Lock replacement
Lock Replacement in Farnborough for Front, Back and Internal Doors
Call with your postcode for a current arrival estimate.
- 24-hour emergency cover
- No call-out charge
- Price agreed before work starts
Need a Door Lock Replaced in Farnborough?
Moving into a new home, losing keys or having them stolen, or finding a lock worn out or damaged: those are the usual reasons to ask for a new lock. Wilds Locksmiths Farnborough supplies and fits replacement locks for front, back and internal doors and communal entrances across Farnborough.
There is no call-out charge. A lock replacement that cannot wait for a booked slot can go through the emergency locksmith service.
Which Part of the Lock Actually Needs to Be Replaced?
Ask most people in Farnborough what is wrong with their door and they will say the lock, yet that word can cover three or more separate parts. One part failing does not automatically mean every part of the locking system needs renewing.
Cylinder, or barrel
Start with what you cannot see. Inside the door, the working components are housed in the lock case. A timber door may have a mortice lock case, while a uPVC or composite door may rely on a gearbox connected to a multipoint strip. When those working components fail but the cylinder can still be used, a mechanism replacement may be required, and that involves more work than changing a cylinder.
Lock case or mechanism
Next, the visible part: the cylinder, also known as the barrel, which takes and turns the key. On uPVC, composite and aluminium doors, a euro cylinder is a frequently used type. A new cylinder comes with new keys, and the mechanism and other hardware remain untouched. Keyed-alike or thumb-turn cylinders may be available for some doors and products.
The whole of the lockset
The cylinder, internal mechanism, handles and associated fittings may all form part of a complete lockset. Replacing the lot can be appropriate when more than one part is damaged, compatible spares have run out, or the door needs better security.
We price from your description on the call; the price holds unless the job differs on site, and we explain any change before work begins. See also our uPVC door lock service and our.
Lock Types Found on Homes and Businesses in Farnborough
No single lock suits every door: the correct replacement turns on the door, its hardware and the failed component.
Mortice lock
A mortice lock sits within the edge of a timber door, its complete case enclosed by the door instead of fixed to the surface. Some timber final-exit doors carry five-lever mortice locks certified to BS 3621. Insurers' required standards differ, so check your own policy.
Nightlatch
These are screwed to the inner surface of many timber doors. People often say "Yale lock", yet Yale is one brand, not a term for all nightlatches. Condition permitting, its rim cylinder can be swapped alone.
Euro cylinder
Typical on uPVC, composite and aluminium doors, changing one gives new keys and leaves the remaining mechanism alone. Correct sizing matters, since a cylinder that projects too far can weaken security. Thumb-turn or keyed-alike versions may suit, subject to door and product.
Locks on composite doors
Most composite doors combine a euro cylinder with a multipoint mechanism. The cylinder may be replaceable separately; fitted hardware, measurements and what failed decide.
Multipoint mechanism
This long strip inside uPVC and composite door edges locks at several points once operated. A full mechanism change is a bigger job than a cylinder swap and has to be compatible with the existing hardware.
Internal door locks
Internal timber doors may have mortice latches, sashlocks or privacy locks. The use of the room, and whether it needs a key, handle or privacy function, decides the replacement.
When Should You Replace a Lock Instead of Repairing It?
Faulty locks fall into two camps: those that genuinely need replacing and those that only need attention. A repair, an adjustment or a small component change can sometimes make a lock reliable again. We assess the lock and the door before recommending an option, looking at which component has failed, how far any damage goes and whether the lock is still secure.
Often, repair is enough
Four symptoms tend to point away from replacement: - operating smoothly with the door open but tightening up when it closes - a handle that has come loose while the lock itself still functions - a key that is stiff in a cylinder which inspection shows is serviceable - a door that has dropped slightly and no longer aligns with its frame
They may indicate an alignment, handle or repair issue, not a full replacement, but the cause still needs identifying through an inspection.
The right call is usually replacement
Five situations tend to point the other way: - keys lost or stolen and still unaccounted for - a move into a new home, with previous keys you want disabled - cylinder or internal wear confirmed as beyond reliable repair - forced-entry damage to the lock or a component that cannot be repaired - an insurance policy specifying a standard the lock does not meet
Replacing the key-operated cylinder or the complete keyed lock comes with a new set of keys.
Changing the Locks When Moving Into a New Home
Most people moving house change the address on their bank account long before they think about the locks. Yet the locks are the bigger unknown: copies of the existing keys may have gone to previous owners, tenants, agents or contractors, and nobody can tell you how many.
Replacing the cylinders on the external doors of your new home cancels every one of those copies in a single step and leaves you holding the only working keys. If the doors carry compatible locks, keyed-alike cylinders may also be available, so one key operates multiple entrances. It is a small detail that makes a big practical difference, and a strong argument for replacing the cylinders on all of the external doors at the same time.
Locksmith pricing
What Affects the Cost of a Lock Replacement
There is no single price for a lock replacement, because the job can range from a quick cylinder change to a full new mechanism. Tell us what you are dealing with and you get a price on the call, based on your description. There is no call-out charge. The figure depends mainly on:
You pay for the work carried out, any parts needed, and VAT. Rates outside Monday to Friday, 7am to 6pm, are higher, but the call-out itself is never charged.
Which part is replaced
a cylinder, a lock case or a complete mechanism
The security rating
of the replacement you choose
Your door type
timber, uPVC, composite or aluminium
How many doors
need doing
The time of day
the work is carried out
How Does the Job Work?
The process is the same whether it is a front door cylinder or a back door mortice lock:
- You let us know the kind of door and what the issue is, adding a photo of the lock if you are not certain what is fitted.
- We pinpoint the part that needs replacing and give you the price.
- You are given all of the new keys.
One visit is usually enough for a single lock replacement.
Locksmith pricing
Replacing Locks After Lost or Stolen Keys
Losing a key does not automatically mean a new lock. Whether you need one depends on where the key went missing, whether it was stolen, and whether anyone finding it could link it to your address. A key dropped somewhere anonymous is a different risk from a bag taken with your post inside.
The real concern is the keys you can no longer account for, because they may still open your door. Having another key cut gets you back in, but it does nothing to stop the missing ones working in the existing lock. On a door with a separate, replaceable cylinder, changing that cylinder may be all that is needed: every key for the old cylinder becomes useless, you receive a new set, and the handles and other serviceable hardware stay exactly where they are.
What affects the cost?
Service required, time of attendance, lock and door type, labour and parts.
Security Standards That Your Insurer May Expect
"Insurance approved" sounds definitive, but it does not mean that every insurer accepts the same lock. A product may carry certification to a recognised security standard, while your insurer alone decides what its individual policy requires.
That matters because some home insurance policies specify the type or security standard of lock on external doors, and those requirements differ between insurers, policies and door types. On a suitable timber final-exit door, a policy may specify a mortice lock or nightlatch certified to BS 3621. Do not assume from the lever count: a five-lever lock is not automatically BS 3621 certified, and the standard marking is what to check for. Many uPVC, composite and aluminium doors use euro cylinders instead, where recognised anti-snap ratings include TS 007 3-star and SS312 Diamond; which option suits depends on the door, its handles and its locking system.
We can establish which type of lock you currently have and identify any security markings that are visible. Before choosing a replacement, read your policy wording or ask your insurer, who should confirm whether a particular standard meets your conditions. Our guides cover BS 3621 door locks and anti-snap door locks in more depth.
Lock Replacement Across Farnborough
Replacements here are booked by appointment for homeowners, landlords, letting agents and business premises. Visits reach South Farnborough, North Farnborough, North Camp, Cove, Fox Lane and West Heath, and every postcode in GU14 beyond them.
The doors vary with the age of the housing. In Farnborough, 4.8% of homes were built before 1900, 10.7% from 1900 to 1939, 47.5% from 1945 to 1982, 23.2% from 1983 to 2008 and 12.9% since 2009 (VOA council tax property stock, 31 March 2026). That points to a lot of post-war and later doors, often with multipoint or euro cylinder locks, though the technician confirms what is fitted. Flats make up 23.5% of households (Census 2021, ONS), and a shared entrance sometimes needs managing-agent approval before a lock is touched.
The national planning dataset lists no conservation area in Farnborough, though it has known gaps, so check with the council before changing a door in a protected street.
Emergency and planned locksmith services
Book a Lock Replacement in Farnborough
Call 01252 493213 to pick a time that suits you. The visit carries no call-out charge, and the price is agreed before any work begins.
- Phone: 01252 493213
- Booked work: Monday to Friday, 7am to 6pm
01252 493213
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a whole new lock or just a new barrel?
A new barrel is normally enough. The barrel is the euro cylinder on most uPVC, composite and aluminium doors, and fitting a replacement gives you a fully working lock plus a new set of keys, while the mechanism inside stays put. Only when that internal gearbox or lock case has failed does the whole mechanism need replacing, which is a less common and more involved job. Our quote comes from your description on the call and holds unless the job differs on site; we explain any change before starting work.
How long does it take to replace a door lock?
It depends on what is being changed and what the job involves. Replacing only a cylinder is generally a smaller undertaking than changing a mortice lock case or multipoint mechanism. The time can also vary with the door's condition and whether a matching replacement can be obtained.
Should I change the locks when I move house?
Yes, it is worth doing. Nobody can tell how many keys exist for a property or who holds them, whether previous owners, tradespeople, agents or earlier tenants. Replacing the external cylinders means only the keys you hold will work, and the work is quick. Ring before collecting your keys and a time can be fixed; the price is agreed on the call, with no call-out charge.
I have lost my keys. Do I need the lock replaced or just new keys cut?
Replace the cylinder if the keys are stolen or lost somewhere outside your home. New keys cut to the same lock leave the missing ones working, so whoever has them could still get in. A replacement cylinder makes all of the previous keys useless and comes with a fresh set. A replacement is not always necessary, though: it depends on where they were lost and whether they could be tied to where you live.
Will a new lock meet my home insurance requirements?
It depends on your policy. Some home insurance policies specify a BS 3621 lock on timber final-exit doors, or an appropriately rated cylinder on uPVC and composite doors, and requirements vary by insurer, door type and policy. "Insurance approved" is shorthand: BSI certifies the standard, and each insurer decides what it requires. Check your policy wording first.
What is an anti-snap lock and do I need one?
Anti-snap describes a cylinder designed to withstand snapping, where the barrel is broken in two to get into a property. The recognised UK ratings to look for are TS 007 3-star and SS312 Diamond. Your door and your insurer determine whether one is required; even so, it is one of the more worthwhile upgrades for a uPVC or composite front door, and it suits a routine cylinder replacement.
How much does it cost to replace a door lock in Farnborough?
The figure turns on which part is replaced, the security rating you choose, the door type, the number of doors and the time of day. A cylinder is generally the cheapest replacement and a full multipoint mechanism the dearest. There is no call-out charge. Give the door details when you call and the price you hear holds, unless the job on site proves different; then you are told before work starts.
Can you replace locks on a rental property between tenancies?
Yes. Changing external cylinders at the end of a tenancy is routine, and it can usually be fitted around the changeover date. About 34% of Farnborough households rent (Census 2021, ONS), and landlords or agents with several properties can book the work across addresses together. Each changeover is priced before work starts, with no call-out charge.
Still have a question or need urgent assistance? Call 01252 493213, tell us what has happened and receive a current arrival estimate.