Windows, doors and glazing
Does a home survey test the window locks and the door bolts?
No. The surveyor looks at leaves and frames and may try a window that opens. That is not a security audit and not a guarantee that a lock works or meets any standard. If you want the ironmongery tested, ask a locksmith. If the door does not meet the frame, ask the surveyor whether the opening has moved.
Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Written for buyers in England and Wales unless this answer says otherwise. No named surveyor has signed this page. It is general guidance, not a report on your house, and not legal advice.
What is the fuller explanation?
RICS home surveys are visual inspections with a defined scope. They do not certify locks, alarms or glass as security products. A multi-point lock that was not thrown during the visit has not been passed. A lock that is missing is a comment about what was seen, not a quote for a new set.
Security and condition meet when the frame is rotten and the lock no longer bites. That is a joiner’s repair of the frame, not a certificate. There is no published RICS price for locks. Do not add a forum figure to the survey fee. The survey fee is for the inspection you instructed.
What should you ask your surveyor?
- Which openings did you operate, and which were shut?
- Is any comment about missing ironmongery, or about the frame?
- Are you making a security recommendation, or describing condition?
What are the typical next steps?
- Treat locks as your own question for a locksmith if that is what you care about.
- Use the survey for rot, distortion and leaks.
- Do not expect the report to say the house is secure. That is not the product.
Costs vary with the building and with who you instruct. Where this page does not cite a published figure, ask the surveyor, a relevant specialist, or your solicitor for a written quote. Do not treat a forum average as the price.
Also asked about this
Does a London bar or a mortice mean the door passed?
No. Ironmongery on a door is not a test result. The survey may not even name it.
Should the seller hand over keys for every lock?
That is a completion matter for your solicitor, not a condition rating.