LANCASHIRE LOCKSMITH • HOMES & BUSINESSES
A window that will not lock is usually a broken handle or a failed espagnolette mechanism rather than a broken window. Both are replaceable parts. Window lock and handle work starts at £92, and most insurers expect key-lockable locks on accessible ground-floor and flat-roof windows.
From £92 · call-out and labour rates
Windows are the part of a property people stop checking. A handle that spins, a lock that no longer engages or a restrictor that has snapped all leave an opening that is easier to get through than any door.
A handle that turns without resistance usually means the spindle or the gearbox inside the handle has broken. A handle that turns but does not secure the window points to the espagnolette — the strip inside the frame carrying the locking cams. Seized locks, keys that will not turn and cams that no longer reach their keeps are all common, and all are repairable without replacing the window.
Window restrictors limit how far an opening light travels and are a straightforward addition to most uPVC and timber windows. They matter most upstairs and in rented and shared housing. Where a restrictor is fitted, it should still release in an emergency: a window that is part of a fire escape route must not be locked in a way that prevents it being opened from inside quickly.
Most home policies ask for key-lockable locks on accessible windows — ground floor, and anything reachable from a flat roof, extension or outbuilding. Policies vary, so read the wording. Where a window has been left without a working lock, fitting one is inexpensive relative to the risk and is often the cheapest security improvement available on a property.
Window lock and handle work is listed from £92. The final figure depends on how many windows are involved and on the parts: handles and restrictors are inexpensive, while a full espagnolette strip costs more and must match the existing cam pattern. Call-out and labour are separate and set out on the pricing page. Measuring the old handle or photographing the strip helps get the right part first time.
Almost certainly not. A spinning handle is a broken spindle or handle gearbox, which is a small replaceable part. The window, frame and glazing are unaffected.
Yes. Key-lockable handles and restrictors both limit access, and restrictors can be specified to release in an emergency. Tell us which rooms are involved and whether any of the windows form part of a fire escape route.
Insurers generally focus on accessible windows rather than every opening. Check your policy wording. As a rule, anything reachable from the ground, a flat roof or an outbuilding is worth securing properly.
Usually. Handles are specified by spindle length, screw centres and whether they are inline or cranked, so a current equivalent can almost always be found. A photograph with a tape measure against it is the quickest way to confirm.
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