Locksmithing is a trade that’s been practised in the UK for hundreds of years. The history of locksmithing goes back as far as 700 BC, even if it was more about making and fitting of keys and locks, as well as picking them. You would think that a profession this old would have developed its own governing body or organisation and been well-regulated by various governments in the 2725 years since. And yes, the Master Association of Locksmiths exists, and there are a lot of other bodies out there as well that organise and provide guidance to both locksmiths and customers.
But there are no laws.
Not in the UK, at least. But why is this, and should the UK locksmith market be regulated?
Is There Any Regulation At All?
No, and yes.
There are no formal regulations surrounding locksmithing as a profession. This means that anyone can call themselves a locksmith, whack a website together and start trading. Regardless of their skill, training, background or, most worryingly, their motive. And yes, there have been some less-than-savoury characters setting up as locksmiths as a way to get keys to people’s houses only to burgle them later. It’s rare, but it does happen.
There are some protections for customers though – they’re just not very specific. For example, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 ensures that locksmiths follow fair trading standards. This protects consumers from faulty goods, unreasonable services and unfair terms. Similarly, unhappy customers can report unlawful businesses to Trading Standards, which will then investigate the business and hold it accountable.
Other areas of the security industry are regulated and even government-licenced, including door staff and even keyholding companies. But the UK government currently doesn’t see the need to regulate the locksmith industry.
The Problem With No Regulation
Being a locksmith is a big responsibility, and unfortunately, we have our share of bad actors. Just like any other industry really. By not regulating this industry, it means some customers get the raw deal, experiencing things like:
Poor Quality: Poor quality products bought to cut costs (and corners) mean customers’ homes aren’t as secure as they could be. Pair this with poor quality workmanship in actually installing the things, and a locksmith could leave their customer’s home much more vulnerable than it was when they got there.
Overcharging: Most good locksmiths aren’t exactly cheap as chips. There’s an element of paying for quality and expertise there. But some unscrupulous companies will charge drastically high prices, preying on the desperate situations people tend to need locksmiths in, and usually do poor quality work on top.
Unreliability: Another very common issue with some locksmiths is that they will turn up late, if they turn up at all! This can be inconvenient for some, and absolutely disastrous if you’re locked out of your house and think someone is coming to help you!
Not having any official regulation hasn’t stopped the locksmith industry from flourishing. But we do think that it has held it back as well.
Should Locksmithing Be Regulated?
At the end of the day, it’s not down to us. But there are some pretty convincing arguments for regulation in the industry, including:
Consumer Confidence: Consumers are often wary of using someone new, because there is a risk that they could be a ‘cowboy’. Someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing at best, and who is trying to take advantage of them at worst. Regulation and licensing would give customers something official to look for, and confidence that they’re choosing a reputable and professional service.
Industry Standards: Regulation could also be great for the industry. In order to earn a license to be a locksmith, you would have to take training and pass exams to prove your competency and skill. While the Master Association of Locksmiths does this already, it’s not mandatory unless you want to be part of their organisation, and so a lot of locksmiths haven’t bothered. Making it a requirement would mean clear standards for training, official qualifications and an improvement in overall quality within the industry.
Combating Rogue Traders: Regulation could also provide a barrier to rogue traders trying to con or scam people, and identify any current locksmiths who may not be as honest as they appear. Locksmiths who engage in unethical practices are going to have a much harder time if there is regulation in place.
Improved Marketing: A benefit almost entirely for locksmiths themselves, but having some sort of license to prove you are a legitimate professional would make it a lot easier to network with others and market your services more effectively. This would, in turn, make it a lot easier for customers to find a good locksmith!
Ultimately, it depends on where you come down on the debate. There are a lot of risks to having such a key profession be completely unregulated. There’s only so far that the influence of organisations like the Master Locksmiths Association goes, and while they do provide the standards and guidance for the industry, and customers could report rogue traders to Trading Standards, is it enough?
At My Locks, we are proud to be certified members of the Master Locksmiths Association, as well as a range of other trade bodies and organisations. We want you to feel comfortable and confident when choosing us, which is why we’ve done everything we can to show you that we not only know what we’re doing, but we’re great at it too! If you have any questions, all you have to do is get in touch with the team today.