The 10 Things you NEED to Know About Using a Locksmith

A locksmith provides a valuable service to keep you, your loved ones and your possessions safe and secure. Whether you are locked out, want to change/upgrade your locks or have an issue with a lock or locking mechanism – a locksmith could be considered as a critical fourth emergency service.

Before you request the services of a locksmith, there are some vital points you need to understand and consider.

1. There is no regulation in the UK locksmith profession

Unlike other trades (e.g. gas engineers), there is no national regulating body, no qualifications/approvals that are needed, no obligatory training, no code of conduct, no formal pricing structures, no overseeing watchdog and no formal place to complain if you are not satisfied.

Literally anyone can set themselves up as a locksmith and start advertising their services.

That means you have to be very vigilant when selecting a locksmith in order to choose a reputable, capable, cost-effective and reliable professional.

You can read more in my article on how to identify a good locksmith.

2. Not all locks are insurance approved

If you are getting your locks changed or new ones fitted, you need to make sure that the new lock is insurance approved. If you opt for a cheap lock, then not only might you be getting a lock that is not that secure or reliable, but, in the event of a burglary, your insurance provider may not pay out.

Locks vary greatly in price and often people are tempted by low prices – but it is generally a false economy not to invest in such an integral product to keep your home safe and secure.

Look out for the British Standard kite mark and ensure your locks are anti-drill and anti-snap.

You can read more in my article on whether your door locks could invalidate your insurance.

3. Rogue locksmiths are operating all over the UK

Due to the lack of regulation, there are rogue locksmiths operating and need to be avoided.

These rogue locksmiths will often quote a very cheap price, but this is just an initial ‘call-out’ fee to get them to your property. Once they are there, then they will quickly insist that new locks are needed and will ramp-up the price astronomically and put you under a lot of pressure to force you to accept.

Often they will cause unnecessary damage (e.g. drilling of locks) and then get you pay for repairing/replacing what is damaged at hugely inflated prices.
It is not easy to identify these rogue locksmiths – but it is possible if you are diligent and follow the guidance.

You can read more in my article on how to identify a rogue locksmith.

4. What type of lock you have

When you are making an enquiry with a locksmith, it is important that you are able to describe the issue clearly. This will help the locksmith to be able to provide a quotation or at least to provide a good estimate of what the costs are likely to be.

It will also enable to the locksmith to confirm if it is within their capabilities as not all locksmiths do all lock-related services. They should also be able to estimate how long the task may take. You should be able to explain the following:

The type of lock you have (e.g. Mortice, Euro Cylinder, Rim Cylinder, etc.)
The type of door it is (e.g. wooden, composite, uPVC)
How the lock is operated (e.g. lift handles, keywind, nightlatch
What the key looks like (e.g. metal rod with bit on end, flat key with teeth, flat key with dimples, etc.)
Any symbols or brand names that are visible (e.g. Yale, Chubb, Union, ERA, Ultion, no. of stars, etc.)

You can read more in my article on the types of household door locks available.

5. Fire regulations need to be considered when changing/fitting locks

Not all locks will comply with fire regulations. A good locksmith will be able to advise you on this to make sure all locks comply with the fire regulations in the UK.

The main rule here is that if you live in a block of flats or in an HMO (House of Multiple Occupancy), then the locks should all be able to be unlocked from the inside without the need of a key.

You can read more in my article on fire regulations and thumb turn locks.

6. What you will need to enable a locksmith to gain entry

If you are in the unfortunate position of being locked out, or you need a locksmith to gain entry to a property for whatever reason, then you will be expected to provide some evidence of who you are and possibly some documentation showing that you have the right to gain entry to that property.

As a minimum a professional locksmith will ask for photographic identification – or they might insist that you provide this once entry is obtained.
Depending on the situation, there are rules, guidelines and laws surrounding this topic. For example, tenants have rights and landlords cannot just get a locksmith to access a property to change the locks.

You can read more in my article on how a locksmith decides when to gain entry to a property.

7. Using a professional locksmith will likely save you money in the long run

Some people do not see a locksmith as a skilled profession and there are various handymen, carpenters, DIY enthusiasts and others that believe they can carry out lock-related tasks.

However, locksmiths have the experience, product knowledge, specialist tools and know-how to be able to complete such tasks more efficiently with a more secure and longer-lasting solution. Deciding not to use a locksmith is often more costly in the long-run. Having said that, some basic tasks can be undertaken by non-professionals.

8. Locksmith prices vary greatly and there is no need to overpay

The amount you will pay for a locksmith in the UK will largely depend on the time of day, the level of urgency, the amount of competition, the area you are in, the distance to travel, the expected length of time to complete the job and the quality of the locksmith.

As a general guideline you should reasonably expect to pay a labour charge of between £60-£90 for job taking less than an hour during normal working hours.

There is definitely never any need to pay a call-out charge and beware of quoted labour costs of less than £60 as this is a ‘red flag’.

You can read more in my article on how much you should pay for a locksmith.

9. A locksmith can do a security assessment - so take advantage of this

Your locks are just one element of your home security. A burglar will always look for the weakest point of entry.

Locksmiths have seen a lot of burglaries and attempted burglaries and are in a good position to offer advice on general home security. Check in advance if the locksmith is able/willing to do a security assessment of your home.

Normally this should not cost anything if the locksmith is there to do a job anyway – so take advantage of their expertise.

You can read more in my article on home security audits.

10. A lock change is not always necessary

There are definitely situations when a lock should be changed, e.g. after moving home, after a tenancy period, after a relationship breakdown, if the lock is inadequate, if keys are missing, etc.

If you have a problematic lock or locking mechanism, it may be necessary to change it. But a good locksmith will investigate repairing it and maybe replacing a component, rather than the whole device.

Get them to explain the options and why a repair is not possible. Set your expectations at the start that you want them to check if a repair is an option.

A rogue locksmith will always insist on replacing the lock regardless of the situation because they will supply it at an over-inflated price. Even the best locks on the market should not cost more than £50-£80 for a standard style lock.

You can read more in my article on when to change your locks.

Hopefully, this article on things you need to know about using a Locksmith is of use before getting someone in to help with your lock related needs.

The main takeaway is that if you are able to select a local professional locksmith that relies on their local reputation, then you can be confident that they will give you the best advice and service at a reasonable price.

If you have any questions on this, or you require the services of a locksmith in Essex, then please get in contact

Got a question about a lock issue you may have? Why not have a look at the FAQ page or one of the helpful advice videos on the Media page.