Locksmith Pimlico SW1V Lockouts and Lock Changes
For a locksmith in Pimlico, IDN Chelsea Locksmith comes out from Chelsea SW3 along the river and usually reaches SW1V in 25 to 45 minutes, 24 hours a day. We open locked flats and houses for £45 to £75, change euro cylinders for £40 to £65 and fit BS3621 mortice deadlocks for £60 to £85. There is no call out fee and we agree the price on the phone before setting off. Most Pimlico work is in converted stucco houses, estate flats and large managed blocks, and each of those needs a slightly different approach, set out below.
- DBS checked locksmith
- Public liability insured
- Over 5 years working in Chelsea
- Price agreed before work
- No call out fee
Pimlico's stucco terraces and the locks behind those portico doors
Pimlico was laid out in the nineteenth century as a grid of white stucco terraces, largely built by Thomas Cubitt, and most of those houses are now divided into flats. Behind each pillared porch there is normally a heavy timber front door shared by several households, then individual flat doors on each landing.
Those communal doors usually carry a rim nightlatch and sometimes an older mortice lock that nobody has a key for any more. Flat doors inside tend to have a nightlatch plus a 5 lever mortice deadlock. Keys get worn, locks get stiff, and the old mortice is often the one that finally refuses to turn. Our lock repair service frees and services a jammed lock for £35 to £60, and we only replace it if repair is not worth doing.
Streets we work on regularly include:
We usually reach Pimlico in 25 to 45 minutes from our base in Chelsea SW3, along the Embankment or via Pimlico Road; the price is confirmed on the phone before we set off.
Three kinds of Pimlico front door and what each one needs
Converted house flat
Timber flat door off a shared staircase, usually a nightlatch and a mortice. Lockouts are often a latch only and open without damage.
Best upgrade: British Standard nightlatch plus BS3621 mortice.
Estate flat
On estates such as Churchill Gardens the flat entrance door is often a fire rated door owned by the landlord. We open lockouts with proof of residence.
Lock changes need the landlord's agreement and must keep the fire rating.
Managed block flat
Large blocks such as Dolphin Square have their own management. We ask you to let the building know we are coming so we can get to your door.
Your own flat lock is usually yours to change; shared doors are the management's.
If you live in a fire rated flat door, any new lock has to suit the door, which is why we fit locks tested for that use. Our fire door locks page explains what that means in practice.
Pimlico locksmith prices
Daytime jobs sit at the lower end; nights, weekends and high security parts at the higher end, always agreed before we set off.
| Job | Typical price |
|---|---|
| House or flat lockout Non destructive entry first | £45 to £75 |
| Lock repair Stiff or jammed mortice and rim locks | £35 to £60 |
| Euro cylinder change Up to TS007 3 star anti snap | £40 to £65 |
| Nightlatch replaced British Standard nightlatch on timber doors | £50 to £75 |
| BS3621 mortice deadlock Supplied and fitted | £60 to £85 |
| Gate lock Garden square and front gates, with authority | £40 to £75 |
| Door closer fitted or repaired Shared front doors in converted houses | £40 to £75 |
Prices include parts and labour. The lower figure is a standard daytime job, the higher figure covers nights, weekends and high security parts. Your exact price is confirmed on the phone before we travel, with no call out fee. See the full Chelsea price list.
Getting from Chelsea to Pimlico along the Embankment
Pimlico is the next district east of Chelsea, so our usual route is along Chelsea Embankment past the Royal Hospital, then onto Grosvenor Road, or through Sloane Square and down Pimlico Road towards Ebury Bridge. That puts us at the river side or the Victoria side of Pimlico depending on where you are.
The residential grid is set up to discourage through traffic, so a street that looks close on the map can mean a loop around the block. Give us the nearest corner when you call, for example Lupus Street and Cambridge Street, and we will find you faster. Typical arrival is 25 to 45 minutes, and we confirm it before leaving.
Common Pimlico lock problems, likely causes and what they cost
| What you notice | Likely cause | Usual fix | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mortice key turns half way and sticks | Worn levers or a dry, old lock | Service or repair the lock | £35 to £60 |
| Shared front door swings open | Tired closer or a dropped door | Adjust or replace the closer | £40 to £75 |
| Key snapped in the cylinder | Worn key or forcing a stiff lock | Extract and test, or replace | £35 to £60 |
| Nightlatch will not deadlock | Basic latch with no deadlocking button | British Standard nightlatch | £50 to £75 |
| Square gate lock hard to turn | Weather and heavy use | Repair or replace the gate lock | £40 to £75 |
Every price is confirmed on the phone before we travel. The complete list is on our Chelsea locksmith pricing page.
Garden square gates and residents' keys in SW1V
Several Pimlico squares, Eccleston Square and Warwick Square among them, have private gardens for residents, with locked gates and a key system run by a garden committee. When a gate lock seizes or a key breaks in it, residents call us.
We repair and replace those gate locks for £40 to £75, but only on instruction from the committee or managing agent, because changing the lock changes access for every household on the square. We will not cut or supply a garden key to an individual without that authority. If you have lost your garden key, the committee is the right first call.
Pimlico hotels, guest houses and buy to let flats
Belgrave Road and the streets near Victoria have a long run of small hotels and guest houses, and Pimlico as a whole has a high share of rented flats. That produces a steady flow of business calls: a room door that will not open, an office lock that needs changing after a staff member leaves, or a back door that has to be secured after a break in.
Our commercial locksmith service covers that work, with written prices sent by WhatsApp or text if you need them for the owner. For landlords, a lock change between tenancies is quick, and the make and model of every lock fitted is written on the invoice for your records.
Emergency locksmith Pimlico: what happens when you call
- You call 07520 643913. The locksmith answers, asks what kind of door and lock you have, and gives you a price range and an arrival time.
- We travel from Chelsea. Usually 25 to 45 minutes. If you are waiting outside at night, we can stay on the phone or text when we are close.
- We open without damage first. Drilling or replacing a lock is a last resort and we tell you before doing it.
- We check you live there. A letter, bill or tenancy agreement once the door is open is fine.
- You pay once the job is done and tested.
If a child, a vulnerable person or a pet is shut inside, or a bath or hob is running, call 999 first. For more on night work see our 24 hour emergency locksmith page, and for neighbouring areas see our Belgravia locksmith and the full list of areas we cover.
Common questions
Is there a 24 hour locksmith covering Pimlico?
Yes. We answer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including bank holidays, and come out from Chelsea SW3. Arrival in Pimlico is usually 25 to 45 minutes and we confirm the time when you call.
How much does a locksmith cost in Pimlico?
A lockout is £45 to £75, a euro cylinder change £40 to £65 and a BS3621 mortice deadlock £60 to £85 fitted. There is no call out fee, and the exact price is agreed on the phone before we travel.
Can you change the lock on a Churchill Gardens flat?
If the flat is rented from a council or housing association, the entrance door usually belongs to the landlord and is fire rated, so you need their agreement before a lock change. We can still open a lockout with proof of residence.
I lost my key to the Eccleston Square garden. Can you cut a new one?
No. Garden square keys are controlled by the garden committee, and we only work on those gates with the committee's instruction. Contact the committee or managing agent for a replacement key. We can repair or replace the gate lock if they ask us to.
Do you work on Banham locks in Pimlico?
Yes. We open, repair and replace locks on doors fitted with Banham locks. Banham registered keys can only be cut by Banham, so if you want keys you can copy freely we can fit another high security lock instead. See our Banham locks page.
Can you fit sash window locks in a Pimlico flat?
Yes. Period sash windows in Pimlico conversions often have only a basic catch. We fit dual screws, locks and restrictors that let you open the window a little safely. Details are on our sash window locks page.
Related pages
Locked out in Pimlico?
Call 07520 643913 for a price and an arrival time before we leave Chelsea.