24/7 emergency call-outs
Emergency Locksmith
If you're locked out, a lock has failed or your door won't secure, you need somebody who can attend quickly and explain what's happening. TLC's emergency locksmiths assess the problem on arrival, talk you through the options and agree a price before any work starts.
Sound familiar?
Most emergency calls come down to one of these.
Every emergency call is different, but most fall into a handful of familiar situations. Tell us which one matches yours and we'll know what to ask next, what tools the engineer should bring and how urgent the visit needs to be.
First things first
When you actually need an emergency locksmith.
An emergency locksmith call usually starts the same way: something has stopped working exactly when you need it to. You might be stood outside in the cold, a tenant might be waiting for you to sort a broken lock, or a break-in has left a door that won't close properly. The priority is the same either way — get you back inside, or the property secure, as quickly as it can safely be done.
Not every lock problem is a genuine emergency, and that's fine to say on the phone. If a spare key is on its way, or the fault only affects one door out of several, we'll tell you honestly whether it's worth waiting for a scheduled visit instead of paying for an out-of-hours call-out.
An emergency call-out means the same engineer, the same clear pricing and the same care — just faster, because the situation needs it.See how it works
Recognise this?
Emergency situations we handle every week.
These are the calls we take most often, across London, Essex and Kent. Recognising your own situation here helps you describe the problem clearly when you call, which usually means a faster and more accurate visit.
Locked out with no spare key
We can normally get you back in without damaging the door, then talk through replacement keys once you're safely inside.
Key snapped in the lock
A broken key can often be extracted without replacing the whole lock — we check before recommending anything more.
Lock won't turn or has seized
Cold weather, general wear and a lack of lubrication are common causes. We assess before deciding on repair or replacement.
UPVC or multipoint door won't lock
A dropped handle or misaligned mechanism can stop the door engaging properly — usually an adjustment, not a new door.
Break-in or attempted break-in
Making the property secure comes first. Repair and replacement options are explained once the immediate risk is dealt with.
Landlord or tenant lockout
We can attend on a tenant's instruction with landlord authorisation confirmed by phone, so nobody is kept waiting unnecessarily.
Door won't close or secure after damage
Damaged keeps, handles or frames from forced entry or general failure are assessed within locksmith scope, with temporary securing where needed.
What happens next
What happens after you call.
- Call
Tell us what's happened
Give us your address, what's happened and whether the property is currently secure.
- Confirm
Agree the likely job
We give an honest price range for the likely job and arrange a time to attend.
- Attend
Engineer arrives
An engineer comes to the address with the tools most emergency jobs need.
- Assess
Check before work starts
The lock and door are checked properly before any work is suggested.
- Resolve
Get you back in
You get back in, or the door is secured, with the fix explained clearly.
- Confirm
Price matches what's agreed
The final price matches what was agreed before work began — no surprises.
What we check
What the engineer actually checks.
Before fitting or repairing anything, we check the door alignment, the frame and how the existing mechanism is wearing. A lock is only as reliable as the door it's fitted to, so a proper check now saves a repeat call later.
Clear explanations
Straightforward advice, even under pressure.
Emergency situations feel stressful, but the explanation you get shouldn't be rushed. We'll tell you what's wrong, what the options are and roughly what each one costs, so you can make a clear decision.
Why it's safe to let us in
What you can expect from every engineer.
Letting a stranger fix your lock is an odd feeling at the best of times, more so in an emergency. Here's what we do as standard, and what you're entitled to expect from every engineer we send.
Before you call
How pricing works.
We can't give an exact price over the phone before an engineer has seen the lock and the door, because the right fix depends on what's actually wrong. What we can do is explain what affects cost before any work begins, and agree the price with you before it starts.
If the job turns out to be different once the engineer has looked properly, that's explained and agreed with you first — never added to the bill afterwards.
Check coverage
Check whether we cover your address.
Enter your postcode to see how we can help. If it's urgent, calling is quicker than waiting for a callback — the postcode checker is best used when you want to check coverage before deciding what to do next.
Find Your Local Locksmith
Enter your full postcode or just the first part. We'll take you to the most relevant local locksmith page.
Areas we cover
Emergency locksmith cover across London, Essex and Kent.
Emergency call-outs are routed to the nearest available engineer for your postcode, not a single central base. Find the page for your area for local contact details and typical coverage.
North London locksmiths
Emergency and planned locksmith cover for North London.
AreaEast London locksmiths
Emergency and planned locksmith cover for East London.
AreaWest London locksmiths
Emergency and planned locksmith cover for West London.
AreaSouth London locksmiths
Emergency and planned locksmith cover for South London.
AreaEssex locksmiths
Emergency and planned locksmith cover for Essex.
AreaKent locksmiths
Emergency and planned locksmith cover for Kent.
Questions customers ask
Emergency locksmith FAQs.
These are the practical questions worth answering before an engineer attends: how urgent this really is, what it costs and what to expect when they arrive.
Is this really a 24/7 service?
Yes. Emergency call-outs are available at any time, including nights, weekends and public holidays.
How much will it cost?
It depends on the lock, the door and when you call. You'll be told the price and agree to it before any work starts — see the pricing guidance above for the factors involved.
Will you damage my door to get me in?
Non-destructive entry is tried first wherever the lock and door allow it. If that's not possible, we'll explain why before trying anything else.
Can you help if I'm a tenant, not the owner?
Yes, with landlord authorisation confirmed by phone. This protects you and the landlord and avoids any dispute about who requested the work.
What if the door was damaged in a break-in?
Securing the property comes first. Once that's done, we'll explain repair or replacement options for the door and lock.
Do I need to be present?
Generally yes, so we can confirm identity and agree the work directly with you before anything begins.
Can you help if my door won't close or lock after damage?
Yes. We assess damaged locks, keeps, handles and limited frame issues, and can provide temporary securing before a permanent repair. Structural carpentry and glazing replacement are outside locksmith scope.
Ready when you are
Sorted, and secure again.
Whatever's brought you here — a lockout, a failed lock or a damaged door — the next step is the same: tell us what's happened and we'll take it from there.