Clocks Go Back on 25 October: 7 Ways to Secure Your Home on Darker Evenings

When the clocks go back on Sunday 25 October 2026, the evenings will get darker earlier across Surrey, Middlesex and Berkshire. If you leave home in the morning and return after work, you may find yourself locking up in the dark for much of the winter.

This is a good time to check your home security. A stiff door lock, a faulty uPVC mechanism or a poorly lit entrance might seem like a minor issue, but it is worth addressing before the colder months arrive.

As a locksmith based in Staines-upon-Thames, I regularly help homeowners with faulty locks, damaged doors and other security concerns. I always recommend checking your home’s security before small problems become more serious.

In this guide, I’ll share seven practical ways to secure your home on darker evenings, including what to check on your doors, how to improve outdoor lighting and when to consider professional locksmith assistance.

The quick answer: How can you secure your home on darker evenings?

To secure your home when the clocks go back: check your door locks, lock uPVC doors with the key, secure windows, light your entrances, keep keys out of sight, lock the garden and shed, make the house look occupied, and repair any damaged or unreliable lock before winter.

1. Check your door locks before the clocks go back

Your front and back doors are the first things to check. Many people put up with a stiff or temperamental lock until the key sticks or the door won’t lock at all. Watch for these warning signs:

• The key feels stiff or catches when you turn it.
• The lock works sometimes but not others.
• The handle feels loose or hard to operate.
• You have to push or pull the door to make the lock engage.
• The key turns, but the door doesn’t lock properly.

These can point to a worn lock, a misaligned door or a problem inside the mechanism. Don’t force a stiff key or handle, as that can make the fault worse. Once the lock works smoothly, get into the habit of locking with the key at night and whenever you go out, because closing a door isn’t the same as locking it.

If your lock is becoming unreliable, my lock repair service can sort it. If it’s beyond repair, or you want an upgrade, see my lock replacement service.

2. Secure Your Windows and uPVC Doors

Doors are not the only parts of your home that need attention. Windows and uPVC doors should also form part of your security checks, particularly before the winter months. Start by checking that accessible windows close properly and that their locks engage securely. Look for damaged handles, loose fittings and windows that no longer sit correctly in their frames.

Next, pay attention to your uPVC doors. These often use multipoint locking systems that secure the door at several points along the frame.

If the handle has become stiff, the door is difficult to lock, or the key turns without engaging the mechanism, there may be an underlying problem.

Common causes include:

• Door misalignment.
• Worn internal locking components.
• A faulty gearbox.
• Damaged handles or cylinders.
• Problems with the multipoint locking mechanism.

Do not force the handle upwards or repeatedly turn the key if the door is struggling to lock. Doing so may cause further damage.

My uPVC door repair service can help identify the cause of these problems. If the existing lock needs replacing, I can also assess whether uPVC door lock replacement is the right solution.

Checking these areas before winter arrives can help you identify faults while there is still time to arrange the necessary repairs.

3. Improve outdoor lighting around your home

Many people leave in daylight and return after sunset, so entrances, paths and side passages can stay dark for hours. Good lighting makes unusual activity easier to spot. Walk around after dark and check these:

• Replace failed bulbs in outdoor lights.
• Make sure the front door is clearly lit.
• Light side entrances and rear doors.
• Consider motion-activated lights where suitable.
• Trim plants that block sight lines to your entrances.

You don’t need an expensive system. Sometimes a new bulb or a better-placed light makes the difference. But lighting complements good locks; it doesn’t replace them.

4. Keep keys safe, including from the letterbox

Don’t hide spare keys under doormats or in plant pots, as those are the first places anyone looks. Give a spare to someone you trust instead. Keep keys away from the front door and out of sight of the letterbox, because they can be hooked through with a long tool, and don’t leave car keys on a hall table near the door.

Think about who else has keys too: previous tenants, former housemates, contractors or previous owners. If you’ve recently moved, lost a key or suspect someone has a copy, changing the affected locks gives you peace of mind. You don’t always need to replace every lock, so it depends on your circumstances. My lock replacement service can help.

5. Secure the garden, side gate and shed

Many break-ins start at the back. Fit a lock on the side gate, use a closed-shackle padlock on the shed, and put ladders and tools away, as they can be used to reach upstairs windows or force doors. Lock bikes up even when they’re in the garden.

6. Make your home look occupied after dark

A dark house isn’t always an empty one, but if you’re out late or travelling this winter, think about how your home looks from outside.

• Put indoor lights on timers.
• Ask a trusted neighbour to keep an eye on the house on longer trips.
• Keep valuables out of sight from windows.
• Lock doors and accessible windows whenever you leave.
• Avoid sharing travel plans publicly while the house is empty.

Before you go away for Christmas, check every door and window and fix any lock fault first. A repair arranged in advance is far easier than discovering a problem the night before you leave.

7. Repair damaged or faulty locks, including after a break-in

A lock can still work while its parts are worn or damaged. Look for visible damage around the lock, loose handles, a cylinder that moves, or a door that no longer closes properly. If your key is getting harder to turn, don’t wait until it snaps in the lock.

If someone has tried to force a door, check the lock, door and frame before relying on them again. Damage often goes beyond the cylinder, so replacing one part may not restore security. My burglary repair service can assess and repair it. If you think an intruder may still be nearby, get to a safe place and call the police.

If your lock fails in the evening, here’s what to do if you’re locked out, or call my emergency locksmith service.

Frequently asked questions

When do the clocks go back in 2026?

On Sunday 25 October 2026 at 2 am, the clocks go back one hour to 1 am, so evenings get darker earlier.

How can I improve home security on darker evenings?

Check your door locks, secure windows and uPVC doors, improve outdoor lighting, store spare keys safely and repair any lock that doesn’t secure the door reliably.

Should I replace my locks before winter?

Not necessarily. Locks in good condition don’t need replacing just because the clocks change. Worn, damaged or unreliable locks should be inspected and repaired or replaced.

Why is my uPVC door difficult to lock?

Common causes are a dropped or misaligned door, a worn gearbox or a fault in the multipoint locking mechanism. Don’t force the handle or key, as a locksmith can find the cause.

What should I do if my lock fails in the evening?

Don’t force the key or handle. If you can’t secure the property or you’re locked out, call a locksmith. In most emergencies, I aim to reach you within 20 minutes, depending on traffic, location and availability.

Prepare Your Home for the Darker Evenings

The clocks going back are a useful reminder to check the security measures you rely on every day. A stiff door handle, damaged lock or poorly lit entrance may seem like a minor concern, but addressing problems early can help prevent unnecessary inconvenience.

By following these seven steps, you can identify potential issues, improve visibility around your property and make sure your doors and windows are properly secured.

If you discover a faulty lock, a damaged door or a uPVC locking problem, I can help assess the issue and explain the available repair options.

Need help securing your home? Visit Manuel the Locksmith to learn more about my locksmith services or get in touch about your lock problem.