If anyone is in danger inside the property, such as a child, a vulnerable adult or something burning on the hob, call 999 first. Otherwise, do not call the first locksmith you find. Spend ten minutes on the free options, then get a fixed price before anyone sets off.
The first ten minutes, in order
- Make sure everyone is safe. Is anyone or any pet still inside? Is a cooker or iron on? Are you cold, wet, alone late at night, or with young children? If yes to any of these, tell the locksmith the moment you call, because real urgency changes how quickly you need help. If someone is at immediate risk, call 999.
- Check every way in, without forcing anything. Try the back door, side door and any ground floor window a housemate might have left on the latch. Do not climb, break glass or force a window. A first floor window is not worth a broken ankle, and a smashed pane costs more than most lockouts.
- Phone whoever might hold a spare. A partner, a parent, a neighbour you trust, a friend nearby. Ten minutes of calls is often the cheapest way back in.
- If you rent, call your landlord or letting agent. Many hold a spare key and some have an out of hours number. Ask what it costs before you agree to anything.
- Check any cover you already pay for. Some home emergency policies include a lockout call out. Look before you spend.
- Only then call a locksmith. Use the questions below.
What to ask before anyone sets off
Write the answers down, or ask for them by text.
- The business name and the full name of the person coming.
- The total price to get you in, including VAT, as one figure.
- How they will open the door. You want to hear that they try to open it without damage first.
- What happens, and what it costs, if the lock cannot be opened without drilling.
- Whether they can text you that price before they set off.
An advert that quotes a very low price is not a price. The Master Locksmiths Association (MLA) reports complaints from people drawn in by advertised call out fees as low as £49, who then face much higher charges once the job begins. If the answers are vague, try the next number. You can also read how to spot a fake locksmith before you ring, and what a locksmith costs in London in 2026 to see what published prices look like.
What not to do
- Do not force the door or the lock. Locksmith guides warn that forcing tools into a lock or levering a uPVC door can turn a simple opening into a damaged door and a new lock.
- Do not break a window. If someone inside is at risk, call 999 instead.
- Do not try the credit card trick on a locked front door. Locksmith guides warn that it is only likely to work on a simple spring latch, and that it can wreck the card and the door seal.
- Do not agree to drilling as the first move. Drilling means you then need a new lock. Ask whether the lock can be opened another way first.
- Do not hide a spare key outside afterwards. Gloucestershire Police advice says never to hide spare house keys outside or in a shed. Leave a spare with someone you trust instead.
Once you are in
If your keys were locked inside, nobody else has them, and you may not need a new lock. If your keys were lost or stolen, especially with anything carrying your address, ask for the lock to be changed on the same visit. For what to do when a lock needs changing after a break in, see changing locks after a burglary. If the problem was a handle that would not lift or a key that turned and did nothing, see uPVC door lock problems.
Get a receipt with the business name and address on it. If you rent, keep it, because you may need it for a deposit or a claim.
About the author
ESL Locksmiths works from south east London (SE13 and SE6). This page is advice, written so you know what to do in the first ten minutes whoever you choose.
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