Window lock services
Window Lock Repair and Replacement in Farnborough
Call with your postcode for a current arrival estimate.
- 24-hour emergency cover
- No call-out charge
- Price agreed before work starts
Window Will Not Lock, or the Handle Has Broken?
Decide whether it is urgent or can be booked: a window that will not lock at ground level is a security gap tonight, while a stiff handle can wait for a weekday slot. Either way it is nearly always a hardware fault, not a glass fault, so it is a repair rather than a new window.
Wilds Locksmiths Farnborough repairs and replaces window locks, handles and mechanisms across Farnborough on uPVC, aluminium and timber windows, whether the handle is loose, turns without locking, or the window is stuck shut. There is no call-out charge.
Is the Problem the Lock or the Window?
A window that won't lock is a security gap, but the whole window may not need replacing. The cause could be the handle, the locking mechanism or the way the window sits in its frame, and you can start narrowing it down: with the window open fully, gently operate the handle while the sash stays open.
If it locks fine when the sash is open
The hardware is likely sound and the locking points may be missing their keeps. Worn hinges can drop the sash, and keeps sometimes need adjustment. An inspection shows whether realigning is enough or another component also contributes.
When it fails with the sash open too
A handle that remains loose, stiff or ineffective suggests a hardware fault, possibly in the handle, spindle, gearbox or locking strip. Inspection identifies the part, and we discuss compatible options before any work begins.
Only carry out the check if the window opens normally and you can operate it safely. Stop if the handle or key requires force, and never force a stiff one. If a component becomes loose, starts bending or needs excessive force, stop using the window.
Because a locking system has several connected parts, one problem can affect the handle, sash or locking points. What your result shows helps establish whether the work requires an adjustment, replacement of one part or a compatible replacement mechanism. Tell us whether the window is stuck, difficult to close or no longer locks securely; those details help us understand it and arrange an inspection.
Urgent help: unable to make a ground-floor or otherwise accessible window secure? Give us a call.
What Is Your Window Actually Doing?
You do not need the trade names to describe a window fault. Pick the symptom closest to yours below and tell us when you call; it covers the usual problems with handles, mechanisms and alignment, and everything is still inspected before the required work is confirmed.
The handle spins, or is loose or wobbly
Likely causes are loose fixings, a worn spindle or damage within the handle. In some cases a replacement handle fixes it outright, but the locking mechanism is checked as well before the repair is confirmed.
The window will not lock though the handle turns
When the spindle, gearbox or locking strip fails, the handle can move without operating the locking points. The window may seem closed but remain unsecured, so an accessible window should not be left this way.
The window is stuck shut, so it will not open
The likely cause is a jammed handle, gearbox or locking strip stopping the sash from opening. Please don't force the handle or pull on the frame; that only strains the hardware. Inspection identifies what has jammed and confirms how to open it safely.
The window will not close properly
The sash may have dropped or shifted out of alignment. Hinges that have worn or keeps that sit wrongly can stop it closing and locking. That often means adjustment, not a new lock, while forcing it adds strain to the hardware.
In the handle, the key will not turn
The key could be worn or damaged, or the little lock inside the handle may have failed. Try an undamaged spare, but do not force either key. On some windows the locking handle is replaced as one unit, with new keys.
Urgent help: if an accessible window will not secure,.
Have You Lost Your Window Key?
Here is the honest answer about window keys: a replacement may be available without changing anything, as long as the handle and key pattern can be identified. Some locking window handles use well-known key patterns, and a code on the handle or on another key can help identify the correct replacement. Availability still varies with the handle, the key pattern and the supplier. Don't push a lookalike key into the lock to test it, because it may not match the pattern inside and could damage the handle.
A replacement locking handle may be a better choice when the correct key cannot be located. The same applies when the lock is damaged or unreliable, when the handle has stopped working, or when keys are out there that you can no longer account for and you want them to stop working. A compatible replacement handle is supplied with matching new keys, much as a door cylinder is changed when keys go missing.
No New Window Is Needed
Glazing firms replace windows. Locksmiths repair the hardware that locks them. It is worth knowing the difference, because a window that will not lock, open or close properly may not need replacing at all; the correct service depends on whether the fault lies in the locking hardware or in the window's wider structure.
Usually a hardware job
- A handle that is loose, broken or spinning
- A key or handle that no longer operates the locking points
- A stiff or jammed gearbox or locking mechanism
- Locking points that fail to engage the frame
- A minor alignment problem affecting the lock
These may be fixed with an adjustment, a repair or a compatible replacement component.
Usually another trade
- Damaged glass or a damaged sealed unit
- A frame that is cracked or badly distorted
- Structural damage to the opening sash
- Misalignment severe enough to fall outside the locksmith's scope
- A problem that repairing the lock would not resolve
A glazier normally handles glass and sealed units, and a window specialist may be required where the frame or sash needs structural work. If you are unsure, we assess the fault and explain whether it is within our window-lock service; when another trade is more suitable, we tell you before any work is agreed.
The Parts That Fail on a uPVC Window
Four components do the work of locking a uPVC window, and almost every fault involves one of them. Knowing which helps you describe the problem and helps us find the right part.
The handle and spindle
The handle is what you turn. Its connection to the locking mechanism inside the sash is provided by a square metal spindle. Loose fixings, a worn spindle or damage inside the handle can stop the lock working, and if nothing else is affected, replacing that part may be the only repair.
Your gearbox
Behind the handle is the gearbox, transferring the handle's movement to the mechanism. Signs of a fault are stiffness, a handle spinning without engaging, or locking points that no longer move. Depending on design it is replaced separately or as part of the strip, and must match the existing dimensions and mechanism.
The espagnolette strips
The "espag" is the metal strip fitted along the sash edge, carrying the locking points that engage the frame; certain windows use a related shootbolt system. When bent, worn or jammed, it can prevent opening or locking, and the replacement has to be compatible with the window dimensions and existing hardware.
Hinges and the keeps
The friction hinges support the opening sash and shape how it sits in the frame. The keeps receive the locking points. The window can struggle to close and lock smoothly if the hinges are worn or the keeps are incorrectly positioned. A window specialist may be needed where the fault goes wider.
Let us know whether the window is stuck, difficult to close or will not lock, what happens at the handle or key, and the open-sash result if you completed it safely. That description gives us the price on the call, which stands unless the job differs on site; you hear any change before work starts. The agreed work is carried out and tested with you where practical. It is normally a planned appointment in Farnborough; if an accessible window cannot be secured, call to discuss current urgent availability.
[DEVELOPER NOTE — remove before publication: use an original labelled diagram showing the handle, spindle, gearbox, espagnolette strip, locking points, keeps and friction hinges.]
Locksmith pricing
What Does It Cost to Repair a Window Lock?
Window not locking properly, and wondering what it will cost? The fault, the component affected and the work required decide the price. The parts and labour needed differ depending on whether the fault is a loose handle, poor alignment or a failed locking mechanism. Typically, replacing a handle is the lowest-cost outcome and replacing a whole espagnolette strip the highest, with a gearbox between them; all are normally well below the cost of a replacement window.
What affects the price - Type of fault: an alignment adjustment involves different work from repairing a jammed mechanism. - The part: the price can vary between handle, gearbox and the wider locking mechanism. - Parts availability: older or discontinued hardware may take longer to identify or require a suitable alternative. - Windows affected: let us know when several windows need attention, allowing us to consider the work together.
Start by telling us what the window is doing and how many windows need attention, sharing clear photographs if requested. If you can, do the open-sash check: it shows whether an adjustment may solve the problem. Your description lets us price the work on the call, and that price holds unless the job differs on site. We explain any resulting change and agree the repair with you before work gets under way. That holds across uPVC, aluminium and timber windows, with lock and alignment problems assessed and repair and replacement options explained. There's no call-out charge. Day or night, 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.
Would you like us to look at a window lock that is faulty or unreliable? Call us.
What affects the cost?
Service required, time of attendance, lock and door type, labour and parts.
Locksmith pricing
How a Job Works
- Give us the details: what the window does, and how the handle behaves with the sash open.
- We match those details to the most likely failed part and quote a price.
- We carry out the repair, then test that the window opens, closes and locks properly.
Where a ground-floor window won't secure, ring us; the line is staffed 24 hours and the call-out costs nothing.
What affects the cost?
Service required, time of attendance, lock and door type, labour and parts.
Home Insurance and Your Window Locks
Your window locks may be part of your home-insurance terms. Some policies specify key-operated locks or other security measures for windows that are easy to reach, ground-floor ones and those near a flat roof, balcony or extension being typical. Requirements vary by insurer and property, so read your policy wording or ask your insurer to confirm what applies. If a window will not lock, the key has stopped turning or the handle no longer operates the mechanism, tell us, and share any written requirement. The work could involve an adjustment, a repair or a compatible replacement component, depending on the fault. An inspection of the window allows us to advise whether fitting a suitable key-operated locking handle or window lock would be possible. Whether that satisfies your cover is something only your insurer can confirm.
Window Lock Repairs Across Farnborough
Several windows often fail together, so we repair and replace window locks for homeowners, landlords and businesses across Farnborough as a booked job. The work covers every postcode in GU14, including South Farnborough, North Farnborough, North Camp, Cove, Fox Lane and West Heath, in a built-up area of around 60,700 usual residents (Census 2021, ONS).
The hardware depends on the age of the home. Here, 4.8% 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% from 2009 (VOA council tax property stock, 31 March 2026), so later uPVC windows are common, with older timber ones in the earlier streets. Cove is mostly houses, and North Camp has a high share of private renting (Census 2021, ONS; indicative).
The national planning dataset lists no conservation area in Farnborough, though it has known gaps; mending a window lock leaves the window unchanged, but replacing windows is a question for the council.
Emergency and planned locksmith services
Book a Window Lock Repair in Farnborough
Call 01252 493213 to choose a time, and say how many windows are affected so they can be handled together. There is no call-out charge, and the price is agreed before work starts.
- Phone: 01252 493213
- Booked work: Monday to Friday, 7am to 6pm
01252 493213
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a broken window lock mean I need a new window?
Not usually. As long as the frame, glass and sealed unit remain suitable, the fault may well sit in the handle, spindle or locking mechanism, and a hardware repair is a small job compared with a replacement window. An inspection can confirm the answer: an adjustment, a repair, a replacement component, or, if the window itself is the problem, attention from another window specialist.
How do I know if it is the lock or the window itself?
Try the open-sash check. With the window open fully, turn the handle gently: smooth operation points to an alignment fault, typically a sash dropped on worn hinges or keeps out of position, while a handle that stays loose, stiff or ineffective points to the hardware itself. Never force it. Telling us the result usually lets us identify the job before we arrive.
My window handle is loose and spins. Is that expensive to fix?
Generally, no. Loose and spinning handles usually point to loose fixings or a worn spindle rather than a failed mechanism, and the handle is often the cheapest part on the window to replace. Replacing it can be the complete repair. We check the mechanism for deeper faults. Your description sets the call price, which holds unless the job differs on site; any change is explained before work starts.
Can I get a replacement key for my window lock?
In many cases you can. A key code, the model of the handle or a manufacturer marking may identify a compatible replacement key, and many window handles use widely shared patterns, though availability varies. Don't force a lookalike key. If the right one cannot be obtained, the lock is damaged or old keys are unaccounted for, replacing the locking handle is often the better answer.
Do my window locks affect my home insurance?
It is possible. Some home-insurance policies specify key-operated locks on accessible windows, commonly ground-floor ones and those reachable from a flat roof, balcony or extension. Requirements vary by insurer and property, so your policy wording is the place to check. If a window lock has failed, putting it right promptly matters for your cover as much as your security.
My window is stuck shut. Can you open it without breaking anything?
Generally, yes. When a window is stuck shut, the jam is normally in the mechanism or a worn locking strip, and it can usually be released without damage to the sash or glazing. We inspect it before confirming the cause and the opening method. Call before trying to force it, because forcing a jammed sash risks cracking the frame.
Can you do several windows in one visit?
Yes. Doing several windows in one visit avoids repeat appointments, and because windows of the same age often fail around the same time, it can catch problems early. Tell us the number of windows that need attention so the work can be considered together, and you will get an honest view of which need work now and which are fine.
Should I call a locksmith or a glazier?
For anything to do with the handle, spindle, lock or multipoint locking mechanism, call a locksmith. For broken glass, a damaged sealed unit or misting between the panes, a glazier is generally the appropriate tradesperson to contact. A window specialist may be needed to address structural issues affecting the sash or frame. Should we find the frame or glazing is the true cause, we will tell you rather than fitting parts that won't fix it.
Still have a question or need urgent assistance? Call 01252 493213, tell us what has happened and receive a current arrival estimate.