Locksmith
Lost keys, damaged locks and door security concerns need an appropriate response. Find practical advice about access, maintenance and home security without attempting to bypass locks or damage doors.
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Locksmith guides
Costs, emergencies, how to choose a trade, seasonal timing and what landlords and tenants are each responsible for.
Locksmith · Woking
How much does a locksmith cost in Woking and what moves the price
Lockouts, lock changes and uPVC gearbox repairs in Woking: the typical price ranges, what pushes the bill up and the questions that separate a…
Locksmith · Birmingham
Emergency locksmith in Birmingham: what to do in the first hour
Locked out, key snapped or door forced in Birmingham: the first steps to take, how to find a genuine emergency locksmith quickly and what…
Locksmith · Manchester
How to choose a locksmith in Manchester without getting stung
Locksmithing is unregulated, so the vetting is down to you. The five-minute checks, the questions to ask and the warning signs when choosing a…
Locksmith · London
Before you call a locksmith in London: checks and what to have ready
Many London locksmith calls could be avoided with five minutes at the door. The safe checks to make, when to stop, and the information…
Locksmith · Croydon
Seasonal locksmith advice for Croydon homes: autumn and winter prep
Swollen timber doors in October, frozen cylinders in January, moving-in lock changes in spring and open windows in July: the locksmith year in Croydon,…
Locksmith · Bromley
Why your uPVC door will not lock: a locksmith explainer for Bromley
Stiff handle, key that only turns if you lift the door, handle gone floppy: each symptom points to a different part of a multipoint…
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Locksmith explained
A locksmith looks after the locks, cylinders and door mechanisms that keep a home secure. The common jobs are emergency lockouts, lock changes after a move or a lost key, and upgrades to insurance approved hardware. Locksmiths also repair uPVC door and multipoint locking gear, fit window locks, and make a property secure again after a burglary. Key cutting and rekeying sit alongside that work, often done at the door.
Locksmithing is not a licensed trade in the UK, so anyone can advertise as one. Membership of the Master Locksmiths Association is the main assurance, because members are vetted, criminal record checked and inspected. Ask for the full price before anyone travels, including the call out fee, labour and parts. Treat a refusal to give figures on the phone as a warning sign, along with national numbers that route to distant subcontractors.
Timber doors usually take a mortice deadlock, often a five lever pattern tested to BS 3621, sometimes with a rim nightlatch above it. uPVC and composite doors use a euro cylinder driving a multipoint strip, so faults split between the cylinder and the gearbox. Insurers typically expect BS 3621 locking on final exit doors, key operated locks on accessible windows, and every external door secured. Check your policy wording before buying hardware.
What moves the price
- Time of day you call
- Standard hours work usually starts at about £70 to £120 for the first hour, while nights, weekends and bank holidays add roughly £40 to £90 or run near 1.5 times the day rate.
- Entry only or full lock replacement
- A lockout where the existing lock still works afterwards is often £80 to £160, while one that ends in a new cylinder fitted is nearer £140 to £260.
- Standard of the hardware fitted
- A basic euro cylinder supplied and fitted comes to roughly £90 to £150, while a TS007 three star or Sold Secure Diamond cylinder is nearer £140 to £240.
- Door type and mechanism involved
- A mortice deadlock fitted into an existing timber housing runs about £130 to £220, while a failed uPVC multipoint gearbox is nearer £160 to £320.
- Location, access and number of locks
- London and the commuter belt sit roughly 20 to 30 percent above regional rates, and changing three doors in one visit costs less than three separate call outs.
Figures are indicative typical ranges for the UK, not quotes. Always get written quotes before work starts.
Before you enquire
- Get the full price before anyone sets off, including call out, labour, parts and VAT.
- Have photo identification to hand, because a locksmith should ask for proof you live there.
- Note the door type and any brand or numbers stamped on the lock, handle or key.
- Check what lock standard your insurance policy requires before you agree to an upgrade.
Common questions
How much does a locksmith cost in the UK?
Expect roughly £70 to £120 for the first hour during standard working hours, with parts charged on top. A straightforward lockout that leaves the existing lock working is often £80 to £160 in total. A lock change usually lands between £110 and £240 a door, depending on the standard of cylinder fitted. These are indicative typical ranges rather than quotes, and local rates vary.
How much is an emergency locksmith at night or on a Sunday?
Out of hours work carries a premium, either a surcharge of about £40 to £90 or a rate near 1.5 times the daytime figure. A night or bank holiday lockout therefore tends to sit between £130 and £260 before any new hardware. Ask for the total on the phone, including the call out and any minimum charge. If the property is secure and you have somewhere to stay, waiting until morning costs noticeably less.
What locks do home insurers require in the UK?
Most policies ask for a five lever mortice deadlock tested to BS 3621 on final exit timber doors. Many insurers now accept a multipoint locking system on uPVC and composite doors as the equivalent, often with a TS007 three star or Sold Secure rated cylinder. Key operated locks on accessible windows are a common condition as well. Read your own policy wording, because requirements differ between insurers and a mismatch can affect a claim.
How do I check a locksmith is genuine?
Because the trade is unlicensed in the UK, there is no register a locksmith must appear on before trading. Look for Master Locksmiths Association approval, which involves vetting, a criminal record check and inspection of the business. Ask for a local address or landline, a price agreed before travel, and an itemised invoice afterwards. A genuine locksmith will also want proof that you live at the address.
Local locksmith guides
The same service, written for where you live: typical local prices, the housing stock and the trades that cover it.