What Locks Can Locksmiths Not Open?

The word 'picking' covers several techniques — none of which we will detail here for obvious safety reasons — but the core idea is that a skilled locksmith manipulates the internal components of a lock without cutting or forcing anything. For the most common door configurations across Wandsworth — a Yale-type nightlatch on the top rail and a 5-lever mortice deadlock lower down — non-destructive entry is usually straightforward in experienced hands. The nightlatch is typically the faster of the two; the mortice deadlock takes more time but rarely needs to be drilled. uPVC and composite doors with a multipoint locking system and a euro cylinder present a different challenge: the technique shifts to the cylinder itself, and a well-maintained lock of reasonable quality can still be opened cleanly the majority of the time.

What makes the difference is condition and quality. A lock that has been properly lubricated, has no damaged internal components, and has not been partially forced before we arrive stands a very good chance of being opened without damage. A lock that a resident has already tried to force with a credit card, a screwdriver, or a hairpin — yes, it still happens — may have displaced internal parts that make non-destructive entry impossible. If you are locked out, the single most useful thing you can do before calling us is stop trying to open it yourself and check whether a window latch is accessible from outside, whether a neighbour holds a spare key, or whether a letting agent or managing agent has a copy on file. Then call 020 3757 5840 and we will send someone straight away — we are usually with you in about 30 minutes.

Some locks are specifically engineered to resist the same techniques locksmiths use, because they also resist burglars. High-security cylinders rated to TS007 3-star or those carrying the BS3621 kite mark — the standard many Wandsworth home insurers require — incorporate anti-pick pins, anti-drill plates, and hardened steel inserts. A skilled locksmith can still often open these without destruction, but it takes considerably longer, and in a small number of cases the security features do their job so effectively that drilling becomes unavoidable. That is not a failure on the locksmith's part; it is the lock doing exactly what it was bought to do.

Euro cylinders without anti-snap protection present an entirely different problem. Rather than resisting entry, they can be snapped in seconds by a burglar using basic tools — a technique that remains one of the most common methods of break-in across south London. If you have recently moved into a flat or house in the SW18 or SW17 area and you are not certain what cylinder is fitted, that is worth checking before you need us in an emergency. When we do attend an emergency locksmith London call and find a snapped or damaged cylinder, the lock almost always needs to be replaced rather than opened, because the mechanism is physically broken. We carry replacement cylinders and can fit a TS007-rated anti-snap upgrade on the same visit.

Drilling a lock is a last resort, not a default. Any 24 hour locksmith London homeowners trust should be able to explain clearly why drilling is necessary before they start, not after. The genuine scenarios where it cannot be avoided include: a lock that has seized completely due to a broken key stuck deep inside the barrel; a multipoint lock on a uPVC door where the mechanism has failed in the locked position due to a snapped handle spindle; and those high-security cylinders mentioned above where every non-destructive avenue has been exhausted. In each of these cases, the lock or cylinder will need to be replaced anyway — so drilling does not create an additional cost on top of a repair, it is simply the first step of a replacement.

When we advise that drilling is necessary, we explain exactly what will be replaced, confirm the full price with you before any work begins, and carry out the replacement on the same visit. The final price depends on factors including the type of lock and door, the specific parts required, the time of day, and travel distance — all of which we confirm with you on the phone before we come out. There are no surprises at the door.

Whether your lock has been drilled, damaged in a break-in, or has simply worn out after years of use, a lock change London homeowners arrange through us follows a consistent process. We assess the door and frame first — there is no point fitting a new cylinder into a door where the frame or the keep (the metal plate the bolt locks into) has been weakened, because the new lock will offer false security. If the frame is sound, we fit the replacement, check the alignment, and test the door fully before we leave.

For uPVC door lock repair London calls — which often come through when a multipoint lock has dropped, the door will not close properly, or the handle has become stiff — the fix may be a new gearbox within the multipoint mechanism rather than a full lock change. We carry common gearbox sizes on the van for exactly this reason. If you are a tenant, it is worth letting your letting agent know if the fault looks like wear rather than accidental damage, as the repair may be the landlord's responsibility under the tenancy agreement. We are equally happy to work directly with letting agents and housing associations across the Wandsworth area.

Being locked out London-side — whether that is a flat on Garratt Lane, a Victorian terrace near Earlsfield station, or a newer build in the streets around Wandsworth Common — tends to feel more urgent in the dark or the rain. A calm, quick checklist before you call us can occasionally solve the problem without any call-out at all: check every window that might be on the latch, particularly ground floor or garden-facing ones; call anyone who holds a spare key, including family, a trusted neighbour, or your letting agent; and if you are a tenant in a managed block of flats, check whether a caretaker or concierge is on duty and holds a master key for the communal entrance. If none of that works, call 020 3757 5840 — we answer around the clock on evenings, weekends, and bank holidays.

Once we arrive, we will ask you to confirm you have a right to access the property — this is standard practice and not a reflection of doubt; it protects both you and us. A utility bill, a driving licence showing the address, or a tenancy agreement is all we need. After entry, we will tell you honestly whether the lock is in good condition and can continue to be used, whether it needs servicing, or whether a door lock replacement London job is advisable before you go to bed that night. We will never recommend work that is not genuinely needed, and we will always give you the full picture so you can make an informed decision.