Guide
UK Locksmiths Are Not Licensed: What That Means
Locksmiths in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland do not need a licence. Anyone can trade, and the Private Security Industry Act 2001 does not cover lock work. Parliament debated licensing in 2021 without legislating. The Republic of Ireland, by contrast, has licensed locksmith contractors since 2017. In the UK, checking falls to you.
Do locksmiths need a licence in the UK?
No. In England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland anyone can trade as a locksmith without a licence, a qualification or a criminal record check. The MLA, the trade body, says about 6,500 locksmiths trade in the UK without any licence.
The Private Security Industry Act 2001 licenses door supervisors, security guards and similar roles through the Security Industry Authority. Ordinary lock work is outside it. Key holding, where a business holds keys or alarm codes to respond to alarms, is a licensable activity under Schedule 2 of the Act, but fitting, repairing and opening locks is not.
So a locksmith's website that says 'fully licensed' is describing something that does not exist for the trade. It may mean an MLA membership or an SIA key holding licence; ask which.
Has the UK considered licensing locksmiths?
Yes, without result. On 22 September 2021, MPs held a Westminster Hall debate on licensing locksmiths. Mark Pawsey MP asked for a register like Gas Safe. The Security Minister, Damian Hinds, praised the MLA's voluntary scheme and did not commit to legislation.
Petitions have gone the same way. Petition 595391, to regulate locksmiths, closed on 24 February 2022 with 35 signatures. Petition 726986, on fake listings and search ads, which named locksmiths, was rejected on 21 July 2025; the government said the Online Safety Act 2023 already requires search engines to prevent paid fraudulent ads.
We found no bill or consultation proposing locksmith licensing between 2024 and October 2026.
Where are locksmiths licensed?
In the Republic of Ireland, locksmith contractors have needed a licence from the Private Security Authority since 1 February 2017. It is an offence to hire an unlicensed locksmith there, and the PSA publishes a public register of licence holders.
Licensing is also common elsewhere: a trade source, Best Key Supply, counted 13 US states requiring a locksmith licence as of January 2025, and some cities license locally.
The contrast matters for a reader in Northern Ireland, where a locksmith from across the border may hold a PSA licence. That licence is real, but it is an Irish licence and has no standing in the UK.
How do you check a locksmith if there is no licence?
Use the checks that do exist, and check each claim at its source:
- MLA membership on the MLA's search at locksmiths.co.uk. Approved Companies have passed a DBS check, the ABBE Level 4 qualification and an inspection. - Companies House, for a business that says it is a limited company: name, number, status and age. - Trading Standards' Buy With Confidence or Which? Trusted Traders, where the business is a member. - Evidence of a local base: a landline or mobile number, a named person, an address you can see.
Then agree the total price before anyone sets off. With no licence to lose, a written price is your strongest protection.
Common questions
Is it legal to work as a locksmith without qualifications?
Yes. UK locksmiths need no licence or qualification. The ABBE Level 4 qualification exists and is regulated by Ofqual, but taking it is voluntary, usually as part of MLA membership.
What does 'licensed locksmith' mean on a UK website?
Nothing official, because there is no UK locksmith licence. The business may mean MLA membership or an SIA licence for key holding. Ask which, and check it at the source.
Does Northern Ireland license locksmiths?
No. The MLA's statement that locksmiths are unlicensed covers the whole UK, and no Northern Ireland scheme was found. The Republic of Ireland does license them, through its Private Security Authority.