Lockout assistance
Locked Out of Your House in Bournemouth? 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 Bournemouth, 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 check that you really are locked out.
- Walk the whole property, not just the door you are standing at.
- Call anyone who holds a spare key.
- If you rent, call your landlord or letting agent.
- If none of those work, call a locksmith.
01202 935089
Worth Checking Before You Call: Three Things
Could you get back in without us? Quite possibly, and it is worth finding out before you book a locksmith in Bournemouth. Run through these three safe checks first.
Another entrance
Lockouts often involve a single locked door. Try any back door, side door, other door or window you can reach without risk. It may still be unlocked.
A spare key holder
Think beyond the obvious. A partner at work, a parent, a friend or the neighbour you once gave a key to could have you inside before a technician could arrive.
Your landlord
Tenants should ring the landlord, letting agent or the emergency contact listed in their tenancy paperwork. Many keep spares.
What you should not do is improvise. Stay at ground level, avoid unsafe windows and do not force or lever anything, because a damaged door or a fall is much worse than being stuck outside for a while.
Should You Call the Fire Brigade or the Police?
Only if someone is in danger. In an ordinary lockout the police and fire brigade generally will not attend, and a locksmith is the appropriate person to call when nobody is at immediate risk.
Danger changes everything. Dial 999 first if there is a fire, if someone inside needs urgent medical attention, or if a child, older person or vulnerable person is trapped indoors and at risk. Any immediate threat to life or property is an emergency services matter.
Most lockouts are nothing like that. Keys left inside, keys lost, a lock that will not turn: in each case you are inconvenienced rather than endangered, and the right call is to a locksmith who can get you back in. Save 999 for the moments when it is genuinely needed.
Why Forcing the Door Turns Out to Be the Expensive Option
Locked out and thinking about forcing the door? Before you do, weigh up what it is likely to cost you.
The door and lock. The cylinder, handle, locking mechanism, seals or frame can be damaged as a result of someone leaning against the door or inserting objects around the lock. A plain lockout becomes a repair.
A uPVC door. Its locking parts are linked, so forcing it can affect several at once, and the slab itself may crack.
A window. Breaking glass risks injury, leaves the house open and may add glazing or temporary boarding to the cost of the lockout.
The online tricks. A card in the gap only works on a latch left unlocked, which is rare on modern UK doors, and a lock that gives way that easily would give way to a burglar too, so it would need upgrading in any case.
Set against all that, a locksmith assesses the door and lock, chooses a method to suit them and tries non-destructive entry first wherever the lock's type and condition allow. If the lock is broken, seized or will not open by a suitable non-destructive method, you are told the reason and the expected cost of any additional work before it is carried out. For more, see lock replacement and 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.
Locksmith pricing
What Does It Cost to Get Back Into Your House?
Most people want to know the cost before anything else, so here it is: a standard lockout from Monday to Friday, 7am to 6pm, starts from £70.80 including VAT. It is a starting price for a straightforward weekday job, not a fixed charge for every lockout.
Whatever brought you here, keys left inside, keys lost or a lock that will no longer open, start by telling us where you are and what has happened. We price the job on the call from what you describe, taking into account:
- what lock is fitted and its condition
- the entry method it calls for
- whether it is damaged or seized already
- any replacement parts or repairs
- the day and the time
The short version: “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.” You are never billed separately for a technician arriving. Where the lock type and condition permit, non-destructive entry is tried first to prevent needless damage, and if something on site means different or extra work, the technician explains the reason for the change in price before going ahead.
What affects the cost?
Service required, time of attendance, lock and door type, labour and parts.
Locksmith pricing
Locked Out of a Rented Property in Bournemouth?
If you rent, try other safely reachable doors and windows, then contact your landlord, letting agent, tenancy emergency number or anyone with a spare key. They may hold a spare key, or have an agreed procedure for helping tenants get back inside, and that route may cost you nothing.
If you cannot reach them, or they are unable to help, we can attend and open the door. We may request information to confirm your residency at the address or your permission to arrange access before we begin. Landlords and letting agents can also contact us directly when an authorised tenant or occupant is locked out of a property they manage in Bournemouth, and it is handled like any other lockout. See our residential locksmith services.
What affects the cost?
Service required, time of attendance, lock and door type, labour and parts.
Common Lockout Situations That We Attend
Two lockouts that look identical from the doorstep can need different work. It all depends on where the key is, whether the lock still operates and whether the door or lock has already been damaged.
Keys that are locked inside the house
The door closed while the keys sat on a table, lay in another room or hung in the lock. An undamaged lock can often be opened by a suitable non-destructive method, without any replacement.
Keys that are lost or stolen
Entry fixes only the immediate problem. Depending on the circumstances, changing the lock can be advisable, so whoever has those keys cannot later use them to let themselves in.
Snapped key in the lock
The trapped section can stop the door from opening. Resist forcing what remains or poking tools into the lock. We can take the broken piece out and check the lock still works safely.
Key left on the other side of the door
Some night latches and euro cylinders will not let an outside key operate while one is in the other side. Opening it is often still possible, depending on the lock. Tell us when you call; stop turning your key, and do not force the door.
The lock will not turn and has failed
Keys are not always the cause. Wear in the cylinder, a failed multipoint mechanism or poor door alignment can stop the lock operating, so the mechanism may need repair or replacement after entry.
Unsure what has caused your lockout? Talk it through on the call, or see lock repair and.
How Quickly Can We Reach You Now?
You will get an arrival estimate on the phone, worked out from where you are and where our nearest technician is at that moment. If one is already in your part of Bournemouth, it may be around 30 minutes. Otherwise also around 30 minutes, though it can take longer depending on where our nearest locksmith is when you call is more typical.
Traffic, the time of day and whether technicians are busy on other jobs all play a part, so the estimate you are given is honest rather than fixed in advance. Lockout calls are taken at any hour, including nights, weekends and bank holidays. If the time we gave you changes for any reason, we will contact you, explain what has happened and give you a fresh estimate.
Lockout Coverage Across Bournemouth
Lockouts are attended for homeowners, tenants, landlords and business premises across Bournemouth. Moordown, Charminster, Pokesdown, Winton, Springbourne and Boscombe are all covered, together with every postcode in the BH1 to BH11 districts and the parts of BH13 around Bournemouth.
Nearly half of Bournemouth households live in flats (48.2%), against 31.3% in detached houses, 13.8% semi-detached and 6.3% terraced (Census 2021, ONS), so a lockout may mean a communal door and a flat door. A technician confirms what is on the door. See all areas we cover.
Emergency and planned locksmith services
Call HD Locksmiths Bournemouth
Lockouts are answered 24 hours a day, with no call-out charge, an honest arrival estimate and the price given before anyone is sent; weekday lockouts start from £70.80 including VAT. Tell us what has happened and where you are.
- Phone: 01202 935089
01202 935089
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a locksmith open my door without damaging it?
Usually it can. A locksmith will first try to restore access without drilling or replacing the lock, using a non-destructive method where the lock type and condition permit. That leaves the lock working and your keys usable. Where a lock is broken or seized, or a suitable non-destructive method cannot open it, drilling or replacement may be required, and we explain the reason and the expected cost before starting it.
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?
On most modern UK doors, no. The only lock a card can get past is a spring latch that was not actually locked, and front doors usually rely on a euro cylinder or multipoint mechanism instead. Forcing a uPVC door can crack the slab, leaving you with a repair on top of the lockout. If your door does open to a card, it is not secure enough and needs upgrading.
Do I need to change my locks after being locked out?
It depends on what happened to the keys. Locked indoors? Then, provided the lock remains safe and serviceable, you can usually keep it after access is restored. Lost while you were out, or stolen? Then a lock change may be advisable, because those keys still exist and could later be used by someone else to enter your property.
How quickly can you get to me?
It depends on where you are, the time of day, traffic and whether a technician is on another job. You get a current estimate on the call, and no response time is guaranteed in advance.
I rent my home. Who should I call first?
Try any other door or window you can reach safely, then your landlord, letting agent or anyone with a spare key. Renting is common here: 33.5% of Bournemouth households rent privately and 10.4% from a social landlord (Census 2021, ONS). If none of them can let you in, call us and we can open the door; we may ask for confirmation that you live at the property or have permission to arrange entry.
My key is in the other side of the door. Can you still open it?
It is often possible, but which method is used will depend on the lock’s type and condition. A key left on the inside can stop an outside key working on some night latches and euro cylinders, and it is a common call-out. When calling, mention the key on the inside, as this influences how the lock is approached. Do not force the door or keep turning your key.
Still have a question or need urgent assistance? Call 01202 935089, tell us what has happened and receive a current arrival estimate.