 8-12 years of service.
Corrosion on shoot bars
Visible red or brown oxidation on the steel shoot bars running above or below the gearbox. Rain has been getting past the faceplate seal. Once this starts, strip replacement is the only durable fix.
Preventative care — 15 minutes, twice a year
Multi-point strips are almost maintenance-free if you lubricate them twice a year and spot check keep alignment once a year. Nobody does this. It is why systems built to last 20 years fail at 10.
We offer a free mechanism audit on every service call — one visit to diagnose the fault and lubricate every moving part. Add this to the fix and your strip sees another 5-8 years of uncomplicated operation.
- Open the door. Lift the handle. Watch every locking point deploy.
- Spray silicone lubricant (not WD40) into the gearbox keyhole.
- Apply a smear of white lithium grease to each hook bolt and shoot bar.
- Check each keep on the frame is tight and not cracked.
- Close the door, test locking feel before calling it done.
Nine multi-point manufacturers covered from van stock across South London.
Your strip brand depends on who made the door. We identify the manufacturer from a photo of the faceplate and arrive with the matching replacement — no return trip, no generic substitute. If we don't have it on the van, we source it within 24 hours at no extra callout fee.
Yale Platinum / Lockmaster
Default spec on Everest and Anglian doors since 2005. Widely stocked parts, reliable engineering. Lockmaster sub-brand is common on 2000-2010 installations.
Most common across South London.ERA Saracen / Fortress
Volume builder-trade brand. Reversible latch gearboxes simplify inventory for landlords with multiple uPVC doors. Solid mid-range value.
Trade-installed builds.Mila MasterLatch
Fitted on a large share of 2000-2015 uPVC doors. Keyed-alike sets available for landlord portfolios. Several variants — we identify yours from the faceplate stamp.
Multiple sub-variants.GU Secury / Europa
German engineering used by higher-spec door manufacturers. Tilt-and-turn variants common on French and patio doors. Replacement must match the exact generation.
French & patio specialist.Winkhaus Tireno / AV2
High-security German multi-point used on composite and PAS 24 doors. Tireno and AV2 ranges resist common forcing attacks. Often paired with high-spec reinforced keeps.
PAS 24 composite spec.Fuhr 856 / Auto-Engage
German multi-point with 6-hook variants for composite doors. Integrated anti-lift and auto-engaging features on premium models. Parts sourced to order.
Auto-engage specialist.Fullex Crimebeater / XL
Crimebeater, XL and SL16 ranges widely installed across South London. Anti-slam variants protect against gust-drop deadbolt engagement.
Anti-slam engineering.Avocet ABS
The ABS cylinder pairs particularly well with Avocet multi-point strips. Snap-resistance guarantee in writing. Widely stocked, competitive pricing for trade.
ABS cylinder compatibility.Millenco Mantis / MPL
British-made multi-point specified by Secured by Design installers. Mantis and MPL ranges carry full PAS 24 test documentation — valuable when an insurer asks for evidence.
SBD certification evidence.A new multi-point strip is 25% of the cost of a new door — and buys another 15 years.
Replacing the whole strip on a sound frame averages under £500 fitted across South London. Replacing the door averages £1,200-1,800 plus disruption, new keeps, new handles and in some cases new glass units. Unless the door itself is damaged, warped or out-of-spec, strip replacement is the right answer.
Four services that cover every multi-point job we take.
Whether you need the gearbox swapped, the whole strip replaced, an HMO fire-escape compliance fix, or an emergency open-up with a failed system — one of these four is the right answer.
Gearbox Repair
Cassette-only swap when the strip hardware is still sound. Preserves shoot bars and keeps. Fitted in 30-45 minutes.
Full Strip Replacement
New faceplate, gearbox, shoot bars, hooks, rollers and keep realignment. For systems with corroded bars or worn couplings.
HMO Compliance & Split-Spindle
Split-spindle gearbox upgrades, thumb-turn cylinder fits, and PAS 24 compliance bundles for landlords. Pricing depends on brand and number of doors.
Emergency Open-Up
Locked-in or locked-out with a jammed multi-point. Non-destructive entry where possible, new parts fitted same visit. 24/7 cover.
Three steps — and the door works better than it has in years.
Send one photo
Open the door, photograph the multi-point faceplate (the strip on the door edge) with the brand stamp clearly readable. One more of the handle backplate. Send both on WhatsApp. We identify the strip, spec the replacement and quote fixed before anyone travels.
≈ 5 minutes30-minute arrival
DBS-checked engineer arrives in a marked van with the matching brand stock and the tools to swap either a cassette or a full strip cleanly. ID shown at the door first. Every part matched to your system before dispatch.
CR / SW / SE / SM / BRFitted, aligned, certified
New parts fitted, keeps realigned to the new strip geometry, door tested from both sides, cylinder and handle operation verified. Written invoice with 12-month workmanship guarantee. Compliance certificate emailed for PAS 24 upgrades.
30-90 minSpecialist multi-point engineering — compliance-grade certificates on every job.
Multi-point work is the single highest-volume callout we handle. We carry stock, identify your system from photo, and issue the paperwork landlords, councils and insurers actually accept.
9+ Brand Strip Stock On Van
Yale, ERA, Mila, GU Ferco, Winkhaus, Fuhr, Fullex, Avocet, Millenco. Fitted from van stock, no wholesaler detour.
PAS 24 Compliance Certification
Written certificate with product reference, fit date and engineer signature. Insurers accept this as evidence without a surveyor visit.
Fixed Price, No VAT
Quote agreed after photo. Stays quote. Hidden damage — agreed with you before we progress.
30-Minute Typical Response
SW, SE, CR, SM, BR postcodes on site within half an hour. 24/7 cover including nights and bank holidays.
HMO Fire-Escape Specialists
We fit compliant thumb-turn and split-spindle systems on HMO final-exit doors. Signed compliance letter for council inspection.
12-Month Workmanship Guarantee
Gearbox, strip, keep alignment and cylinder — all covered. Failure for a reason we caused, we come back free.
DBS-Checked Engineers
Background-checked, uniformed, ID-carded. Shown at the door before we cross your threshold.
Written Invoice & Spec Sheet
Full paper trail for your insurer, landlord or managing agent. Brand, model and strip reference recorded.
Free System Audit
Not sure what needs replacing? Free photo audit with a clear repair-or-replace recommendation. No upsell.
Card & Cash Accepted
Paid on completion, never upfront. No deposits, no holding fees.
Multi-point pricing — no call-out fee, no VAT on top.
Every figure below is the starting price for a standard South London residential job during business hours. After-midnight rates quoted separately before dispatch. Bespoke or HMO compliance work — we quote after a WhatsApp photo.
System Audit
- Brand & spec identification
- Repair or replace recommendation
- Fixed quote back
Multi-Point Replacement
- New gearbox + shoot bars
- Keep realignment
- Brand-matched stock
- 12-month guarantee
Cassette Replacement
- Cassette swap only
- Shoot bars retained
- 30-45 min fit
Anti-Snap 3-Star Upgrade
- TS 007 3-star cylinder
- Ultion / ABS / Yale Platinum
- Insurance-compliant fit
What customers say after a full system replacement.
Insurer asked me to prove PAS 24 compliance on my front door for the renewal. These guys swapped the whole Winkhaus strip, fitted an Ultion 3-star, and emailed me a signed compliance certificate naming the product and the fit date the same afternoon. Insurer accepted it straight away.
Council HMO inspection gave me two weeks to replace the double-cylinder setup on three flat doors. Fitted proper split-spindle Winkhaus gearboxes and Avocet ABS cylinders on all three in a day. Written compliance letter accepted by the council on first check.
Had a Fullex strip failing on our French doors — one side deploying, the other not. Watched the engineer identify the failed couplings just by lifting the handle once. New strip with anti-slam fitted within the hour. No drama, no mess, no upsell. Straight pricing all the way through.
Every question homeowners ask before booking a multi-point job.
What is a multi-point locking system?
A multi-point locking system is the integrated security mechanism found on almost every modern uPVC, composite and aluminium door. A steel strip (the espagnolette) runs down the inside edge of the door with several locking points — typically two hooks, two compression rollers, a centre deadbolt and often top-and-bottom shootbolts. Lifting the handle deploys every point simultaneously. The key then locks the whole mechanism in place through a euro cylinder.
How many locking points should a uPVC door have?
Standard UK residential doors have four to six locking points. The most common layout is two hooks plus two compression rollers. Adding a centre deadbolt makes it five. Top and bottom shootbolts take it to seven or eight. PAS 24 and Secured by Design specifications typically require a minimum of five points with at least two hardened deadlock points (hooks + a centre deadbolt), not rollers alone.
What is the difference between hooks, rollers and shootbolts?
Hooks are curved steel bolts that rotate out of the door edge and bite into keeps, resisting prying and spreading. Compression rollers are mushroom-shaped cams that compress into angled keeps to pull the door tight against the weather seal — they seal the door but add little security. Shootbolts are straight pins that extend upwards and downwards into frame sockets. Hooks provide the core security, rollers handle the seal, shootbolts anchor taller and French doors.
What is PAS 24?
PAS 24 is the British security standard for doorsets that tests resistance to manual attack with common burglary tools. A compliant system passes both static load tests and dynamic attack tests. Most new-build UK homes specify PAS 24 doors as standard under Approved Document Q of the Building Regulations. Our BS3621 insurance guide covers how this interacts with your insurance wording.
Can a multi-point locking system be replaced without replacing the door?
Yes, and this is what we do daily. The multi-point strip is a single replaceable unit screwed into a routed channel on the door edge. The door itself, the hinges, the glazing and the frame all stay. A full strip replacement takes 60 to 90 minutes including keep realignment. The cost starts from £450 fitted, versus £1,200+ for a new door.
How do I know if my multi-point locking system is failing?
Warning signs: the handle feels heavier than it used to, hooks deploy unevenly (one engages before the other), you have to lift the handle twice before the gearbox engages, the door does not pull tight against the seal even when fully locked, or you see corrosion on the shoot bars. Each is a leading indicator that either the gearbox or the shoot bars are wearing and will fail within 6-24 months.
What are "keeps" on a multi-point system?
Keeps are the metal plates screwed to the door frame that receive the hooks, rollers and shootbolts when the door locks. Each type of locking point has a matching keep — hook keeps are deep steel pockets, roller keeps are angled ramps, shootbolt keeps are flat sockets. Poor quality keeps let a burglar force a door even when the multi-point mechanism itself is sound. Upgrading keeps alone can significantly improve security.
How do I adjust a multi-point door lock myself?
Minor keep-alignment adjustments are DIY-friendly: slacken the screws on the frame-side keep, ease it 1-2mm in the direction the hook or roller needs to move, retighten, test. What you cannot DIY is adjusting inside the gearbox — those parts are sealed. If keep adjustment does not restore smooth operation, the gearbox or shoot bars need professional attention.
How much does a multi-point locking system cost in South London?
A gearbox-only repair starts from £350. A full multi-point strip replacement starts from £450 including new keeps. A TS 007 3-star anti-snap cylinder upgrade starts from £200. Bespoke HMO compliance and PAS 24 bundle work is quoted on a per-job basis after a WhatsApp photo. Every fixed figure is a starting price — no call-out fee, no VAT on top, 12-month workmanship guarantee.
Related lock types, services and South London coverage.
Multi-point work often overlaps with cylinder upgrades, handle replacement, composite door retrofits, HMO compliance and wider property security. The links below cover every adjacent topic we handle.
Explore the site
Related locks & problems
South London locations we cover
Multi-point locking fixed today across South London.
Every major brand strip on the van, PAS 24 compliance certification on request, HMO fire-escape compliant configurations in stock. Fixed prices from £350. No call-out fee, no VAT, 12-month workmanship guarantee.
24/7 emergency locksmith serving South London since 2015 — trusted by homeowners, landlords and businesses across Sutton, Mitcham, Wallington, Cheam, Purley and surrounding areas.