Window lock services
Woking Window Lock Repair and Replacement
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?
If a ground-floor window cannot be secured tonight, call now; anything else can usually be booked. Woking Locksmith repairs and replaces window locks, handles and mechanisms on uPVC, aluminium and timber windows across Woking. A window that will not lock is nearly always a hardware fault, not a glass fault, so it calls for a repair rather than a new window. Call 01483 377197.
The usual complaints are a handle that is loose or spins, a handle that turns while nothing locks, and a window stuck shut. There is no call-out charge. If your problem is a uPVC door rather than a window, see uPVC door lock repair.
Is It the Lock, or Is It the Window?
A window that will not close or lock properly leaves the house less secure, but it rarely means the whole window has to go. If it opens and it is safe to do so, open it fully and work the handle and lock while the sash stands open.
If it locks fine with the sash open
Then the mechanism is doing its job and the trouble is alignment. The sash has dropped, the friction hinges have worn, or the frame has shifted, so the locking points no longer meet their keeps. That is an adjustment rather than a new mechanism, and it is the cheaper of the two outcomes. The parts section below shows where each piece sits.
If it fails with the sash open too
Then the fault is in the hardware itself: the handle, the spindle running from it, the gearbox behind it, or the espagnolette strip and shootbolts down the edge of the sash. These are all replaceable parts, and neither the glass nor the frame is involved. The parts section explains each one.
The fault sits in one of three places: the handle, the locking mechanism, or the way the window sits in its frame. Do not force a stiff handle or key, and stop using it altogether if a part works loose, starts to bend or needs real effort. If you cannot secure a ground-floor or otherwise reachable window, go to emergency locksmith.
What Is Your Window Doing?
Most window lock problems come down to a faulty handle, a failed mechanism or a window that no longer lines up with its frame. Use the descriptions below to explain the problem when you ring; the lock, handle and alignment are still inspected before the work is confirmed.
The handle is loose, wobbly or spins
Usually loose fixings, a worn or snapped spindle, or damage inside the handle. The handle is often the cheapest part on the window and is frequently the whole fix, so it gets checked first, along with the mechanism behind it, before anyone talks about bigger repairs.
The handle turns but the window will not lock
The handle moves but the locking points do not, usually because the spindle, the gearbox or the locking strip has failed. The window may look closed while being completely unsecured, so do not leave a reachable window like this. It is a replaceable part, not a reason for a new window. More on general faults under.
The window is stuck shut and will not open
A jammed handle, gearbox or locking strip can hold the sash closed. Do not force the handle or pull against the frame: forcing a jammed sash can crack it. An inspection finds what has jammed and how to open the window safely, without damaging the sash or the glazing, and then the failed part is replaced. If an accessible window cannot be secured, use.
The window will not close properly
Usually the sash has dropped on worn friction hinges, or the keeps on the frame sit in the wrong place. In most cases that means an adjustment rather than a new lock. Carrying on forcing the window shut puts more strain on the hardware, and that strain is what eventually breaks the gearbox.
The key will not turn in the handle
The key may be worn or bent, or the small lock inside the handle may have failed. If you have an undamaged spare, see whether it behaves the same, and do not force either key. On many windows the whole locking handle can be swapped and comes with new keys. See lost your window key below.
The Parts That Fail on a uPVC Window
Knowing what each part is called makes the fault easier to describe and the price easier to understand. There are four main pieces of hardware on a typical uPVC window.
The handle and spindle
The handle is the part you turn; a square metal spindle links it to the mechanism inside the sash. Loose fixings, a worn spindle or damage inside the handle can all stop the lock working. Where the fault goes no further, changing that one component may be the only repair needed. When you call, explain what happens when you turn the handle or key, and the open-sash result if you managed it safely.
The gearbox
Sitting directly behind the handle, the gearbox turns the handle's movement into travel along the locking strip. When it fails, the handle may feel stiff, spin freely or stop moving the locking points. Depending on the design it is swapped on its own or as part of the strip, and any replacement has to match the existing dimensions and mechanism. Other lock faults are covered under.
The espagnolette strip
The espagnolette, or espag, is the metal strip down the edge of the opening sash that carries the locking points into the frame; some windows use a related shootbolt system instead. Over time it can bend, wear or seize, which stops the window opening or locking. It is replaced as a unit, matched to the window's dimensions, the gearbox position and the existing hardware.
The hinges and keeps
Friction hinges carry the opening sash and decide how it sits in the frame. Keeps are the metal plates on the frame that take the locking points as the window closes. Worn hinges let a sash drop, and a dropped sash or badly placed keeps is the most common reason a window will not close and lock smoothly. Faults in the wider window may need a window specialist instead. Try the open-sash test to see which applies.
You Do Not Need a New Window
When a window will not lock, plenty of people phone the double glazing firm that fitted it or start pricing new windows. Whether a window needs replacing depends on whether the fault lies in the locking hardware or in the window's structure, and in most cases the glass, frame and sealed unit are fine. The failure is usually one of these:
- The handle is loose, broken or spinning
- The key or handle no longer moves the locking points
- The gearbox or mechanism is stiff or jammed
- The locking points do not catch the frame
Every one of those is a replaceable part. Glazing companies replace windows; locksmiths repair the hardware that locks them. The honest exception: if the frame itself is damaged or the sealed unit has failed, a glazier is the right call, and you will be told so. To book a hardware repair, call 01483 377197.
Lost Your Window Key?
A lot of uPVC window locks use a small number of standard key patterns rather than individually cut keys, so a generic replacement key is often easy to find. A code on an existing key or on the handle can help identify the right one, though availability depends on the handle, the pattern and the supplier. Do not force a key that only looks similar.
Replacing the locking handle is the answer when the right key cannot be found, the lock is non-standard or damaged, the handle itself has failed, or there are keys out there you can no longer account for. A new locking handle comes with new keys, which retires the old ones, the same reasoning that applies to door cylinders on our lock replacement page.
Window Locks and Your Home Insurance
Some home insurance policies specify key-operated locks or other security measures on accessible windows, typically on the ground floor and any window that can be reached from a flat roof, balcony or extension. So a failed window lock can matter for your cover as well as your security. Requirements vary between insurers and properties, so read your policy wording or ask your insurer what applies to your home; only the insurer can say whether a lock satisfies the policy. The work might be an adjustment, a repair or a compatible replacement part, and key-operated locks can be fitted where a window has none: see lock installation and BS 3621 and insurance-approved locks explained.
Locksmith pricing
What Does a Window Lock Repair Cost?
No price for window work has been published yet. [CLIENT TO CONFIRM: whether a window lock repair starting price can be published] A handle swap is normally the cheapest outcome and a full espagnolette replacement the most expensive, with a gearbox in between, and all three sit well below the cost of a new window. The open-sash check helps show whether an adjustment may be enough. The figure depends on:
- Which part has failed
- Whether it needs an adjustment or a replacement part
- How many windows need attention
- Whether the mechanism is a current pattern or an obsolete one needing a universal replacement
There is no call-out charge, and you get a price on the call from what you describe; if anything on site changes it, you hear before the agreed repair begins. We work on uPVC, aluminium and timber windows. Standard hours are Monday to Friday, 7am to 6pm, with evenings, nights, weekends and bank holidays at a higher labour rate. 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.
Call 01483 377197 for a price.
What affects the cost?
Service required, time of attendance, lock and door type, labour and parts.
How the Job Works
- Tell us what the window is doing, and whether it behaves the same with the sash open.
- We identify the likely part and give you a price.
- A technician [PROVIDER PACK: DBS check evidence] confirms the fault on site and shows you which part has failed before fitting anything.
- The repair is completed and the window is tested opening, closing and locking.
Window repairs are usually booked rather than treated as emergencies, unless a ground-floor window will not secure. Contact us to arrange a time.
Window Lock Repairs Across Woking
We repair and replace window locks for homeowners, landlords and businesses across Woking. This is mostly planned work, and one appointment can cover a single faulty window or several at the same address. [CLIENT TO CONFIRM: genuine coverage areas]
Window hardware tends to fail in batches of the same age. Across the town, 42.7% of homes date from 1945 to 1982, 22.4% from 1983 to 2008 and 11.8% from 2009 on, with 16.1% from 1900 to 1939 and 6.2% before 1900 (VOA CTSOP 4.1, 31 Mar 2026), so homes from the later periods have often had their original windows long enough for handles and gearboxes to wear. Around Mount Hermon there is a high share of flats and much private renting (Census 2021, output areas near Mount Hermon), which brings regular work for landlords. Woking has 14 conservation areas, including Old Woking, The Hockering and Mount Hermon (planning.data.gov.uk, Oct 2026); no Article 4 direction on doors or windows is recorded there, but that dataset has gaps, so treat it as unknown. Repairing the lock hardware does not change the window itself.
We cover the GU21 and GU22 postcode districts (ONSPD Feb 2026), a built-up area of around 75,700 people (Census 2021, ONS), including Mount Hermon, Knaphill and Horsell. From Woking we also serve three neighbouring towns, each with its own page: Sheerwater, New Haw and West Byfleet. See all areas we cover.
Emergency and planned locksmith services
Book a Window Lock Repair in Woking
Choose a time that suits you, and mention every window that is playing up, because several can usually be looked at in the same visit. A technician [PROVIDER PACK: DBS check evidence] checks the handle, mechanism and alignment, you get the price before any work, and nothing starts until you approve it. There is no call-out charge, and if a window cannot be secured, emergency calls are answered 24 hours a day, every day, including nights, weekends and bank holidays.
- Phone: 01483 377197
- WhatsApp: [CLIENT TO CONFIRM: WhatsApp availability]
- Online: contact us
01483 377197
Frequently Asked Questions
My window is stuck shut. Can you open it without breaking anything?
Usually, yes. A window stuck in the locked position normally has a jammed mechanism or a worn locking strip, and it can generally be released without harming the sash or the glazing. Call before forcing it, because pulling against a jammed sash can crack the frame.
Does a broken window lock mean I need a new window?
Not necessarily. If the glass, sealed unit and frame are sound, the fault may go no further than the handle, spindle, gearbox, locking strip or a worn hinge, all replaceable parts. An inspection shows whether the window needs an adjustment, a repair, a new component or a different window specialist.
How do I know if it is the lock or the window itself?
If the window opens normally and it is safe, try the handle carefully with the sash open. If it works more easily, the problem is probably alignment or the way the locking points meet the keeps. If it still fails, the handle, spindle or mechanism is the likely cause.
My window handle is loose and spins. Is that expensive to fix?
Usually not. A loose or spinning handle normally means a worn spindle or loosened fixings, and the handle is often the cheapest part on the window to replace. It is worth checking before assuming the mechanism has gone.
Can I get a replacement key for my window lock?
Often, yes. Many uPVC window locks use a small number of standard key patterns, and a code on the key or handle can help find the right one. If the key cannot be sourced, or you want old keys retired, a new locking handle with its own keys is the alternative.
Do my window locks affect my home insurance?
They can. Some policies specify key-operated locks on accessible windows, typically on the ground floor and any window reachable from a flat roof, balcony or extension. Requirements differ by insurer and property, so check your policy wording or ask your insurer.
Can you do several windows in one visit?
Usually, and it is often the sensible way to do it. Windows of the same age tend to fail around the same time, so if one handle or mechanism has gone, others may be close behind. Say how many windows need attention when you book. [CLIENT TO CONFIRM: how multi-window visits are scheduled and priced]
Should I call a locksmith or a glazier?
A locksmith for anything involving the handle, the locking mechanism, the hinges or how the sash meets the frame. A glazier for damage to the glass, the sealed unit or the frame itself. If the window turns out to need a glazier, you will be told.
Still have a question or need urgent assistance? Call 01483 377197, tell us what has happened and receive a current arrival estimate.