Window lock services
Window Lock Repair and Replacement in Wilmslow
Call with your postcode for a current arrival estimate.
- 24-hour emergency cover
- No call-out charge
- Price agreed before work starts
Window Will Not Lock, or the Handle Has Broken?
Hardware, not glass, is almost always at fault when a window will not lock, so the answer is a repair, not a new window. Craven Locksmiths Wilmslow repairs and replaces window locks, handles and mechanisms across Wilmslow, on uPVC, aluminium and timber windows.
Common symptoms are a loose or spinning handle, a handle that turns but locks nothing, and a window stuck shut. There is no call-out charge.
Lock Fault or Window Fault?
Before you start pricing a new window, try one free test. If the window opens normally and you can do it safely, open it fully and turn the handle gently while the sash stands open, stopping if the handle or key needs any force.
If it locks fine with the sash open
The locking hardware is probably fine; the problem may lie in how the locking points line up with the keeps. A sash drops as its hinges wear, and keeps sometimes need resetting. We inspect to confirm whether realignment will cure it or another component is adding to the fault.
If it fails when the sash is open too
Loose, stiff or doing nothing, it points inside the window hardware: the handle, spindle, gearbox or locking strip. Inspection pins down the faulty part, and if one needs replacing we talk through compatible choices before starting.
Why bother? A window that will not close or lock leaves the property less secure, but the cause could be the handle, the mechanism or how the window sits in the frame, so the complete window may not need replacing. The locking system is several connected parts, and trouble in one can show up at the handle, the sash or the locking points; the test helps show whether you need an adjustment, an individual part or a compatible replacement mechanism.
Never force a stiff handle or key, and stop using the window if anything loosens, bends or needs excessive force. When you ring, say whether it is stuck, difficult to close or not locking securely, so we can understand the problem and arrange an inspection. Cannot secure a ground-floor or easily reached window? Call us now.
No New Window Is Needed
Glazing firms replace windows. Locksmiths repair the hardware that locks them. It is worth knowing the difference, because a window that will not lock, open or close properly may not need replacing at all; the correct service depends on whether the fault lies in the locking hardware or in the window's wider structure.
Usually a hardware job
- A handle that is loose, broken or spinning
- A key or handle that no longer operates the locking points
- A stiff or jammed gearbox or locking mechanism
- Locking points that fail to engage the frame
- A minor alignment problem affecting the lock
These may be fixed with an adjustment, a repair or a compatible replacement component.
Usually another trade
- Damaged glass or a damaged sealed unit
- A frame that is cracked or badly distorted
- Structural damage to the opening sash
- Misalignment severe enough to fall outside the locksmith's scope
- A problem that repairing the lock would not resolve
A glazier normally handles glass and sealed units, and a window specialist may be required where the frame or sash needs structural work. If you are unsure, we assess the fault and explain whether it is within our window-lock service; when another trade is more suitable, we tell you before any work is agreed.
Parts That Fail on a uPVC Window
When a window stops locking, the hardware is the first place to look. On a uPVC window that hardware comes down to four groups of parts, each with its own way of failing.
The handle and the spindle
The handle is simply the part you turn, joined by a square metal spindle to the mechanism in the sash. If fixings work loose, the spindle wears or the handle is damaged inside, the lock may not operate. Where the fault stops there, that component may be the only replacement needed.
The gearboxes
Sitting behind the handle, the gearbox carries the handle's movement to the locking mechanism. When faulty, it makes the handle stiff, lets it spin without engaging or stops the locking points moving. It is replaced separately or with the strip, as the design dictates, matching the existing dimensions and mechanism.
The espagnolette strip
The espagnolette ("espag") is a metal strip on the edge of the opening sash, carrying the locking points that engage the frame; a related shootbolt system is found on some windows. If it becomes bent, worn or jammed, it may prevent the window from opening or locking. Compatibility with the window’s dimensions and existing hardware must be ensured when choosing the replacement.
Hinges and keeps
Friction hinges support the sash and affect how it sits in the frame; keeps are the metal components receiving the locking points. Worn hinges or wrongly positioned keeps stop it closing and locking smoothly. Problems with the wider window may require a window specialist.
Next, tell us whether it is stuck, difficult to close or unable to lock, what the handle or key does, and the open-sash result if completed safely. From your description, we price the work on the call; it stands unless the job differs on site, with changes explained before we start. The agreed adjustment, repair or replacement follows, tested with you where practical. Window-lock work suits a planned appointment; where an accessible window cannot be secured, call about current urgent availability.
[DEVELOPER NOTE — remove before publication: use an original labelled diagram showing the handle, spindle, gearbox, espagnolette strip, locking points, keeps and friction hinges.]
What Is Your Window Doing?
Use these symptoms as a shortcut when you phone us about a window in Wilmslow. They cover faulty handles, failed mechanisms and windows that no longer align with the frame, but the lock, handle and alignment still need an inspection before the work is confirmed.
The handle is loose or wobbly, or spins
Think loose fixings, a worn spindle or a handle damaged internally. Fitting a new handle may be enough to bring the window back to normal operation, provided the locking mechanism checks out too.
When the handle turns but the window will not lock
A faulty spindle, gearbox or locking strip lets the handle move without operating the locking points. The window can appear shut while unsecured. Do not leave an accessible window in that state.
The window is stuck shut and will not open
A jammed handle, gearbox or locking strip may be holding it. Do not force the handle or pull against the frame, as that adds strain. Inspection is needed to identify the jam and confirm a safe way of opening the window.
The window will not properly close
It may have dropped or moved out of line, with worn hinges or wrongly positioned keeps stopping it closing and locking. Adjustment, rather than lock replacement, may be the solution. Forcing it shut strains the locking hardware.
The key will not turn within the handle
A worn or damaged key, or a failure of the small lock inside the handle. Check an undamaged spare if available, forcing neither. Depending on the design, a replacement for the entire locking handle can be fitted with new keys provided.
Urgent help: unable to secure an accessible window?
Lost the Window Key?
Window keys are less of a problem than door keys. A replacement may be available if the handle and key pattern can be identified, because a lot of locking window handles share common, identifiable patterns. Look for a code on another key or on the handle itself; it can help identify the correct replacement, although availability depends on the handle, the pattern and the supplier.
Avoid forcing a similar-looking key. It may not match the internal pattern, and forcing it could damage the handle.
Where a matching key cannot be sourced, a new locking handle may be the better option. It is also the right move if the existing lock is damaged or unreliable, the handle has stopped working, or you want any unaccounted-for keys to stop operating the window. New keys can be provided alongside a compatible replacement handle to match it. Read more about lock replacement.
How Does the Job Work?
Windows rarely need an emergency visit, so we normally book a time that suits you. A ground-floor or otherwise accessible window that won't secure is different: phone us, day or night, with no call-out charge.
You call.
Explain the symptom and tell us what happened when you tried the handle with the window open.
We diagnose and price.
That detail lets us narrow down the probable component and quote you before the visit.
We test.
After the repair, the window is opened, closed and locked to prove it works.
Locksmith pricing
Window Lock Repairs Across Wilmslow
This is planned work, often covering a whole house of windows in one booked visit, on weekdays between 7am and 6pm. We repair and replace window locks for homeowners, landlords and businesses in Fulshaw Park, Wilmslow Park, Hilltop, Lacey Green, Finney Green and Davenport Green, and in every postcode of SK9.
A street here can mix old and newer windows. Wilmslow's homes are 10.8% pre-1900, 19.3% from 1900 to 1939, 39.1% from 1945 to 1982, 19.8% from 1983 to 2008 and 10.8% from 2009 on (VOA council tax property stock, 31 March 2026), and the hardware differs between timber and uPVC frames. With 39.3% of households in detached houses (Census 2021, ONS), and Pownall Park mostly houses, there are often many windows per property.
The national planning dataset records no conservation area for Wilmslow (planning.data.gov.uk, October 2026), though that is unknown rather than none. Repairing a lock or handle is one thing; replacing a window is another, and the dataset does not show any Article 4 direction, so ask the council before changing one. See all areas we cover.
What affects the cost?
Service required, time of attendance, lock and door type, labour and parts.
Window Locks and Your Home Insurance
A broken window lock can matter to your insurance as well as your security. Some home-insurance policies specify key-operated locks or other security measures for accessible windows, often ground-floor windows and any reachable from a flat roof, balcony or extension. To establish which requirements apply to your property, consult your policy wording or contact your insurer, as requirements differ. If a window will not lock, the key no longer turns or the handle has stopped working the mechanism, tell us; depending on the fault, the job may be an adjustment, a repair or a compatible replacement component. Send us the written requirement when you get in touch, and we will assess the window and explain whether a suitable key-operated locking handle or window lock can be fitted. Only your insurer can confirm whether the installation meets your policy.
Locksmith pricing
What Is the Cost of a Window Lock Repair?
Most window lock repairs cost a fraction of a new window, but the exact figure depends on the fault, the affected component and the work required. Different parts and labour are needed for each of these faults: a loose handle, an alignment issue or a failed locking mechanism. As a rule of thumb, a handle is normally the least expensive fix, a gearbox comes next and a full espagnolette strip replacement is the most involved.
Window not locking properly? Describe what it is doing and share clear photographs if we ask. The open-sash check helps, since it shows whether an adjustment may solve the problem. We use the details you give us to price the job during the call. That price remains unless the job on site turns out different; we explain any change and agree the work before the repair begins. We assess lock and alignment problems on uPVC, aluminium and timber windows and explain the repair and replacement options. You will not pay a call-out charge. On billing generally, 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.
If a window lock has become faulty or unreliable, tell us about the problem and how many windows are involved.
Fault type
– adjusting alignment is different work from repairing a jammed mechanism.
Affected part
– handle, gearbox or wider locking mechanism will each change the price.
Parts
– older or discontinued hardware may take longer to identify or need a suitable alternative.
Windows
– tell us how many need attention so they can be considered together.
Emergency and planned locksmith services
Book a Window Lock Repair in Wilmslow
Call 01625 351018 to book a convenient time. Households rarely have just one window failing, so several can usually be dealt with in a single visit. There is no call-out charge, and the price is agreed before work starts.
- Phone: 01625 351018
- Booked repairs: Monday to Friday, 7am to 6pm
01625 351018
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a broken window lock mean I need a new window?
Not necessarily, and for most broken window locks the answer is no. When the glass, sealed unit and frame are still in suitable condition, the trouble may be limited to the handle, spindle or locking mechanism. Those parts can be adjusted, repaired or replaced. Inspecting the window confirms which, and also flags the cases where a different window specialist is needed.
How do I know if it is the lock or the window itself?
With the window open as far as it goes, gently work the handle. When it operates smoothly, suspect alignment, with the locking points not meeting the keeps, often because the sash has dropped. When it still sticks, spins or does nothing, suspect the handle, spindle, gearbox or locking strip. Don't force a stiff handle. The result helps us narrow down the job on the phone.
My window handle is loose and spins. Is that expensive to fix?
Often not. Spinning handles tend to have worn spindles or loose fixings, or damage within the handle, and a replacement handle is typically one of the least costly fixes on a window. In a good number of cases that is all it needs. We still check the locking mechanism before confirming the repair, and the price is agreed before work begins.
Can I get a replacement key for my window lock?
Often yes, and not necessarily from a locksmith. Many locking window handles use common key patterns, and a key code, handle model or manufacturer marking may help identify a compatible replacement key, though availability varies. A replacement locking handle comes with new keys and may be the better option when a suitable key is unavailable, the lock has suffered damage or missing keys cannot be accounted for.
Do my window locks affect my home insurance?
Sometimes, yes. Some home-insurance policies specify key-operated locks for accessible windows, usually those on the ground floor and any you can reach from a flat roof, balcony or extension. Requirements vary between insurers and properties, so check your policy wording. A window lock that has stopped working is worth sorting quickly, both for security and to stay within your cover.
My window is stuck shut. Can you open it without breaking anything?
Generally, yes. When a window is stuck shut, the jam is normally in the mechanism or a worn locking strip, and it can usually be released without damage to the sash or glazing. We inspect it before confirming the cause and the opening method. Call before trying to force it, because forcing a jammed sash risks cracking the frame.
Can you do several windows in one visit?
Yes. Several windows can be looked at in one visit, which saves separate appointments. Windows fitted at the same time often wear at a similar rate, so one failed handle or gearbox can be an early sign for the rest. Mention every window that needs attention when you get in touch, and we will tell you which need work now and which can be left.
Should I call a locksmith or a glazier?
Problems with the window handle, spindle, lock, multipoint locking mechanism or the way the sash engages the frame are reasons to call a locksmith. A glazier is generally better for broken glass, a damaged sealed unit or misting trapped between the panes, and structural problems with the sash or frame may need a window specialist. If we find the real problem is the frame or glazing, we will tell you rather than fit hardware that will not solve it.
Still have a question or need urgent assistance? Call 01625 351018, tell us what has happened and receive a current arrival estimate.