Contact Neighbourhood Locksmiths

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the most common things people ask a locksmith — pricing, response times, non-destructive entry, uPVC repairs, upgrades and more.

• 1How quickly can a locksmith realistically arrive, and what factors might change the ETA?
  For most callouts in your area, our typical ETA is 20–45 minutes. This window can vary based on live traffic, peak hours, weather conditions, and the distance to the nearest on-call engineer. For emergency lockouts (children alone inside, keys left in the door, broken keys), we prioritise the closest locksmith and update you by phone with a precise time. You will always receive a clear arrival estimate before we dispatch, plus an SMS/phone confirmation if requested.
• 2Are your locksmiths vetted, insured and able to provide documentation for landlords/businesses?
  Yes. All engineers are DBS-checked and fully insured. We provide invoices/receipts suitable for landlords, agents and business records, and we can include detailed notes of works and parts used on request. Our supplied parts typically carry a 12–24 month warranty; workmanship is guaranteed as standard.
• 3Do you accept cards and digital payments, and can you provide multiple keys or master-key options?
  We accept major debit/credit cards and cash, and can email or print invoices on site. For convenience, we can supply keyed-alike cylinders (one key for multiple locks) and arrange master-key systems for homes, HMOs and offices. Extra keys can be organised via local cutting or by supplying additional cylinders keyed to the same profile.
• 4I’m locked out late at night in your area—how does your 24/7 emergency service work?
  Call us any time. We triage emergencies and dispatch the nearest on-call engineer. You’ll receive a firm ETA and price confirmation before attendance. On arrival, we attempt non-destructive entry first to save you the cost of new hardware. If a replacement is needed, we fit a secure, warranty-backed lock before we leave.
• 5Can you advise on security upgrades—like anti-snap cylinders, sash jammers or door viewers?
  Yes. We can assess your current setup and recommend practical upgrades: anti-snap/anti-bump cylinders, reinforced strike plates, sash jammers for uPVC, door viewers, letterbox cages and hinge bolts. We’ll prioritise improvements that give the best security-per-pound and comply with insurer requirements, then install them cleanly in one visit whenever possible.