A Bold smart lock replaces your existing euro cylinder with a keyless one that your phone opens. You keep your door, your handle and your multipoint mechanism. We swap the cylinder, and the key disappears from your pocket for good. For anyone who runs a holiday let, manages tenants, or simply loses keys, that single change solves a surprising number of everyday problems.
Here is what the Bold electronic lock system does, what it genuinely does well, and the one limitation you should weigh up before you buy.
How the Bold smart lock works
Bold makes a smart cylinder, not a bulky add-on box. The unit fits the same euro profile cutout your current lock uses, so it suits the vast majority of uPVC, composite and aluminium doors in the local area.
You turn the outside knob and it spins freely. Your phone, sitting in your pocket, authorises the lock over Bluetooth, and the knob then engages so you can turn the mechanism. Inside the door, a thumbturn opens it as normal. No keyhole exists on the outside at all.
That last detail matters more than it sounds, and we come back to it below.
Seven benefits worth knowing about
1. You stop carrying keys
The phone in your hand becomes the key. Nobody hides a spare under a plant pot, nobody gets locked out because they left the keys on the kitchen table, and nobody needs a key cut.
2. You grant access remotely
Share access with a cleaner, a dog walker, a builder or a guest straight from the app. You choose whether that access lasts an hour, a weekend or indefinitely, and you withdraw it the moment the job ends. Holiday-let owners around Bournemouth and Poole find this the single biggest reason to switch.
3. You see who came and went
The app records each opening. If you let a property, that audit trail answers questions that a bunch of keys never could.
4. Nobody can copy a key that does not exist
Traditional keys walk. A departing tenant, a former partner or a tradesman may hold a copy you never knew about. Digital access simply stops working when you revoke it.
5. There is no keyhole to attack
Lock snapping, bumping, picking and key duplication all depend on a keyway. The Bold cylinder presents a solid knob instead, which removes those attack methods entirely.
6. It fits your existing door
You avoid the cost and mess of a new door. We measure the cylinder, order the correct size, and fit it in about half an hour.
7. It keeps working when the power goes out
A single CR123A battery runs the lock for up to 20,000 operations, and the app warns you long before it runs low. Mains power and Wi-Fi outages make no difference to whether your door opens.
Bold compared with a traditional high-security cylinder
Neither option beats the other outright. They solve different problems, and plenty of our customers fit a Bold cylinder on the front door while keeping a rated cylinder on the back.
Where the Bold smart lock wins
- It opens from your smartphone, or from a small Bold clicker
- It presents no keyhole, so snapping, bumping and picking do not apply
- It shares and revokes access remotely, in seconds
- It logs every opening
- It needs no key cutting, ever
Where an ABS anti-snap cylinder wins
- It carries a TS007 3-star rating and Sold Secure Diamond approval
- Insurers accept it widely, with no questions asked
- It needs no battery and no phone
- It uses a patented key that nobody can copy without your security card
- It costs less to buy
The honest limitation: certification and insurance
We will always tell you this before you buy. The Bold cylinders carry anti-drill and anti-pull protection, and Bold rates them as medium security. However, they do not hold a TS007 3-star rating, a Sold Secure Diamond rating, or a British Standard kitemark.
That matters for one reason. Some home insurance policies specify a minimum lock standard on final exit doors. If yours does, fitting a non-rated cylinder could affect a claim.
So do this before you order:
- Read your policy wording, specifically the section on door locks and minimum security.
- Call your insurer and ask whether a keyless smart cylinder satisfies their requirement.
- Consider a split approach, with a Bold cylinder on a secondary door and a rated cylinder on the main entrance.
We would rather have that conversation with you up front than sell you something that causes trouble later. If your policy demands a British Standard lock, we will fit one that complies. Our door lock services cover the full range, and Secured by Design explains the police-approved standards in more detail.
Who gets the most from a Bold system
Holiday lets and Airbnb hosts. Guests arrive at odd hours, and key handovers waste everyone’s time. Digital access removes the meet-and-greet entirely.
Landlords. Change access between tenancies instantly, without paying for a lock change each time. See our landlord and estate agent services.
Households with carers. Grant a carer access on a schedule, and see when they attended.
Anyone who keeps losing keys. You know who you are, and so do we. We unlock your door most months.
Small businesses. Staff come and go, and reissuing keys costs money every time. Our locksmith services cover commercial premises in Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch.
What we do when we fit one
We measure your door to determine the exact cylinder length, because a cylinder that protrudes creates a weakness, and one that sits too short will not turn. We then remove the old cylinder, fit the Bold unit, set up the app on your phone, add any additional users you want, and test the door through several cycles.
The whole visit usually takes 30 to 45 minutes. We also check the multipoint mechanism while we are there, since a smart cylinder cannot compensate for a worn gearbox. If the mechanism drags, we tell you.
Fit a Bold smart lock: call JCarter Locksmiths
Want keyless entry without replacing your door? We supply, fit and support Bold systems across Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch and the surrounding areas:
- Bold smart cylinders supplied, measured and fitted
- App setup and user training included on the day
- Honest advice on insurance and certification before you commit
- Free, upfront quotes with no call-out fee
- Family-run, military veteran-owned, hundreds of five-star reviews
Call or WhatsApp us on 07842 252 025. See our electronic door locks or request a free quote.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if my phone battery dies?
Bold sells a small keyfob clicker that opens the lock without a phone. We recommend keeping one, and most customers give a second to a family member.
How long does the lock battery last?
A single CR123A cell handles up to 20,000 operations. The app alerts you well before it runs down, and swapping it takes a minute.
Does the Bold lock need Wi-Fi?
No. It works over Bluetooth from your phone. Adding the optional Connect bridge lets you open the door remotely and manage several locks, but the lock itself functions without it.
Will my insurer accept a Bold smart lock?
Check with them directly. The cylinders lack a TS007 or British Standard rating, and some policies require one on the final exit door. We will advise you honestly before fitting.
Can you fit it to my existing uPVC door?
Almost certainly, yes. The unit uses a standard euro profile. We measure the door on arrival and supply the correct length.
