24/7 emergency locksmith
24 Hour Emergency Locksmith in Lancing
Call with your postcode for a current arrival estimate.
- 24-hour emergency cover
- No call-out charge
- Price agreed before work starts
Locked Out or Facing an Urgent Lock Problem in Lancing?
L.M.N Locksmiths Lancing is a 24 hour emergency locksmith covering Lancing: calls are taken day and night, 365 days a year, including weekends and bank holidays. There is no call-out charge, and on the call you are given an arrival estimate before anyone sets off.
We try non-destructive entry first, so out-of-hours lockouts do not have to end with a damaged door. Call 01903 377061 and describe the problem. If you are shut out of your home, our locked out page explains what happens next.
Locksmith Emergency: What Counts?
Deciding whether to call a locksmith out now or book one for tomorrow is easier with a clear line. Here is ours: if you have an access or security problem that cannot safely wait, it is an emergency, and you should call whatever the hour.
Emergencies we attend to straight away
- No way in. You are locked out of a house, flat or business premises.
- Key broken in the lock. The door will neither open nor lock because a broken fragment is lodged inside.
- Lock out of action. It has failed, leaving the door locked shut, stuck open or unsecurable.
- Signs of a break-in. The lock, handle, door or frame was damaged when someone forced entry.
- An open building. Damage to a door or window allows unauthorised access to the premises.
- A tenant or worker shut out. Access is unavailable to someone trying to enter a property or business premises under your responsibility.
Problems which can usually wait until morning
- Stiffness in a working lock. Arrange for a repair while the key or internal mechanism is still functioning, before it fails altogether.
- A sticking door that still locks. An adjustment may be needed before the lock takes damage.
- An outdated lock. Avoid waiting for an emergency by replacing one that is worn or unsuitable.
- Security you want to strengthen. Arrange a planned assessment of door, window or property security.
Daytime booking typically costs less.
Can you no longer secure your door, has your key snapped, or are you locked out? Give us the address and explain what has happened. What you pay for emergency work depends on the problem, the type and condition of the lock, the work required, replacement parts and when you call, so we ask about your door, lock and problem before giving an initial cost estimate. At the property, the technician checks the situation to establish and confirm what work is needed. Any change to the expected cost arising from additional damage, parts or an alternative entry method is explained as a revised price before the associated work starts.
24 Hours a Day: Emergency Locksmith Services We Cover
From lockouts to boarding up, our emergency work covers five main situations. Each has its own short summary below.
Keys that are snapped or broken
First, do not force or rotate the part that is still in the lock. After the snapped piece has been taken out, we examine the cylinder and determine whether the lock remains safe for use.
Burglary damage, and re-securing
Locks, handles, doors and frames can all be damaged during a break-in. Once the police permit work, we examine the targeted entrance and fix or replace damaged lock parts to help restore security.
Lockouts in an emergency
Whether it is a house, flat or business you cannot get into, we attempt non-destructive entry first wherever the lock type and its condition allow, helping you back inside without unnecessary damage.
Boarding up for an emergency
Temporary protection is available through boarding up if a damaged door or window cannot be secured straight away. Until permanent repair work can proceed, the opening stays covered and access is limited.
Seized, jammed and failed locks
A lock that has failed can leave the door locked shut, stuck open or unable to be secured. Worn cylinders, failed multipoint gearboxes and doors out of alignment are among the usual causes. We find the cause and explain whether repair or replacement is the right solution.
Don't know which service your problem calls for? Give us a call and describe it in your own words.
Getting Back In Without Damaging Your Lock
Most people worry that getting back in will mean a ruined lock. In many cases it does not. Picking and bypass techniques let a technician open the door without drilling through the cylinder, which helps you regain access without paying for a replacement you did not need, provided the lock is still safe and serviceable.
Sometimes, though, there is no sensible alternative to drilling, and that is why we keep it as a last resort rather than ruling it out. A broken or seized lock may need it, and so may a lock that cannot be opened with a suitable non-destructive method. Before any drilling, we tell you why it is needed and what a new lock will cost. Nothing proceeds unless you agree.
In Lancing, How Quickly Can We Reach You?
Expect also around 30 minutes, though it can take longer depending on where our nearest locksmith is when you call in most cases. Sometimes it is quicker: when a technician is already close to you, arrival may take around 30 minutes.
We cannot honestly fix one figure for every call, because the wait depends on your position in Lancing, the time you call, traffic conditions and whether a technician is finishing another job first. What we can do is give you a fair estimate as soon as you tell us what has happened and where you are, and contact you if that estimate changes. A time we can actually keep matters more to us than a promise that sounds good on the phone. We take the same view on cost, which is why you hear the price before anyone travels.
Locksmith pricing
What Does an Emergency Locksmith in Lancing Cost?
How much will it cost? There is no single answer: the cost depends on when you call, which work and replacement parts are required, and the type and condition of the lock. There is no one fixed emergency price, but there is a clear starting point: a standard weekday lockout, Monday to Friday 7am to 6pm, from £70.80 including VAT (£59 plus VAT). Please read that as the start of the range for a straightforward job rather than a quote for every job.
What you are not charged for
- The technician arriving at your property
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.
Why call-outs at night and at the weekend can cost more
Calling at night, at the weekend, on a bank holiday or after 6pm on a weekday means a higher labour rate. Every locksmith works this way, because out-of-hours work means a technician leaving what they are doing and travelling at short notice. You will still know the price before the work starts.
How the job affects the price
A straightforward lockout may need nothing beyond non-destructive entry, which comes first, with picking or bypass techniques used wherever the lock type and its condition allow. A broken cylinder, seized mechanism or damaged multipoint lock can mean additional work or replacement parts. As a last resort, drilling is reserved for broken or seized locks and those that cannot be opened with a suitable non-destructive method.
For a snapped key, stop using the lock, and do not force the leftover piece or insert any tools into the cylinder, since this could cause additional damage; a locksmith can remove the broken section and decide whether the lock remains safe and serviceable. If a break-in has just occurred, make contacting the police your first step and follow their instructions before touching any door, window or lock that has been damaged. Once security work is possible, we assess the damage and help secure the property, and if permanent repairs cannot be done straight off, emergency boarding up can provide temporary protection.
To help us estimate accurately, tell us what has happened, where you are and whether the property can currently be secured, and describe the door, lock and visible damage if you can. The technician explains the revised price before carrying out any different or additional work they find is required. You can find more in our full guide to locksmith prices in Lancing.
Something else you want to ask, or need help now? Phone us.
Who You Are Calling: Lancing Locksmiths, DBS-Checked
two facts about who turns up
- Emergency lines are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including nights, weekends and bank holidays.
- No call-out charge applies, whatever time we come out.
Trust is what you are really being asked for when you let a locksmith into your home or business during an emergency, so we keep the claims to things that can be checked. That includes how we talk about timing: you receive an up-to-date arrival estimate built on your location, traffic and technician availability, and we do not publish a guaranteed response time that might not hold. An honest number is the more useful one.
Here Is What Happens When You Call Us
What actually happens once you dial? In three steps, you go from that first call to having access restored or your property made secure, and knowing the order of things takes some of the pressure off a lockout or an insecure door.
- Give us a quick account of the problem and your address.
- Hear the job price and an honest estimate of arrival, before anyone sets off.
- The work is completed and your property is secure.
Emergency Locksmith Coverage Across Lancing
We attend emergency call-outs for homeowners, tenants, landlords and business premises across Lancing.
That covers North Lancing, South Lancing and Lower Cokeham, every postcode in BN15 and the parts of BN43 around Lancing (mostly Shoreham-by-Sea), and Sompting, which has its own page.
North Lancing is mostly houses (Census 2021, ONS, output areas around the place), so expect a front door of its own rather than a shared entrance, though the technician confirms the lock on arrival. We do not claim a technician is minutes from any named street; give your postcode and you are told whether someone can attend and when.
If the call follows a break-in, Sussex Police take reports on 101 or at https://www.sussex.police.uk. Sussex Police recorded 21 burglaries across the Lancing built-up area in the 12 months to August 2026 (data.police.uk). If anyone may still be inside, stay out and call 999.
See all areas we cover.
Emergency and planned locksmith services
Call L.M.N Locksmiths Lancing Now
Ring 01903 377061 at any hour: we answer 24 hours a day, there is no call-out charge, and you hear a real arrival estimate before we set out.
- Phone: 01903 377061
- Emergencies: 24 hours a day, every day, bank holidays included
01903 377061
Frequently Asked Questions
Are you really available 24 hours a day?
Yes, overnight emergencies are covered, with help available every day at any hour. The same emergency cover includes weekends and bank holidays. For a fault that is safe to leave, a daytime appointment may reduce the cost. 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.
Do you charge a call-out fee?
No. There is no call-out charge at any hour, and you are not billed for a technician arriving. You pay for the work carried out, any parts needed and VAT. Labour outside Monday to Friday, 7am to 6pm, costs more, as it does with every locksmith, but coming out to you is never charged. You are given the price on the call before anyone travels.
How much does an emergency lockout cost in Lancing?
A standard weekday lockout starts from £70.80 including VAT. That is a starting price rather than a quote for every job, because the final figure depends on the lock type, the time you call and what is needed to get in. The price is agreed on the phone before anyone travels, and you are told before any work begins if the job on site turns out different.
Can you get in without breaking my lock?
Yes, more often than not. A technician will try lock picking and bypass first, which opens the door without drilling the cylinder and keeps a safe, serviceable lock in use. Drilling is a last resort for a lock that has already broken or seized, or a high-security lock that cannot be opened another suitable way. If it comes to that, you hear why and what the replacement will cost before any work begins.
How long will I have to wait?
You are given a current estimate on the call rather than a promise made in advance, and if it does not suit you there is no obligation to go ahead.
Who will answer the phone if I call at 3am?
That person knows the technicians and where they currently are, so they can note your problem, quote a price on the call and dispatch whoever is nearest and free. Night or day, the process does not change.
Is it an emergency if my door still locks but the key is stiff?
Generally, no. A stiff but working lock is a daytime job: book an appointment and you pay normal rates rather than out-of-hours ones. Try not to put it off, because a cylinder that has turned stiff often fails completely soon after. If you find the door will not lock, or there is no way to secure the property, call us at any hour as an emergency.
Do you cover my part of Lancing?
We attend emergency call-outs for homeowners, tenants, landlords and businesses across Lancing, including North Lancing, South Lancing and Lower Cokeham, and nearby Sompting. That means every postcode in BN15 and the parts of BN43 around Lancing. If you are unsure about your street, give your postcode when you ring and you will be told at once.
Still have a question or need urgent assistance? Call 01903 377061, tell us what has happened and receive a current arrival estimate.