Are locksmiths licensed in the UK? – Regulations & trading as a locksmith
It may come as a surprise to you but the fact of the matter is that locksmith remains unregulated as a trade by the UK government. In other words, literally any Tom, Dick, or Harry could pick up their tools and start operating as a locksmith in the neighbourhood with checks and balances! It creates chaos for industry veterans and actual locksmiths. So, how do we unmask humbugs in this trade and check a locksmith’s competence & background to ensure they’re the real deal? All of this will be discussed in detail in this short yet comprehensive blog.
Unregulated, Unchecked: The Locksmith Trade
“It will come as a surprise… that there is no regulatory regime for locksmiths in the UK. Absolutely anyone can advertise, trade, buy locksmiths’ tools and call themselves a locksmith, without training, going through any vetting process or providing proof that they are qualified.”
As the quote says, anybody in England and Wales can start working as a locksmith even if they are utterly and completely unqualified for such sensitive a profession. That’s because locksmiths don’t need formal licenses or qualifications to be able to practice. It means that many unlicensed and incompetent individuals are masquerading around, pretending to be locksmiths, when they are not fit to even touch a door handle! That’s why poor folks all over the nation are being fooled and swindled by humbugs. These unqualified people are overcharging clients in exchange for substandard work. A recent report says that a young lady was forced to pay over 1.4k pounds to two “locksmiths” when her key snapped in the door lock!
Counting Locksmiths in England: How Many Are There?
Why do people even pretend to be locksmiths? Well, data suggests that an average locksmith’s earnings range from £23k to £30k for 44 hours/week of work at max). That’s why over 7,100 people are working as locksmiths in England alone (a 6.7% increase in the last two years). It will surprise you to learn, however, that less than 400 locksmiths are approved to work.
Why are There Locksmiths with No Formal Training?
Pensioners are being charged around 1,600 pounds by fraud locksmiths! That’s an outrage. And it was made possible by the fact that the profession of locksmithing is highly unregulated in our country. As a result, these locksmiths are charging extraneous amounts for their substandard & poor-quality work. For instance, some “locksmiths” will arrive at your location and drill a hole in your door right away; that’s not how actual locksmiths operate. We try non-invasive methods to gain entry and try to minimise the damage to your property. Bait and switch scams are also very common in which a “locksmith” quotes you a low price at first (40-60 pounds) only to ask for an incredibly oversaturated amount after finishing their job.
Choose DBS-Verified Local Locksmiths
Tired of locksmithing scams and want to hire an actual, vetted locksmith? At Lock & Key Leeds, we’ll provide you with highly qualified, background-checked, DBS-verified, experienced, and reliable professionals. Give us a call and we’ll send the best person to resolve your lock-related issue.
