Terms and conditions for a locksmith

A locksmith's terms have two jobs that no other trade's terms have: proving the customer is entitled to be let in, and pricing an emergency before the van leaves so that the bill is not the second shock of the night. Add lock warranties, damage on entry and instructions from landlords, and the document earns its place. I draft those terms for a fixed fee of £995, delivered in five working days.

Who this is for

Locksmiths in England and Wales doing emergency entry, lock changes, repairs, upgrades and commercial security work for homeowners, tenants, landlords, letting agents and businesses. The terms are written for consumers and business customers together.

What matters in a locksmith's terms

Emergency call-outs and the price before you attend

The terms should state the call-out charge, the rates that apply on top, and any surcharge for nights and weekends, and should require the price to be confirmed to the customer before you set off. Under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 a headline price shown to consumers must include any mandatory charges, so 'from £' pricing that always ends higher is a risk in this trade in particular.

Proof of right of entry

You must not open a door for someone who is not entitled to be behind it. The terms should require the customer to prove identity and their right to enter the property, give you the right to refuse the job and charge for attendance if they cannot, and record that you rely on the information they give. Where a landlord or agent instructs a lock change, the terms should require them to confirm that they are legally entitled to change the locks on that property, because a locksmith who helps with an unlawful eviction has a problem of their own.

Damage on entry and the existing lock

Non-destructive entry is the aim, but it is not always possible. The terms should say that you will use non-destructive methods where practicable, that damage to a lock or door caused by a necessary destructive entry is not your liability if you took reasonable care, and that you are not responsible for the condition of existing locks, doors and frames. Replacement parts should be quoted before they are fitted.

Locks, keys and warranties

The terms should separate your workmanship guarantee from the manufacturer's warranty on the lock, say that keys cut to a customer's sample are cut at their risk, and deal with the handover of keys and the customer's responsibility for restricted or master key systems. Where you hold key records for a commercial customer, the terms should say how they are kept and who may authorise duplicates.

Cancellation, liability and payment

An emergency entry the customer asked for is an exception to the consumer's right to cancel under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, but only for the urgent work; a new lock fitted afterwards needs the customer's express request. Planned work agreed at the property or by phone carries the 14-day cancellation right. You cannot exclude liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, and against consumers you cannot cut down statutory rights, but for business customers you can cap liability and exclude consequential loss. Payment should be on completion, and business customers can be charged interest and compensation on late payment under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998.

What it costs

Customer or supplier terms and conditions, £995. One set of terms, customer-facing or supplier-facing, drafted around your business. Five working days.

Review of your existing terms, £495. You already have terms and want to know how much of a problem they are. Returned marked up with my amendments and an explanation of the changes. Three working days.

Buying online forms the engagement on payment. The scope is what the terms and conditions drafting page describes, you accept the Terms of Service at checkout, and I email you within four working hours to get started. If you would rather ask something first, email me.

What you get

• A full set of terms drafted around your business, not a template with your name inserted
• A covering note in plain English explaining every commercial choice I made and why, so you can defend the terms in a negotiation without ringing me
• Liability, payment, termination and IP provisions set at a level that will survive a procurement review
• Consumer-facing wording drafted to be enforceable where you sell to consumers
• Guidance on how to incorporate the terms properly, which is where most businesses actually fail
• One round of amendments after you have read them

What is not included

• Negotiating your terms with individual customers
• Sector-specific regulatory compliance beyond the contract terms themselves
• Website privacy notice and cookie compliance, which I quote separately
• Terms governed by the law of another country

Questions I am often asked

Can I charge if I attend and the customer cannot prove they live there?

You can if the terms say that attendance is chargeable where the job cannot proceed because the customer has not provided the proof required. It is a reasonable term, because your time has been spent.

What if the tenant says the landlord has locked them out?

The terms should require proof of the person's right to enter, and should say that where there is a dispute about who is entitled to access, you may decline the job. That protects you from becoming part of the dispute.

Am I liable if a burglary follows a lock I fitted?

The terms should say that you fit locks to the standard specified and that no lock guarantees the security of a property. Liability for your own negligence in fitting remains, and against a business customer it can be capped.

Related guidance and services

• Terms and conditions drafting, £995, the service this page describes
• Contract review, £495, if a main contractor or business customer has sent you their terms to sign
• Terms and conditions for a handyman service, if you also do general property maintenance

This page is general guidance for businesses in England and Wales, not advice on your own circumstances. Last reviewed: September 2026. Email geoffrey@caesar.co.uk.