Handle won't lift, key won't turn? It's the mechanism, not the door.
Verified locksmiths repair the cylinder, gearbox or alignment — price agreed before any work starts.
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Handle won't lift, key won't turn? It's the mechanism, not the door.
Verified locksmiths repair the cylinder, gearbox or alignment — price agreed before any work starts.
The handle won't lift, the key won't turn, or the door's stuck shut. Nine times out of ten it's a worn cylinder or a failing multi-point gearbox — a repair, not a whole new door.
Scenario 01
Handle won't lift to lock
A handle that won't lift, or lifts and springs back, points to a failing multi-point gearbox. Replaceable as a single part — match the brand and it's a same-visit fix.
Post a jobScenario 02
Key won't turn in the cylinder
A stiff or seized euro-cylinder. Often a £60–£120 swap, and the right moment to upgrade to anti-snap for the same labour.
Post a jobScenario 03
Door jammed shut or won't close
A dropped door binding on the frame, or hooks not finding the keeps. Realignment of hinges and keeps usually solves it without any new parts.
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See the worn part before you pay
A genuine locksmith shows you the failed gearbox or cylinder and quotes the specific part. The bid you accept is the price you pay.
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UPVC Door Lock Repair
From £80UPVC door not locking properly? Multi-point lock failures repaired by verified specialists with upfront pricing.
Lock Change
From £80New tenant, lost keys, or upgrade time? Get a BS3621 lock change from verified, insurance-approved locksmiths.
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Can I spray WD-40 into a stiff UPVC lock?
No — WD-40 attracts dust and gums up the cylinder over time. Use graphite powder or a dedicated lock lubricant. If the stiffness is in the handle rather than the key, lubricant won't help — that's a gearbox issue.Is a multi-point lock the same as the cylinder?
No. The cylinder is the barrel the key turns; the multi-point mechanism (gearbox plus hooks and rollers) is what the handle drives to lock the door at several points. They fail for different reasons and are priced separately.
The full guide
About upvc door won't lock or won't open
What's actually gone wrong
UPVC door faults almost always come down to one of three things. A worn or seized euro-cylinder means the key won't turn smoothly. A failing multi-point gearbox (the mechanism the handle drives) means the handle won't lift or springs back. And a dropped or misaligned door means the hooks and rollers no longer line up with the keeps in the frame, so it binds. Each of these is a targeted repair — not a reason to replace the entire door, whatever a double-glazing salesman tells you.
Don't force a door that won't lock
If the handle is getting stiffer over weeks, that's a gearbox starting to fail — get it seen before it jams completely and locks you out (or won't lock at all overnight). Forcing a struggling handle is the fastest way to snap the gearbox spindle and turn a £90 fix into a £200 one.
What repairs should cost
A euro-cylinder swap is typically £60–£120 fitted, including an anti-snap upgrade. A multi-point gearbox replacement is £120–£220 depending on the brand (Fuhr, GU, Yale, Mila and ERA all differ). A realignment — adjusting hinges and keeps so the door closes cleanly — is often under £90. A genuine locksmith shows you the worn part before quoting the replacement.
Why "the whole door needs replacing" is usually wrong
The door slab and frame rarely fail. It's the hardware inside them that wears. Unless the frame is rotten or the slab is cracked, a locksmith repair restores full function for a fraction of a new-door price. Get the lock looked at before you accept a £900 replacement quote.
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Answers
Frequently asked questions
Why won't my UPVC door lock?
Usually a worn euro-cylinder (key won't turn), a failing multi-point gearbox (handle won't lift or springs back), or a dropped door that's binding against the frame. All three are repairs, not whole-door replacements.How much does it cost to fix a UPVC door lock?
A cylinder swap is typically £60–£120 fitted, a multi-point gearbox £120–£220 depending on brand, and a realignment often under £90. A locksmith should show you the worn part before quoting a replacement.My handle is getting stiffer — is that a problem?
Yes — a progressively stiffer handle is a gearbox starting to fail. Get it seen before it jams completely, because forcing it can snap the spindle and turn a cheaper fix into a dearer one.Do I need a whole new door?
Rarely. The slab and frame seldom fail — it's the hardware inside that wears. Unless the frame is rotten or the slab cracked, a locksmith repair restores full function for far less than a replacement door.
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Related scenarios
Related door scenarios
- Key Snapped in the LockHalf the key in your hand, half in the cylinder. The good news: a competent locksmith has it out in 20 minutes, and you almost never need a new lock.
- Locks Changed After BurglaryAfter a break-in, the priority is sleeping safely tonight — not negotiating a price with someone who knows you're rattled. LockSafe handles both.
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