Lock problems
uPVC Door Won’t Lock? How to Find the Cause and Fix It
Handle won't lift or key won't turn? Find out if it's the hinges, the keeps or the gearbox, what you can fix yourself and what it costs.
Locksmith blog
Locksmith Advice & Home Security Guides
Practical guides from London locksmiths: how to check a locksmith, what jobs should cost, which locks your insurer wants and what to do when you're locked out.
Latest guides
Home security
Should You Change the Locks When You Move House?
Who still has keys to your new home, what your insurer expects, which locks to fit and what it costs in London.
Guides
How to Verify a Locksmith in Under 5 Minutes
Five quick checks before you let anyone near your door: Companies House, the MLA register, Trustpilot, trade directories and the doorstep.
Straight answers from London locksmiths
Most people only think about locks when something has already gone wrong: a key snapped in the cylinder, a uPVC door that won’t lock when you lift the handle, a lockout at 11pm with your phone on 8%. These guides are written for that moment, and for the calmer one before it, by locksmiths who open, repair and upgrade doors across London every week.
We cover the questions we get asked on almost every job. How to check a locksmith before you let anyone near your door. What a fair price looks like in London for a lockout, a lock change or a new uPVC gearbox. Which locks your insurer expects, what BS3621 and TS007 3-star actually mean, and what to do in the first ten minutes when you’re locked out.
How we write these guides
Every guide starts from real jobs, not from other websites. Prices come from work we quote and invoice in London. Standards come from the British Standards Institution and the Master Locksmiths Association. Anything we take from the press is credited and linked. When prices or rules change, we update the guide and the date on it.
Who they’re for
Homeowners and renters dealing with a lock problem, landlords and letting agents changing locks between tenancies, and anyone who wants their front door to be harder to get through. If you’d rather talk to someone, our guide prices are on the homepage and the verify us section shows exactly who we are before you call.
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FAQ
Questions about locks and locksmiths
Who writes these guides?
Working locksmiths from our London team, the same people who attend lockouts and fit locks. We write about problems we see on real jobs and check facts against official sources before publishing.
How much does a locksmith cost in London?
As a guide, opening a door with a standard lock costs £75 to £95 in the daytime and £95 to £130 at night or at weekends. A TS007 3-star euro cylinder change is usually £90 to £120. Always ask for the total price, call-out included, before anyone sets off.
How can I tell if a locksmith is legitimate?
Check the company on Companies House and the MLA register, read its low-star reviews on Trustpilot, make sure the phone number matches its own website and get the full price in writing. Our guide on how to check a locksmith walks through it in under five minutes.
Which locks does my home insurance require?
Most UK insurers ask for a BS3621 mortice lock or a TS007 3-star (or SS312 Diamond) euro cylinder on external doors. The exact wording is in your policy under security requirements, so check it before you replace a lock.
Can a locksmith open my door without damaging it?
In most lockouts, yes. Night latches and many euro cylinders can be opened without damage. Drilling should only happen on high-security or broken locks, and a good locksmith tells you why and what it costs before starting.
Do you cover every London postcode?
Yes, every borough inside the M25, from Central London to Croydon, Bromley, Harrow and Kingston. Average arrival is around 25 minutes, depending on traffic and the time of day.