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Independent locksmith in Sheffield, you speak to Sam
- No call out fee
- No VAT to pay
5.0 on Google 200+ reviews
5.0 on Google 200+ reviews
Lock Change in Sheffield for Homes and Landlords
A lock change replaces the part the key turns, so every old key stops working. Sam Gregory changes euro cylinders, mortice locks and night latches across Sheffield and Rotherham, usually the same day, and he carries the common sizes on the van so the job is finished in one visit. Every lock change is quoted on the phone before he sets off, with no call out fee and no VAT.
- Moving into a house or a flat
- Keys lost, stolen or not returned
- A tenant or a lodger moving out
- A relationship or a houseshare ending
- Worn locks that stick or need jiggling
- Upgrades to anti snap and insurance rated locks
- Most lock changes finished in one visit the same day.
- Common cylinders, mortice locks and night latches carried on the van.
- 12 month parts and labour warranty on every lock fitted.
- Every door can be set to one key where the locks allow it.
When a Lock Change Is the Right Answer
A lock change is about who holds a working key, not about whether the lock still turns. Six situations make it the right call.
- You have just moved in, and you have no idea how many keys the previous owner, their family, a cleaner or an old tenant still hold.
- A key has been lost outside the house, especially with anything attached that shows the address.
- A key has been stolen, or a bag or coat with keys in it has gone.
- A tenant or a lodger has moved out, which is the one case where the law and the tenancy both expect new locks between occupants.
- A relationship or a houseshare has ended and the keys were never returned.
- The lock itself has worn, so the key needs jiggling, lifting or turning twice, which is a lock about to fail rather than a lock that needs changing for security.
A lock that works and whose keys are all accounted for does not need replacing. When the problem is a stiff uPVC handle rather than the key, the fault is usually in the mechanism rather than the cylinder, and a uPVC door repair costs less than a new lock and fixes the real cause.
The Three Locks Sam Changes Most
Nearly every home in Sheffield runs one of three locks, and the one on your door decides the price and the time.
| Lock type | Where it is fitted | What a change involves | Usual time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Euro cylinder | uPVC and composite doors with a handle | Measure the cylinder, fit the matching size, test the mechanism | 15 to 30 minutes |
| Mortice lock | Wooden doors, a second keyhole below the handle | Match the case size and the backset, fit and test the keeps | 30 to 60 minutes |
| Night latch | Wooden front doors, the lock that slams shut | Swap the rim cylinder or the whole latch, check the strike | 20 to 40 minutes |
The measurements matter more than the brand. A euro cylinder is measured from the central fixing screw to each face, and a cylinder that is too long stands proud of the handle and becomes the easiest part of the door to attack. A mortice lock has to match both the case size and the backset, which is why Sam measures the old lock rather than ordering from the door.
On a recent job in Highfield, Sam changed the lock on a metal door, which uses the same key but needs the case and the fixings matched to a steel frame rather than a timber one.
Locks That Keep a Home Insurance Policy Valid
Most home insurers ask for a specific standard on the final exit door, and the two names that appear in policies are BS3621 for mortice locks and night latches, and TS007 3 star or equivalent for euro cylinders.
A BS3621 lock is a five lever mortice deadlock or a key operated night latch tested to a British Standard, and it is stamped with the kitemark on the faceplate, so you can check your own door in ten seconds. A TS007 3 star cylinder resists snapping, which is the attack used on uPVC and composite doors, and the same protection can be reached with a 1 star cylinder behind a 2 star security handle.
Sam fits locks from Yale, ERA, Ultion, Avocet and APECS and tells you which standard the lock on your door already meets before anything is changed, because a door that already complies does not need a new lock to satisfy an insurer.
One Key for Every Door in the House
Keyed alike means several locks cut to the same key, so one key opens the front door, the back door and the garage. It is set up at the time of fitting and it costs no more than fitting the same locks separately.
It works where the locks are the same family, which usually means euro cylinders on uPVC, composite and aluminium doors. A wooden front door on a mortice lock cannot normally be keyed to a uPVC back door, because the locks are different mechanisms, so a house with both ends up with two keys rather than one.
The trade off is worth stating plainly. One key is far more convenient and it is the reason most people stop leaving a spare under a plant pot, but a lost key then opens every door at once, so a keyed alike set is a stronger reason to call quickly if a key goes missing.
Lock Changes for Landlords and Letting Agents
Sam changes locks between tenants across Sheffield and Rotherham, and the work is invoiced to the landlord or the agent rather than taken from the tenant at the door.
A change between tenancies is a cylinder swap in most cases, which keeps the cost down because the mechanism, the handles and the door furniture stay. Where a property has several doors, keyed alike cylinders mean one key per tenancy rather than a bunch, and spare keys are cut at the same visit so the agent holds a set from day one. Sam also fits key safes where carers or cleaners need access without a key being handed round.
For a block or a portfolio, the practical advice is to standardise on one cylinder family across the properties, so a replacement is a stock part rather than a special order and a void day is not lost waiting for one.
What a Lock Change Costs in Sheffield
The price depends on the time of day, the lock standard you choose, the door type and how many doors are being done in the visit.
A basic euro cylinder costs less than a TS007 3 star anti snap cylinder, and a mortice lock to BS3621 sits between them. Doing two or three doors in one visit costs less per door than booking them separately, because the travel is already paid for. There is no call out fee, no VAT and no weekend surcharge, and Sam gives you the full price on the phone before he sets off.
Where the cylinder is being replaced anyway, upgrading to anti snap locks usually costs only the difference in the part, which is the cheapest security improvement available on a uPVC or composite door.
Prime Locksmiths Reviews From Sheffield Customers
Prime Locksmiths holds a 5.0 rating on Google from 200+ reviews, and the price given before the job and new handles fitted well are two of the points customers raise most often.
Book a lock change
Send the door type, a photo of the lock and how many doors need doing. Sam replies with a price and the days he is free. If you are locked out now, call or WhatsApp him instead.
Work That Goes With a Lock Change
A lock change often sits alongside one of these jobs, and each one has its own page.
Lockouts and lost keys, with the phone answered 24 hours.
Damaged locks and doors secured again after a break in.
Dropped composite doors, hinges, mechanisms and cylinders.
Shopfront door repairs and lock changes for small business premises.
Questions About Lock Changes in Sheffield
Short answers on when to change a lock, what it costs, insurance standards and keeping one key for every door. If your question is not here, call Sam on 07842 685254.
How much does it cost to change a lock in Sheffield
The price depends on the lock standard, the door type, the time of day and how many doors are done in the visit. There is no call out fee and no VAT, and the how a lock change is priced is explained, including the four things that move the figure.
Should I change the locks when I move in
Yes. You cannot know how many working keys exist, and a cylinder change is the cheapest way to make every old key useless. It is the single most common reason people call.
Can you change a lock the same day
In most cases, yes. Sam carries the common euro cylinders, mortice locks and night latches on the van, so a standard change is finished in one visit.
Will new locks meet my insurance requirements
They will if the policy names a standard and the lock matches it. Insurers usually ask for BS3621 on mortice locks and night latches, or a TS007 3 star cylinder on uPVC and composite doors. Sam checks what your door already has first.
Can I have one key for every door
Yes, where the locks are the same family, which usually means euro cylinders. A wooden door on a mortice lock cannot normally share a key with a uPVC back door.
Do I need to change every lock or just one
Only the locks whose keys are unaccounted for. After a move that usually means every external door, and after a lost back door key it may mean one cylinder.
Is a lock change the same as a lock repair
No. A change replaces the lock so old keys stop working. A repair fixes a lock that is sticking or a mechanism that has failed, and a uPVC door repair costs less than a new lock when security is not the issue.
Can you change locks on a rented property
Yes. Sam works for landlords and letting agents across Sheffield and Rotherham, changes locks between tenants, cuts spare keys at the same visit and invoices the landlord or the agent.
Do you fit anti snap locks as standard
Sam fits what the door needs and tells you the difference in price. On a uPVC or composite door, a TS007 3 star cylinder is the upgrade worth taking, because the cylinder is the part most exposed to attack.
Can you change a lock on a metal or aluminium door
Yes. Metal and aluminium doors take the same cylinders but need the case and the fixings matched to the frame, which is work Sam does regularly on shopfronts and metal back doors.
How many keys do I get
Most cylinders come with three to five keys, and extra keys are cut at the visit if you need more for a family, a tenant or a carer.
Who will come to change the lock
Sam Gregory, the locksmith you spoke to on the phone. He is DBS checked and fully insured, and you can read about Sam Gregory before you book.