Lockout assistance
Locked Out of Your House in Farnborough? We Can Get You Back In
Call with your postcode for a current arrival estimate.
- 24-hour emergency cover
- No call-out charge
- Price agreed before work starts
Emergency and planned locksmith services
Locked Out? Here Is What to Do Right Now
If you are locked out of your house in Farnborough, check every other door and window first, then call someone who holds a spare key. If neither works, call a locksmith rather than forcing the door.
- Stay calm and make sure you really are locked out.
- Go round the whole property, not just the door you are standing at.
- Phone anyone who holds a spare key.
- If you rent, contact your landlord or letting agent.
- If nothing has worked, call a Farnborough emergency locksmith.
01252 493213
Worth Checking Before You Call: Three Things
First, a word of caution: do not climb, force your way in or do anything that could damage the property. With that settled, here are three checks that may get you back inside before you need to arrange a locksmith.
Check 1: your regular doors
Try your usual doors, any rear or side entrance, and other doors or windows you can reach safely. One of them may still be open.
Check 2: your circle
Call the people who might have a key, whether that is family, a housemate or a neighbour you trust. It is the cheapest fix there is.
Check 3: your tenancy contacts
Renters should try the landlord, the letting agent or the emergency number in their tenancy information. They may have a spare or a procedure to follow.
And keep both feet on the ground. Climbing in through a window or squeezing through any other unsafe opening is how a lockout turns into an injury.
Should You Call the Fire Brigade or the Police?
For a standard lockout, no. The police and fire brigade generally do not come out when someone is simply locked out of their house, so the call to make is to a locksmith.
The answer changes the moment someone is in danger. If a child, an older person or anyone vulnerable is shut inside and at risk, if there is a fire, or if someone needs urgent medical help, dial 999 straight away. An immediate risk to life or property is exactly what the emergency services are there for.
Anything short of that, such as keys left on the hall table, a lost set or a lock that has stopped turning, is locksmith territory. Nobody is in danger, so a locksmith is the appropriate call, and the emergency line stays free for people who need it.
Why Forcing the Door Turns Out to Be the Expensive Option
There is a security problem hidden in every successful DIY break-in: if you could get past your own lock with a card or a bit of force, so could someone with worse intentions. That alone means the lock will need upgrading, before you count any damage.
And there usually is damage. Attempting to force the door can turn a simple lockout into a larger repair, because pressure and improvised tools harm cylinders, handles, locking mechanisms, seals and frames. A uPVC door is the worst candidate, as its locking components work together and forcing one can disturb the rest or crack the slab. A broken window carries a risk of injury, opens the house to anyone, and may add glazing or temporary boarding to what you spend. Card tricks only shift a latch that was left unlocked, which modern doors rarely are.
- Force: a lockout plus repairs to the lock, door, frame or glass.
- Locksmith: one visit, with the entry method matched to the lock and non-destructive entry tried first where its type and condition allow.
Our locksmith assesses the door before choosing how to open it. Where a lock is broken or seized, or a suitable non-destructive method cannot open it, an explanation of the reason and expected cost precedes any additional work. You can read about lock replacement or how to choose a trustworthy locksmith.
How We Get You Back In Without Damaging the Lock
Getting you back inside should not cost you a lock. When you are locked out of your house, avoiding unnecessary damage is the first aim, and that shapes everything the locksmith does on arrival.
They check the door, work out what kind of lock is fitted and see what condition it is in. Then they choose a method. Very often that means non-destructive entry: lock picking, or a bypass technique, that opens the door without drilling. Euro cylinders, mortice locks and night latches are frequently opened this way, and if the lock is still sound and serviceable afterwards you simply keep using the keys you have.
Drilling is held back for situations that leave no better choice: a lock that is broken or seized, or a high-security cylinder, such as an anti-snap design, that a suitable non-destructive method cannot open. Then drilling and replacement may be necessary, and the reason and cost are explained to you first. You may also want lock replacement or broken key removal.
How Quickly Can We Reach You?
Every lockout call starts with an honest question on our side: who is nearest, and how long will it really take? If a technician is close by, the answer may be around 30 minutes. More often it is also around 30 minutes, though it can take longer depending on where our nearest locksmith is when you call.
Those are estimates, not guarantees, because arrival depends on your location, the traffic, the time of day and whether a technician is free at that moment. Calls are answered around the clock, every day of the year, and each time we check the current position before telling you what to expect. If the estimate changes while you are waiting, we will be in touch to update you and explain what has altered.
Locksmith pricing
Rented Property in Farnborough and Locked Out?
Locked out of a rented house or flat in Farnborough? Try other safely accessible doors and windows before contacting your landlord, letting agent, tenancy emergency number or spare-key holders. They may have a spare key or a set way of helping tenants back in, which could save you calling anyone else.
If that route fails, a locksmith can open the door. Expect to be asked for something showing that you live at the address, or that you have permission to arrange access, before we begin. It is a routine check, and it is the same for every home we open.
Landlords and agents can also arrange this for an authorised tenant or occupant locked out of a property they manage. For business premises, see our commercial locksmith service.
What affects the cost?
Service required, time of attendance, lock and door type, labour and parts.
Common Lockout Situations We Attend
We see a handful of lockout types again and again, each needing a different approach depending on where the key has ended up, whether the lock still operates and whether anything was damaged before we arrive.
Keys locked inside the house
Keys on a table, in another room or still in the lock when the door closed. If the lock is undamaged, non-destructive entry may restore access without replacing anything.
Lost or stolen keys
Getting in is only half of it, because the missing keys still exist. Changing the lock may be advisable, depending on circumstances, so they cannot be used on your home later.
Key snapped in the lock
Part of it may now be stuck in the cylinder, keeping the door shut. Do not force the remaining section or push anything into the lock. Once the broken fragment has been extracted, we assess whether the lock remains fit for use.
Key left in the other side of the door
That can stop your key operating some night latches and euro cylinders. It is often still possible to get in, depending on the lock. Mention it when you call. Do not force the door or keep turning your key.
The lock has failed and will not turn
Not a key issue at all. A worn cylinder, a failed multipoint mechanism or a misaligned door can stop the lock working, and it may need repair or replacement after entry.
Not sure which applies? Tell us on the call, or read about lock repair and.
Locksmith pricing
What Does It Cost to Get Back Into the House?
How much it costs to get back in depends on the job, but we can give you a firm starting point. During normal working hours, Monday to Friday from 7am to 6pm, a standard lockout starts from £70.80 including VAT.
That figure is where a straightforward weekday lockout begins rather than a quote for every call. Whether you left the keys inside, lost them or the lock simply will not open, tell us where you are and what has happened, and we will price it on the call from your description. The things most likely to change it are:
- the lock's type and condition;
- which entry method it needs;
- whether it is already damaged or seized;
- replacement parts or repairs;
- the time and day of your call.
Our pricing comes down to two sentences: “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.” Simply attending your property carries no charge of its own. Non-destructive entry comes first wherever the lock type and condition allow, which avoids needless damage, and should the technician find that different or extra work is needed, you hear the reason for any price change before it starts.
What affects the cost?
Service required, time of attendance, lock and door type, labour and parts.
Lockout Coverage Across Farnborough
Lockouts are attended for homeowners, tenants, landlords and business premises across Farnborough, from North Camp and North Farnborough to South Farnborough, Cove, West Heath and Fox Lane, and throughout GU14. Cove is mostly houses, whereas North Camp has a high share of private renting (Census 2021, ONS; indicative). Across the town, 23.1% of households live in terraces, 32.7% in semi-detached homes, 20.0% in detached homes and 23.5% in flats (Census 2021, ONS), so the door may be a front door of one's own or a communal one, and the technician confirms which on arrival.
Emergency and planned locksmith services
Call Wilds Locksmiths Farnborough
Ring 01252 493213 whatever the hour. We answer 24 hours a day, there is no call-out charge, and weekday lockouts start from £70.80 including VAT, the price agreed on the call.
- Phone: 01252 493213
01252 493213
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a locksmith open my door without damaging it?
Often, yes. Where the lock type and condition allow, a locksmith can use a non-destructive method such as picking or bypass to open the door without drilling or replacing anything, so your existing keys still work. Drilling or replacement may be necessary if a lock is broken or seized, or if a suitable non-destructive method cannot open it. Before that work starts, an explanation is given of why it is needed and what it is expected to cost.
How much does it cost to get back into my house?
From £70.80 including VAT is the starting price for a standard lockout in normal working hours, Monday to Friday, 7am to 6pm. Four factors determine what you ultimately pay: what type of lock you have and its condition, how access is gained, when you call and whether parts are required for repair or replacement. You are told the price on the call, and there is no charge simply for attending.
Will the police or fire brigade let me back in?
In most cases, no. The police and fire brigade generally do not attend household lockouts where nobody is in danger. If someone is at immediate risk, call 999 first: for example, a fire, a medical emergency or a trapped child, older person or vulnerable adult. Where everyone is safe and you simply cannot get in, call a locksmith instead.
Can I get in myself with a credit card?
Not on most doors you will find today. A card can only push back a spring latch that was not locked, and the majority of UK front doors use a euro cylinder or a multipoint mechanism that does not behave like that. Force is the usual next step, and on a uPVC door it can crack the slab. If a card works on your door, the lock needs upgrading.
Do I need to change my locks after being locked out?
Not usually. If your keys are locked inside and the lock is still safe and serviceable, nothing needs replacing once you are back in. A lock change may, however, be advisable following the loss of your keys away from home or their theft, to prevent those keys from providing access to your property later.
How quickly can you get to me?
A current estimate is given when you call, rather than a promise in advance, and you are free to decline it.
I rent my home. Who should I call first?
Begin with any other door or window you can safely reach. After that, try your landlord, letting agent or anyone holding a spare key, as many hold one: about 34% of Farnborough households rent (Census 2021, ONS). Should they be unable to help, call us and we can open the door. We may ask you to show that you live there.
My key is in the other side of the door. Can you still open it?
Often we can, though it depends on the type and condition of your lock. Inside keys commonly block outside keys on some night latches and euro cylinders, so this is a routine job rather than a reason to force anything. When you call, tell us there is a key in the other side, because it affects the entry method. Meanwhile, stop turning your own key.
Still have a question or need urgent assistance? Call 01252 493213, tell us what has happened and receive a current arrival estimate.