Landlords are being urged to share emergency locksmith contact details with tenants as industry research reveals a 66 percent surge in so-called ‘bait and switch’ locksmith scams since 2021. The warning comes as nearly 65,000 people have searched for ’emergency locksmith’ in the past year alone.
Scam targets locked-out tenants
The scam involves fraudsters advertising unrealistically low call-out fees online – often appearing as the top sponsored results on Google – before inflating bills once work has started. What begins as a £49 call-out can quickly become a thousand-pound bill, with the locksmith claiming the job is more complicated than expected or that the entire lock mechanism needs replacing when it does not.
Rich Quelch, managing director at Nothing But Padlocks, said that scammers rely on the stress and panic of lockouts. “When the final bill comes, it is much higher than expected – perhaps hundreds or even thousands more – and tenants could be denied access to their home until they pay up,” he said.
For landlords, there is also the risk of property damage. Cowboy locksmiths may cause expensive damage to doors and frames that ultimately falls on the property owner to repair.
When landlords must cover costs
Responsibility for emergency locksmith costs depends on why the lockout occurred. If a tenant loses their keys or accidentally locks them inside, they are generally responsible for regaining access and covering any costs.
However, landlords must arrange and pay for locksmith services when the lockout results from faulty locks due to age, mechanical failure or wear and tear. If a failed lock prevents a tenant from exiting the property, this is considered a serious safety hazard and the landlord is legally obligated to fix it immediately.
This follows Landlord Knowledge’s recent report on tenancy fraud, which found that 70 percent of landlords fail to recover losses when scams or fraud affect their properties. Protecting tenants from locksmith scams can help prevent disputes and unexpected costs for both parties.
How to avoid scams
Quelch recommends that landlords research local emergency locksmiths in advance and provide tenants with a shortlist of trusted traders. “Check local business directories and review platforms, consult with industry bodies like the Master Locksmiths Association, and ask letting agents and landlord community groups for their trusted recommendations,” he said.
Unlike other skilled trades, locksmiths do not need any qualifications to work legally, making it easy for fraudsters to operate. Landlords should be wary of cash-only payment demands, vague answers about pricing, and any locksmith that avoids giving a detailed estimate for common scenarios.
As a general rule, avoid clicking on sponsored Google ads, Quelch advises. Scammers often use paid advertising to appear legitimate and may copy genuine business names or show addresses that do not actually exist. Scrolling past advertisements to organic search results and checking reviews is safer.
For landlords managing maintenance and repair requests, having a list of trusted emergency contacts can prevent tenants from falling victim to scams and reduce the risk of disputes over who pays for overpriced or unnecessary work.
What this means for landlords
- If you manage properties directly: Create a list of vetted emergency tradespeople including locksmiths and share it with tenants at the start of each tenancy.
- Watch for: Claims from tenants for locksmith work – verify the costs are reasonable and check whether the lockout was their responsibility.
- Bottom line: A few minutes of research now can save both you and your tenants from thousand-pound scam bills later.
Editor’s view
This is a useful reminder that tenant protection can also mean landlord protection. Preparing tenants for emergencies before they happen – rather than leaving them to panic-search on Google – reduces the chance of expensive disputes and property damage. Worth a quick email to your tenants with some recommended contacts.
Author: Editorial Team – UK landlord & buy-to-let news, policy, and finance
Published: 30 March 2026
Sources: Nothing But Padlocks, Master Locksmiths Association
Related reading: Tenancy fraud costs landlords £266m a month as 70 percent fail to recover losses
