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Locksmith for Oxford Landlords Letting Agents and Movers
What a locksmith does at each stage of a property's life in Oxford: the day you get the keys, every tenancy changeover, shared houses, empty properties and keeping track of who holds what.
Book a landlord or move in lock change
Tell us what you need and we will call you straight back. Calling is quickest: 07520 644 595. Photos by WhatsApp: 07466 695655
Day one lock change
Rekey from £45 to £65 per lock so previous owners' keys stop working
Tenancy turnovers
Same day changes between tenants with an itemised invoice for your records
HMO master key systems
One key for the landlord, one per room for tenants, designed from £195
Key registers that work
Numbered keys and a simple log so you know every copy in circulation
A locksmith for landlords, letting agents and people moving house handles the lock work at each stage of a property’s life: changing or rekeying locks the day you take over, securing it between tenancies, setting up master key systems in shared houses and protecting empty properties. We cover Oxford and Oxfordshire 24 hours a day from North Oxford, agree a fixed price first and give an itemised invoice for every property. A rekey costs £45 to £65 per lock, and a euro cylinder lock change is £65 to £85 plus the lock.
Should I Change the Locks When I Move House?
Yes, and ideally on the day you get the keys. You have no way of knowing how many copies the previous owners made, who they lent them to, or whether builders, cleaners or a former partner still have one. The estate agent hands over the keys they were given, not every key that exists.
You do not always need new locks. Rekeying changes the inside of a lock so old keys no longer work, which is quicker and cheaper if the locks are in good condition. Replacing makes sense if the locks are old, worn or not to a recognised standard.
| Situation | Rekey | Replace |
|---|---|---|
| Locks in good condition, already rated | Best choice, £45 to £65 per lock | Not needed |
| Unrated euro cylinders on uPVC doors | Possible but misses a chance to upgrade | Fit 3 star cylinders, £95 to £135 + cylinder |
| Old 2 or 3 lever mortice on timber door | Not worth it | BS3621 5 lever, £85 to £115 + lock |
| Lock stiff or damaged | Not suitable | Lock change or repair |
Both options are covered by our lock rekey service and same day door lock change. While we are there, it is worth checking garage, shed and window locks too, because those keys rarely make it into the handover pack.
Lock Changes Between Tenancies
When a tenant leaves, the keys returned to you are only the keys you know about. Changing or rekeying the external locks before the next tenant moves in is widely regarded as good practice, and some insurers and letting agents expect it. It also protects you if a former tenant is later suspected of entering.
- Confirm the check out date and that the property is legally vacated.
- Book the lock work for after check out and before the inventory for the new tenancy.
- Keyed alike option. Front and back door on one key is easier for tenants and cuts down copies.
- Count and number the keys before you hand them over, and record them in the inventory.
- Keep the invoice with your tenancy file as evidence the locks were changed.
Agents managing several properties can send us a list of addresses and door types in advance. We price each one before starting and send a separate itemised invoice per property for the landlord.
Locks in HMOs and Shared Student Houses
Oxford has a large private rented sector with many houses in multiple occupation, and Oxford City Council runs an HMO licensing scheme. Licence conditions and fire safety guidance can affect which locks you can fit, so always check your own licence and the latest council guidance before changing anything on an escape route.
The general principles we work to are:
- Escape routes should open without a key from inside. Front doors and bedroom doors on the route out are commonly fitted with a thumbturn or a lock that opens by handle from inside, rather than a key operated deadlock. Check your fire risk assessment.
- Bedroom doors need their own lock so tenants can secure their room, often a lock that latches when the door closes and opens from inside without a key.
- Fire doors stay fire doors. Cutting a fire door for a new lock must be done in a way that keeps its rating, and door closers must still shut the door fully. Our door closer fitting covers adjustment and replacement.
Not legal advice
We fit locks, we do not set licence conditions. If a council inspection or fire risk assessment names a specific lock type, give us the wording and we will fit to it.
Master Key Systems for Landlords With Shared Houses
In a six bedroom shared house, you could end up with a ring of 14 different keys. A master key system replaces that with a planned set: each tenant’s key opens their own room and the front door, while your master key opens every door in the building. How we design and fit one is explained on our master key systems for HMOs and offices page.
Tenant key
Opens their own bedroom plus the front and back doors. Cannot open other rooms.
Cleaner or contractor key
Opens communal areas, bins and plant rooms only.
Landlord master
Opens every lock, kept securely and never issued to tenants.
Design costs £195 to £395 plus £45 per lock. When a tenant loses a key, only their room cylinder and the common door need attention, not the whole house. Larger blocks and mixed use buildings are handled by our commercial locksmith service. Shared mailboxes in flats can be changed too, see mailbox lock replacement.
Securing a Void or Empty Property
A property between tenants or waiting for a sale is a target for theft of fixtures, squatting and simple vandalism. A few lock jobs make it clearly occupied and hard to enter.
- Fit a deadlock on every external door, not just the front. On timber doors, add security bolts top and bottom on doors you do not need to use.
- Lock every window and remove the keys from the property.
- Lock side gates, garages and sheds, and remove ladders and tools.
- Clear post weekly and keep curtains in a normal position.
- Arrange a regular inspection and log each visit.
If you take over a property and find damage from a break in, our make safe service secures doors and frames the same day.
Keep a Key Register for Every Property
Most problems landlords bring us start with not knowing who holds a key. A simple register fixes that.
| Record | Example entry |
|---|---|
| Key number | Front door key 3 of 4 |
| Issued to | Tenant, room 2 |
| Date issued and returned | 1 September, returned 30 June |
| Lock and cylinder type | Euro cylinder, 3 star, keyed alike front and back |
| Last change or rekey | Date and invoice reference |
Store spare keys coded, never labelled with the address. Agents holding keys for many properties should use a locked key cabinet with a sign out sheet. If a key goes missing, rekey that lock straight away rather than hoping it turns up.
Selling a Property: Keys on Completion Day
Sellers and estate agents can make life easier for the buyer and avoid last minute calls on completion day.
- Gather every key a month before completion, including garage, shed, window and meter cupboard keys, and label them by door rather than by address.
- Fix faults before the sale. A uPVC door that needs a shoulder to lock or a cylinder that sticks will show up on the buyer’s first day. An adjustment is £65 to £95 and a lock repair £55 to £85 on a no fix, no fee basis.
- Tell the buyer which locks are rated and when they were last changed, so they can decide whether to rekey or replace.
- Hand over window lock keys, which are the ones most often lost in a move.
For agents, a key pack listing each door, its lock type and the number of keys saves a phone call from every buyer who cannot work out which key opens the back gate.
When a Tenancy Ends Through the Courts
Sometimes a tenancy ends through a possession order and enforcement, rather than a tenant leaving. Changing locks on a tenant without going through the correct legal process can amount to unlawful eviction, so lock changes must only happen once possession has been lawfully obtained, usually with the enforcement officer present. Our tenant eviction lock change service works to that timing and is priced at £165 to £225 plus locks.
Whatever stage your property is at, you can find related guides in our locksmith advice library, including a door by door security checklist that suits a new purchase, and our guide to whether digital door locks make sense for rentals.
Landlord and moving house lock prices
Fixed prices including VAT and labour, with locks listed separately on an itemised invoice per property.
| Service | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Lock rekey | £45 to £65 per lock | Old keys stop working, existing lock kept |
| Front or back door lock change (euro cylinder) | £65 to £85 + lock £25 to £40 | 3 keys included, same day |
| Anti snap cylinder upgrade (TS007 3 star) | £95 to £135 + cylinder £50 to £120 | Upgrade while changing over |
| Mortice deadlock fitting (BS3621 5 lever) | £85 to £115 + lock £35 to £65 | Timber external doors |
| Master key system | £195 to £395 design + £45 per lock | HMOs, blocks and mixed use buildings |
| Tenant eviction lock change | £165 to £225 + locks | Once possession is lawfully obtained |
| Extra keys | £8 to £25 per key | Numbered copies for tenants and agents |
Prices include VAT and labour. Parts are listed separately. See the full Oxford locksmith price list.
