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Garden Gate Locks Oxford Fitted and Repaired
Keyed side gate locks, padbolts and code locks fitted to timber and metal gates across Oxford, with a lock that still lets you out from the garden side without a key.
Get a gate lock price
Tell us what you need and we will call you straight back. Calling is quickest: 07520 644 595. Photos by WhatsApp: 07466 695655
Timber and metal gates
Close board, featheredge, wrought iron and box section steel gates.
Keyed outside, free inside
Locks with a key on the street side and a handle or thumbturn in the garden.
Sagging gates fixed
We realign the latch or rehang the gate so the lock actually engages.
Quote from a photo
WhatsApp a picture of the gate edge and post and we price it before we come.
We fit and repair garden gate locks across Oxford, from keyed side gate locks and heavy padbolts to code locks on metal gates, usually within 10 to 30 minutes of booking in the city (OX1 to OX4). Because gates vary so much, we price each gate lock job from a WhatsApp photo and agree the figure before we set off; general lock repairs start at £55 and are no fix, no fee.
A locked side gate is one of the cheapest ways to make the back of a house harder to reach. This page explains which lock suits your gate, what goes wrong with them, and what a visit costs. For everything else we do, see our full list of locksmith services.
Why the side gate is the weak spot
Most front doors in Oxford now have a decent cylinder or deadlock. The side passage is a different story. A tall timber gate with a thumb latch, or no lock at all, gives anyone a private route to the back of the house where nobody on the street can see them.
Round the back are the patio doors, kitchen windows and garden shed that tend to get less attention than the front door. Once a gate closes behind someone, they can work out of sight for as long as they like. Wheelie bins kept in the passage also make handy steps for climbing over, so it helps to store them away from the gate or chain them.
A properly fitted gate lock does not make the garden impregnable, but it adds height, noise and time, which is exactly what puts an opportunist off. Pair it with good patio door locks and locking window handles at the rear and the whole back of the house becomes a much harder target. Our guide on securing your house room by room walks through the rest.
Which garden gate lock suits your gate?
The right lock depends on the gate material, the thickness of the frame, which side you want a key on, and whether the gate needs to open from the garden in a hurry.
Padbolts
A strong bolt on the garden side, top and bottom, with a staple that takes a padlock if you want it. Cheap, simple and good for gates you only open from inside, such as a bin store gate. See our security bolt fitting for heavier options.
Keyed surface gate locks
Purpose made gate locks in the style of Locinox fit onto box section metal gates without welding. They take a key on one or both sides and stand up to rain far better than a door lock would.
Mortice gate locks
On a solid timber gate with a wide enough stile we can cut in a mortice sashlock or deadlock, so the gate locks with a key and the latch still works with a handle. It looks neat and has nothing on the surface to pry at.
Keypad and code locks
A mechanical code lock means no keys for the family, gardeners or dog walkers. Handy for shared passages and rear access to flats. We cover more on these on our keypad lock fitting page.
Many households end up with a combination: a keyed lock for daily use and a bolt at the top for nights or when you are away.
Metal gates vs timber gates
The gate itself decides a lot of what we can fit, and how long it will last.
Timber gates
Close board and featheredge gates are the common choice on Oxford semis and terraces. They take bolts, rim locks and mortice locks easily, but timber swells in winter and shrinks in summer, so a lock that fits perfectly in July may bind in January. Posts also rot at ground level and the gate drops.
Best for: mortice gate locks, rim latches and padbolts, fitted with a little clearance.
Metal gates
Wrought iron and steel box section gates are strong but narrow, so ordinary door locks rarely fit. Rust is the main enemy, especially at the hinge pins and wherever a bolt meets a keep.
Best for: surface gate locks made for box section, weatherproof code locks and padlocks with closed shackles.
Composite or uPVC gates are rarer, and are usually handled like a slim timber gate with a surface mounted lock.
Gate lock repair: common faults and fixes
Plenty of calls are not for a new lock at all. The lock is fine but the gate has moved. Here is what we usually find.
| What you notice | Likely cause | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| Bolt or latch misses the keep | Gate has dropped on its hinges or the post has leant | Tighten or reposition hinges, move the keep, or rehang the gate |
| Key turns stiffly or not at all | Water, grit or rust inside an outdoor lock | Clean and lubricate, or replace with an exterior rated lock |
| Gate swings open in wind | Worn latch spring or loose fixings | Replace the latch or refix with longer screws into sound timber |
| Key lost | Nobody can lock the gate any more | Swap the cylinder or lock and supply new keys |
| Lock fitted inside reach of the top | Anyone can reach over and lift the latch | Move the lock lower or fit one that is keyed on both sides |
Repairs come under our no fix, no fee policy. If the post itself has rotted through, we will tell you honestly that a fencer or carpenter is the right person for that part.
Locking a gate without trapping yourself in
A gate that needs a key from the garden side can become a problem in a fire, or if someone is hurt in the garden and paramedics need the side route. Where the gate is your only way from the back garden to the street, we usually recommend a lock that is keyed outside with a thumbturn or lever on the garden side.
If you want a key on both sides, for example because the gate is low enough to reach over, keep a key on a hook out of reach of the gate itself and make sure everyone at home knows where it is.
Shared passages behind terraced rows need agreement from the neighbours who use them. A code lock or a set of keys made to the same pattern often works best. Extra keys cost £8 to £25 each, and if you have just moved in and do not know who holds keys to the old gate lock, a rekey of the existing lock is often cheaper than a new one.
Side gates on Oxford houses
The gates we see change with the age of the street. Victorian and Edwardian terraces in Jericho, East Oxford and Cowley often have narrow rear alleys or shared passages with old timber doors. Inter war semis in Headington and Marston usually have a tall side gate between the house and the neighbour. Newer estates around Barton, Kidlington and Bicester tend to have close board side gates fitted by the developer with a basic ring latch and little else.
That last group is worth checking soon after moving in. The developer fitted latch keeps the gate shut, but it rarely locks. A bolt top and bottom or a keyed gate lock is a quick, inexpensive upgrade. We can do it in the same visit as other jobs such as changing the front door cylinder through our same day lock change service.
Garages often open onto the same side passage, and if yours has a tired handle or lock we can look at that too through our garage door lock replacement work.
How a gate lock visit works
- Send a photo. A picture of the gate edge, the post it closes against and any existing lock tells us almost everything.
- Agree a fixed price. We quote the labour and the lock separately on the phone. Prices include VAT and labour.
- Fit and test. We fit the lock, check the gate closes on its own weight, and test the key from both sides.
- Itemised invoice. You get a written breakdown, which landlords find useful for their records.
Travel is free within 5 miles of central Oxford and £10 up to 15 miles. Full figures for all jobs are on our locksmith price list.
Garden gate lock prices in Oxford
Prices include VAT and labour, with parts listed separately and the exact figure agreed before we start.
| Service | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Gate lock fitting | Quoted from a photo | Depends on the gate material and lock chosen |
| Lock repair | £55 to £85 | No fix no fee, covers a sticking or misaligned gate lock |
| Nightlatch (Yale-style rim lock) fitting | £75 to £95 + lock £30 to £60 | Suits many solid timber gates |
| Mortice deadlock fitting (BS3621 5-lever) | £85 to £115 + lock £35 to £65 | Timber gates with a wide enough stile |
| Keypad lock fitting | £145 to £195 + keypad £80 to £250 | Code access for shared passages |
| Lock rekey | £45 to £65 per lock | New keys for an existing gate lock |
| Extra keys | £8 to £25 per key | For neighbours sharing a passage |
Prices include VAT and labour. Parts are listed separately. See the full Oxford locksmith price list.
