Key Cutting Norfolk — Mobile Service, Cut at Your Door

Key Cutting Norfolk — 24/7 Locksmith Service

Most people only think about getting a spare key cut when they’ve lost the original — by which point it’s already a problem. We cut, code and supply keys across Norfolk: house keys, garage and shed padlock keys, restricted high-security keys, motorcycle, caravan and boat keys, mobility scooter keys, and almost everything in between. Mobile service if it’s awkward to get to us, or a quick turnaround in-area.

When you need a key cut

Spare house keys — for partners, older children, parents, cleaners and key-safes. The number of people who only have one front door key is alarming.
Garage and shed padlock keys — often left in a kitchen drawer and “the only one we know of”.
Restricted or patented keys (Mul-T-Lock, Yale Platinum, Avocet ABS) — we can cut these with your authority because we hold the dealership.
Boat and caravan keys — cabin locks, deck hatches, hitch locks, awning padlocks.
Motorcycle and bike padlock keys — disc-locks, chain locks, ground anchors.
Mobility scooter and motability keys — usually a small flat-bladed key that’s easy to lose.
Window keys — often required by insurers on accessible windows, and the original is almost always missing.
Caravan, holiday home and stable lock keys — common in rural Norfolk; we can supply replacements where the original number is known.
Master-keyed sets for small businesses, schools and HMOs.
Replacement after a lost key — sometimes a fresh cut is enough; sometimes the safer call is a lock change. We’ll tell you straight.

What’s included in a key cutting service

Cutting from an existing key (the original, not a worn copy where possible — copies degrade with each generation).
Cutting to code if the original is lost but the lock or paperwork carries a number.
Quality blanks — we don’t use the cheap stock that splits in the lock.
Test in the lock where appropriate, so you leave with a key that actually works.
Restricted-key paperwork managed for you, including authorisation form and registered keeping of the bitting code.
Advice on whether a key cut is the right answer, or whether a rekey or lock change is safer.

Locksmith standards explained — in plain English

The British and European standards on your locks aren’t just letters and numbers. They decide whether your insurer pays out after a break-in, and they’re the first thing a careful locksmith checks. Here’s what each one actually means for your front door.

BS3621 — the British Standard insurers ask for on timber doors. It means the lock has been independently tested against drilling, picking and forced entry for a minimum time, and that the key cannot be removed when the door is unlocked. Look for the kitemark stamped on the faceplate.
BS8621 — same test bar, but designed for fire escape routes (flats, HMOs, communal exits). It allows keyless exit from the inside in an emergency. Don’t mix these up — a BS3621 on a flat door can breach fire regulations.
BS10621 — a dusk-to-dawn variation that allows keyed deadlocking from the outside at night, while still permitting emergency exit during the day. Useful on student lets and shops with living quarters above.
TS 007 — the cylinder rating for uPVC and composite doors. One star is basic, two stars is mid-range, three stars is the gold standard with built-in anti-snap, anti-pick, anti-bump and anti-drill protection. Most insurers now want three star, or one star paired with a Sold Secure handle.
SS 312 Diamond (Sold Secure) — an enhanced cylinder rating that goes beyond TS 007 three-star testing. Avocet ABS, Brisant Ultion and ERA Fortress all carry it. If you’ve had a snap-attack attempt or you’re in a higher-risk area, this is what we’d fit on our own door.
Anti-snap — a sacrificial line cut into the cylinder so that if a burglar tries to break it with mole grips, only the outer section snaps and the lock stays secured.
Anti-pick — extra pins, sidebars or rotating discs that defeat lock-picking tools.
Anti-bump — pin profiles or sprung followers that stop bump keys from setting the cylinder.
Anti-drill — hardened steel inserts that blunt drill bits before they reach the pin chamber.

Lock brands we work with in Norfolk

We carry stock from the brands UK insurers know and trust. We’ll always tell you which range fits your door, your insurance schedule and your budget — never push the most expensive option for the sake of it.

Yale — household name, full range from basic nightlatches to Platinum 3-star cylinders. Widely accepted by every UK insurer.
ERA — British manufacturer, very strong on BS3621 mortice deadlocks and the Fortress 3-star anti-snap cylinder.
Chubb (now part of Assa Abloy) — gold standard for traditional mortice deadlocks; the 3G114E is the lock most insurers picture when they say “5-lever British Standard”.
Banham — premium night-latch and mortice combination; commonly specified on London-style timber doors but found on higher-end Norfolk properties too.
Mul-T-Lock — Israeli-engineered, patented restricted keyways. The choice when you want strict control over who can cut a copy.
Avocet (ABS range) — the original SS 312 Diamond 3-star cylinder. A go-to for uPVC and composite doors in Norfolk where snap-attacks have been reported.
Brisant Ultion — has a hidden second lock that engages when an attack is detected. Insurance-friendly and our pick for clients who want belt-and-braces.
Squire — heritage British padlocks and high-security padlocks for outbuildings, sheds and gates.
Kasp — solid mid-range padlocks and security accessories, good value for garages and storage.
ASEC — workhorse trade brand; reliable mortice locks, sashlocks and ironmongery where a kitemarked replacement is needed quickly.
ERA Fortress — 3-star anti-snap cylinder with a strong lifetime guarantee; popular on family homes.

Insurance considerations

Most UK home insurance schedules have a quiet little clause that says your front and back doors must carry a kitemarked British Standard lock. After a break-in is the worst time to discover yours doesn’t. Here’s what the big Norfolk-relevant insurers typically ask for — but always check your own policy wording, because clauses do change.

Aviva — usually require BS3621 5-lever mortice deadlocks on timber doors and at minimum a TS 007 1-star cylinder (paired with a 2-star handle) on uPVC. 3-star cylinders satisfy them outright.
AXA — similar BS3621 requirement on final exit timber doors; for uPVC they accept 3-star cylinders or a 1-star cylinder plus 2-star handle.
Direct Line — BS3621 on timber, plus key-operated locks on accessible windows. uPVC must be anti-snap rated.
Admiral — BS3621 mortice or a kitemarked nightlatch with deadlocking on timber. uPVC cylinders should be anti-snap (TS 007 3-star or SS 312 Diamond).
NFU Mutual — common in rural Norfolk; they’re stricter on outbuildings and barns, often expecting CEN-rated padlocks and shed alarms, plus BS3621 on the dwelling.

If you’ve recently switched insurer, dig out the schedule and read the security requirements section before something goes wrong. If you’d like a second pair of eyes, we’ll happily walk through your wording with you when we arrive.

If you’ve lost a key and your insurer is asked to cover a future claim, they may query whether you took reasonable steps. A documented restricted-key cut by a qualified locksmith helps; an uncut spare floating somewhere doesn’t.

Timing expectations

Standard household key — usually a minute or two on the machine.
Mortice key — slightly longer; the bittings are deeper and need more care.
Restricted / patented key — typically 24 to 72 hours from the manufacturer once authorisation is verified.
Cut-to-code (no key, just a code) — depends on whether the lock manufacturer holds the code in stock, can range from same-day to a week.
Mobile cutting on-site — we’ll bring the machine to you across Norfolk where it makes sense.

Identification we show on arrival

One of us — Alan or his brother — will arrive in a sign-written van and offer ID at the door before we touch anything. You should always ask, and we’d rather you did. Here’s what we carry:

DBS-checked photo ID — Disclosure and Barring Service certificate, so you know who you’re letting near your locks.
Photo trade badge — with our name, photo and business details.
NCFE Level 3 Locksmith qualification — full UK industry qualification, not a weekend course.
Public Liability Insurance — so if something does get damaged, you’re protected. Certificate can be emailed before we arrive on request.

If anyone ever turns up claiming to be a locksmith and can’t show you these things, don’t let them in. Phone us and we’ll come instead.

When you should NOT DIY this

Don’t cut a key from a worn copy — each generation loses fidelity, and by the third or fourth copy you’ll find the key won’t turn at all.
Don’t ask a kiosk to copy a restricted key — they may try, but it won’t work in the lock and you’ll have given away a partial bitting record to a third party.
Don’t try to file a key by hand — even small angle errors mean it won’t turn the cylinder.
Don’t use a 3D-printed key as a long-term solution — they can break inside the lock and create a much bigger problem than the lost key.

What to prepare

The original key if you have it (not a copy, not a copy-of-a-copy).
Any paperwork that came with the lock — many locks have a code stamped on a small card; that card is worth its weight in gold.
For restricted keys: photo ID and a signed authorisation form (we’ll provide).
For business or rental properties: written authority from the responsible person.

Aftercare and guarantee

Every key we cut is tested in the lock where we can, or against a code if we can’t. If a key we’ve cut doesn’t work in your lock and the lock itself is sound, bring it back and we’ll re-cut at no charge. Restricted-key bittings are kept on a secure register so future copies can be authorised by you and only you.

Common mistakes customers make

Bringing in a worn or bent key and being surprised the copy doesn’t work — start from the best key you’ve got, not the one on the worn-out keyring.
Forgetting to label spares, then handing the wrong key to the wrong family member.
Hiding a spare under a mat or a flowerpot — burglars know all of these.
Cutting too many copies and losing track — three to four is plenty for most households.
Letting a restricted key be copied by an unauthorised cutter, which voids the whole point of restricted access.

Frequently asked questions

How many spare keys should I have?

Three to four per external door is plenty for most households. Keep one off-site with someone trusted, one in a secure key safe if appropriate, and the rest with named keyholders.

Can you cut a restricted or patented key?

Yes, with the right authority. We hold dealerships for Mul-T-Lock, Yale Platinum and Avocet ABS. You’ll sign an authorisation form, we verify identity, and the cut comes from the manufacturer.

Can you cut a key without the original?

Often yes — if there’s a code on the lock or on a key-card that came with it. If neither exists we may need to remove and decode the lock, or rekey it.

How long does cutting to code take?

It depends on the manufacturer. Some can ship same-day; restricted profiles may take 24 to 72 hours.

Do you do car keys?

Mechanical car keys, yes. Modern transponder/remote keys often need main-dealer coding equipment — we’ll tell you honestly whether we can help or whether you’ll need an auto-locksmith specialist.

Can you cut keys at my home or business?

Yes — we run mobile machines and travel across Norfolk. Particularly handy for small commercial sites with several locks to spare-key in one visit.

My key turns but the lock is becoming stiff — should I just cut more keys?

Probably not. A stiffening lock is usually an early warning. Get it serviced or replaced rather than masking the problem with new keys.

Are restricted keys really worth it?

If you have cleaners, tradespeople, lodgers or ex-partners with key access, yes. The control over who can copy your keys is the entire point, and the system pays for itself the first time you’d otherwise have to change all the locks.

Related services and areas we cover

Other locksmith services: Lock change · Lockout · uPVC door locks · All services · FAQ

Norfolk areas: Norwich · Cromer · Sheringham · Holt · Fakenham

24/7 emergency locksmith — covering Norfolk

If you need a key cutting service in Norfolk — Norwich, Cromer, Sheringham, Holt, Fakenham, North Walsham, Wymondham, Dereham, Aylsham, Great Yarmouth, Diss or anywhere in between — pick up the phone. One of the brothers will answer, give you a straight answer and a realistic ETA, and be on the way.

Call 07846 643176 — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, covering all of Norfolk.

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