Locked Out of Your House?
Do not panic. Our locksmiths arrive in 25 minutes and get you back inside without damage. Available 24/7 across London from £79.
If you are locked out of your home, our locksmiths use non-destructive entry techniques to get you back inside, usually within minutes of arriving. Emergency door opening starts from £79, we have a 25-minute response target across London, and we are available 24/7 with no call-out fee. If a snapped key is the problem, read our guide on how to get a snapped key out of a lock, or see exactly how we unlock doors without causing damage.
How We Get You Back Inside
Call Us
Call 020 4524 6667 any time. We will confirm the price and dispatch the nearest available locksmith to your location. See our lockout prices for upfront costs.
We Arrive Fast
A qualified locksmith arrives within 25 minutes. We carry all the tools needed to gain entry without damaging your door or lock.
You Are Back In
We open your door quickly and safely. If you need a lock change or new keys cut, we can do that on the spot too.
What to Do When Locked Out
Stay Calm and Stay Safe
Being locked out is stressful, but it happens to thousands of Londoners every day. Move to a safe, well-lit area and call our emergency locksmith team. Do not try to force entry yourself as this can cause expensive damage to your door and lock.
Call a Professional Locksmith
Call 020 4524 6667 for immediate help. We will ask for your address, the type of lock, and confirm the price. Our locksmith will be dispatched straight away. We require proof of address for security purposes.
Consider a Lock Change
If you lost your keys rather than left them inside, it is wise to change the locks. Our locksmith can replace your locks on the spot with high-security alternatives, giving you new keys and peace of mind. Lock change from £69 labour.
Common House Lockout Situations We Resolve
Whatever has happened, our residential locksmiths deal with it day and night across London. Here are the lockouts we handle most often.
Keys left inside
You pulled the door shut on a Yale nightlatch with the keys still on the table. This is the most common lockout and usually the quickest to open without any damage.
Lost or stolen keys
If your keys are missing, we let you in then recommend a lock change or re-key so whoever has them cannot get in. Our guide to home lockout solutions covers your options.
Snapped key in the lock
A key broken off in the barrel needs careful extraction. We remove the broken piece and cut a fresh key. Read how to get a snapped key out of a lock.
Jammed uPVC door
A failed multi-point gearbox or seized euro cylinder can leave a uPVC door stuck shut or refusing to lock. Our uPVC locksmith services cover release, repair and mechanism replacement.
Double-locked deadlock
A BS3621 mortice deadlock thrown without a key is harder to bypass. We assess on site and explain whether non-destructive entry or a replacement is the better route.
Flat, communal or shared door
Locked out of a flat, a communal entrance or a shared front door? We can help once residency or permission is confirmed, including garages, gates and outbuildings.
How We Open Your Door Without Damage
Our priority is to get you back inside while leaving your door and lock fully intact. Non-destructive entry is what we attempt first on almost every job.
Picking, decoding and bypassing are attempted first, so a standard euro cylinder, rim cylinder, Yale nightlatch or rim lock is usually opened with no damage at all.
We carry specialist tools for broken key extraction and for releasing jammed uPVC multi-point mechanisms.
Drilling is a genuine last resort, used only when a lock cannot be picked and only after we have explained it and you have agreed.
High-security TS007 3-star anti-snap cylinders and double-locked deadlocks can take longer or need replacing. We advise honestly on site and offer the right lock types.
Once we are on the doorstep, most standard lockouts are resolved in around 5 to 15 minutes. If your door was forced before you called us, our break-in repair team can secure it the same visit.
House Lockout Costs in London
We confirm the price on the phone before we dispatch, so there is nothing unexpected on the doorstep. All figures below are starting prices, excluding VAT.
| Service | From |
|---|---|
| Emergency door opening | £79 |
| Lock change (labour, after lost keys or for an upgrade) | £69 |
| Lock re-key (keep the lock, new keys) | £55 |
The final price depends on your lock type, door type, the time of day and how many locks are involved. Out-of-hours visits may carry a small surcharge, which we always confirm before sending a locksmith. For the full breakdown across every job, see our locksmith price list, or read about the risks of broken door locks that lead to lockouts.
Why Londoners trust City Locksmith
Fully insured, DBS-checked engineers with 15+ years securing London homes and businesses - no call-out fee, with the price agreed up front.
Non-destructive entry
We open without damage where possible
DBS-checked engineers
Background-vetted technicians
Fully insured
Comprehensive public liability cover
15+ years
Serving London since 2008
24/7, 365 days
Day, night, weekends, bank holidays
No call-out fee
Free quotes, price agreed up front
Every job is carried out by an insured, DBS-checked engineer, with a fixed, all-inclusive price agreed before any work begins - no call-out fee and no surprises on the doorstep.
How to Choose a Trustworthy Locksmith
Locksmithing in the UK is unregulated, which means anyone can advertise as a locksmith. A few simple checks protect you from rogue traders, especially in a stressful lockout.
Get the price confirmed before they travel. A reputable locksmith will quote clearly on the phone, not invent extra charges on your doorstep.
Be wary of unrealistically low online quotes. A headline price that balloons on arrival is a classic rogue-trader tactic.
Look for genuine trust signals. Public liability insurance, DBS-checked engineers who carry photo ID, verifiable independent reviews, a fixed business address, and transparent fixed pricing all point to a professional you can trust.
Save a trusted number before you need it. Keep a reliable emergency locksmith in your phone so you are never searching while standing outside.
City Locksmith London has DBS-checked, fully insured engineers with over 15 years of experience. We provide clear, fixed pricing and free quotes before we dispatch.
Locked Out as a Tenant or Landlord
Tenants
We gain entry once your residency or permission is confirmed. It is worth checking whether your tenancy agreement or landlord covers lockout costs. If you are wondering about your rights, our blog on whether a tenant can change locks in England explains the rules.
Landlords and letting agents
We provide fast access to managed properties and can fit a fresh lock or re-key between tenancies. Authorisation or proof of ownership is required for any entry, for everyone's security.
What to Do While You Wait
While our locksmith is on the way, a few simple steps keep you safe and speed up entry. For more, read our guide on what to do when locked out of the house.
Move somewhere safe and well-lit. Do not force the door or break a window, as that only adds repair costs.
Only check for a genuinely open ground-floor window if it is safe and it is your own home.
Ask a neighbour, partner or letting agent whether anyone holds a spare key.
Have proof of address ready (ID, a letter or a bill) to show on arrival.
Keep your phone charged and stay reachable for the locksmith's arrival call. Still need to book? Contact our team or call 020 4524 6667.
House Lockout FAQ
Find answers to common questions about our locksmith services.
How much does it cost to get back into my house?
Will you damage my door or lock?
How quickly can you get me back inside?
I'm locked out late at night - do you charge extra?
Should I change my locks after being locked out?
Do I need to prove I live at the property before you open the door?
Can you open a uPVC door if the multi-point mechanism has jammed?
Can you get a snapped or broken key out of the lock?
Is being locked out covered by my home insurance?
What our customers say
Real jobs, real Londoners. A few words from people we have helped.
Misplaced my keys somewhere on the way back from work. Rang a couple of places, City Locksmith gave me a clear price over the phone and stuck to it. In within half an hour and changed the cylinder while he was there just to be safe.
Door wouldn't budge after the mechanism jammed. The locksmith diagnosed it on the phone, brought the right parts and fixed it on the spot rather than just charging me to let me in. Appreciated the honesty.
Got locked out with the shopping melting on the doorstep. The guy who came was lovely, talked me through it, opened the door gently and even checked the lock was running smooth before he left. Really decent service.
Popped the bins out and the wind shut my front door. No keys, no phone, in my slippers. A neighbour let me call and the locksmith was round in about 20 minutes. He got me in without any damage at all. Lifesaver doesn't cover it.
My flatmate took the only working key to Manchester. One phone call and a friendly locksmith sorted it that evening, then cut me a spare so it never happens again. Fair money for a Friday night.
Locked out? Call now for fast entry
Our locksmiths get you back inside in minutes. 24/7 across London, from £79. No hidden fees.
Call 020 4524 6667