How Much Does It Cost to Change the Locks on a House UK
Locksmiths are often equipped to handle numerous kinds of services for all kinds of properties. Some professional locksmiths specialize in residential properties while some cater specifically to commercial and industrial security. Most of them can also handle other jobs such as door repairs, security surveys, and even glazing and board-up for emergency situations. However, we often know them for two services: key cutting and lock changing.
We often call out locksmiths to respond to emergency needs such as when we accidentally leave our keys inside or when we can’t find our house keys. These things often happen in the most unexpected times so it can be useful to be ready for them just in case we find ourselves in these situations.
But we shouldn’t think of locksmith services only when these emergency situations happen. Calling out locksmiths for broken locks, lost keys, or break-ins are very expensive services, especially when they happen outside business hours. However, most cases like these can easily be avoided if we place preventive security measures for our homes, businesses, offices, and other properties. In fact, relying on locksmiths for services that are non-emergency situations are usually much cheaper, saving us a lot of hard-earned cash.
In this article, we’re going to discuss how much it costs to avail lock changing and other related locksmith services, along with other factors that may influence the price.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO CHANGE LOCKS?
If you found this page, you were probably searching for information on the costs of replacing or servicing door locks. It’s often easy to get a quick answer for other kinds of services, but the thing about the locksmith industry is that any service can take on any price.
To the surprise of many people, there are no governing bodies or authorities in the locksmith industry. Essentially, this means anyone can be a locksmith and they can charge any price they want.
Because of this, it is often more difficult to find a trustworthy locksmith that has the right skills you need for the job. Everyone is also more prone to overcharging and hidden fees, which some malicious businesses often get away with with little legal repercussions.
However, this also gives locksmiths the freedom to charge services based on their needs. There are often many facets in providing locksmith services and the professional locksmiths often incur a lot of costs themselves when providing these services.
Two common aspects that heavily influence the cost of door lock prices is the type of lock and the labour fees. Locks come in various types and levels of sophistication, which can influence the time, effort, and expertise it takes to repair or replace them. Aside from these, the replacement locks can also come in various prices so locksmiths adjust the cost depending on the price of the lock he uses. Most locksmiths are also glad to offer their services just for their labour fees if you decide to supply the lock.
Locks can also come in various prices because of their security certifications. Generally, locks with the BS3621, TS 007, and SS312 Diamond brand are more expensive because they comply with insurance policies and security standards compared to ordinary locks.
For example, according to the MLA Price Guide, a lock job for a standard euro cylinder lock replacement for uPVC doors will cost around £85 while a job using an anti-snap euro cylinder lock (compliant with national standards) starts at around £110. Meanwhile, mortice locks can cost from £110 to £120 and rim cylinders at £65-75 based on Household Quotes UK.
This price difference may be substantial but buying insurance-approved locks go a long way into ensuring our homes’ safety from break-ins and burglaries, and will also help us claim insurance if any unfortunate events happen.
HOW DO LOCKSMITHS CHARGE FOR CHANGING LOCKS?
In order to protect the reputation of locksmiths and nationwide customers, several organizations such as the Master Locksmith Associaton have created vetting and competency standards. This helps legitimate locksmiths obtain an accreditation that helps prove their legitimacy to their customers. They also offer multiple accreditations at various levels of expertise for locksmiths who specialize in certain areas. Although MLA is not official, it is widely recognized in the United Kingdom as a trustworthy standard for choosing locksmiths. Thanks to MLA, the standard of service in the UK is more protected for both customers and service providers.
However, there is only an extent to the authority of MLA. They still cannot regulate prices for locksmith services and cannot ensure that all locksmiths have fairly priced and transparent service fees. This is why it is still important to be cautious and to thoroughly question your locksmith for their price system.
To help customers all over the UK, the Master Locksmith Association publishes a locksmith service price guide that is updated yearly to reflect changes in the industry.
Some locks with more security features are typically more expensive to supply fit into doors because these are designed to be harder to unlock. If you are worried about the cost of the lock for replacement, do not hesitate to consult your locksmith about the range of options they have available. They might stock locks that fit your budget but still comply with security standards.
Some costs they incur in call-outs include fuel, toll fees, and other travel expenses for customers in farther areas. Service fees can also be more expensive for late night and after-hours call-outs. Some locksmiths apply this by setting higher call-out fees or higher labour rates. You can ask about these fees when contacting a locksmith so you know what price to expect.
How much to change locks at D&M Locksmiths?
Nowadays, it’s especially hard to find locksmiths that have your best interest in mind. Some try to swindle customers by sneaking in hidden charges that were never explained to the customer upon inquiry.
In D&M Locksmiths, we never do that to any of our customers. Our mission is to provide all our customers with the best security we can give them through our locksmith services without blowing a hole through their pockets.
By calling us for your emergency and non-emergency locksmith needs, we can provide you with a FREE fixed quotation on our services. This means that no matter how long the job takes, as long as the work needed matches what was communicated over the phone, we charge the same price. This fixed price quote already includes the labour charge, call-out fees, and the parts and components that will be used for the job.
We strive to be completely transparent with all our customers and are eager to answer all the questions or concerns you might have. Do not hesitate to call us with any of your questions about our services.
Our services start at £70 for burglary repairs, £75 for lock changes, £80 for commercial lock changes and special commercial locksmith needs, and £130 for PVC door mechanism replacements. We can provide you with an exact quote once we assess your situation over the phone.
We cover a wide range of areas in Belfast and surrounding areas, including Newtownabbey, Ballymena, Bangor, Carrickfergus, Larne, and Newtownards.
Our team of locksmith specialists is available 24/7 to respond to any emergency call-outs and answer inquiries about our services. If you are unsure whether we offer the service you need, give us a call and we’ll gladly do our best to attend to your situation.