Are locksmiths licensed in the UK? | MLA Approved Benefits

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The locksmith industry is an important one as it helps ensure continued safety and security by keeping the locks to your doors and windows secure and providing you with keys needed to unlock them when required.

The quality of the service provided by locksmiths is crucial in protecting your property and loved ones. They need to be skilled, experienced, and above all, trustworthy.

The locksmithing industry in the UK is not regulated and anybody can become a locksmith regardless of their level of skill and competence.

While most other areas of the security industry are licensed by the government, locksmiths in the UK are not licensed. Because of this, it can often be challenging to find someone who you can trust with your home and business security.

Read on to find out about the UK Standards for locksmiths and how the Master Locksmiths Association has its own licensing scheme for MLA approved contractors:

LOCKSMITH LICENSING IN THE UK

There isn’t any proper regulation when it comes to who is allowed to be a locksmith and use industry tools in the UK. There is no process for locksmiths to be licensed, which raises quite a few issues regarding reliable contractors versus unreliable ones.

Without any regulatory licensing in place, any locksmith can claim to be a professional if they work with a company and have insurance, regardless of the level of service they provide.

This also means that since locksmiths have no price guide, they can charge whatever price they want. For this reason, you will see that locksmith prices may vary considerably from one another.

The good news is that although locksmiths in the UK aren’t licenced, there are professional organisations like the Master Locksmiths Association (MLA) that help establish a standard for best practices and conduct within the locksmithing industry.

WHAT IS THE MASTER LOCKSMITHS ASSOCIATION (MLA)?

The Master Locksmiths Association (MLA) is the UK’s largest locksmith association established to set certain rules and standards when it comes to practising locksmithing and providing professional locksmithing services.

It was founded in 1958 and has evolved into the professional organisation that it is today. It encourages its members to strive for betterment through continuous education, meetings, seminars, and its membership magazine Keyways.

The criteria for entry into the MLA is high, emphasising its motto of “Skill and integrity”. Its main purpose is to ensure that the public and government receive the right service and advice when it comes to security issues related to locks.

The MLA is the authoritative body for UK locksmithing by several institutes and professional bodies including the police, Home Office, British Standards Institute (BSI), the European Locksmiths Federation, and other trade and professional bodies.

The MLA also owns Sold Secure, an attack test house that certifies security products such as locks through attack testing.

It is recognised by the Home Office, insurers, and the police, and all the testers are industry experts, most of whom are MLA members.

HOW TO BE AN MLA APPROVED LOCKSMITH?

Over 6,500 unlicensed locksmiths are operating in the UK, out of which only 350+ are MLA approved.

MLA approved locksmiths go through a process where they are vetted, inspected, and further trained and qualified by the MLA. MLA approved locksmiths are:

Vetted – MLA approved locksmiths undergo strict checking, which includes vetting them for any criminal records.
Inspected – each locksmith company is inspected regularly to ensure certain standards in administration and service. Members are expected to conform to legal requirements and are held accountable for their daily operations.
Fully qualified – MLA approved locksmiths need to pass an MLA exam which consists of 4 modules. In order to pass the exam, locksmiths have to open a British Standard lever lock, fit a euro-operated mortice lock, and cut a key by hand to prove their skill and competence. Passing the MLA exam is a prerequisite for becoming a QML (Qualified Master Locksmith).

BENEFITS OF USING MLA APPROVED LOCKSMITHS

Since the government doesn’t have any regulatory licensing policy for locksmiths in the UK, the Master Locksmiths Association has made its own licensing scheme.

Make sure you choose an MLA approved locksmith if you are looking for someone to help you with your home or business security needs. Here are some of the benefits of hiring a registered locksmith over a random one:

The MLA has set standards that regulate the locksmith industry in the UK. MLA approved locksmiths follow all relevant codes of practice and undergo continuous training to maintain their registration.
With MLA approved locksmiths, you can be sure that the service provided will be high-quality and reliable.
It gives you peace of mind knowing that you didn’t waste your time and money and put your security at risk by hiring an uncertified person.
All registered locksmiths are insured and CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) checked. Their insurance policy will cover any damage to your property and you will have proof that they don’t have any criminal history.
All MLA approved locksmiths adhere to a strict code of conduct in keeping their client’s information confidential.
They have the necessary skill, expertise, and experience to work with all kinds of locking mechanisms.
They have adequate knowledge to recommend tailored solutions for each client.
They stay up-to-date with the latest lock technologies and are familiar with quality products.
They provide a holistic package that includes not just installation but a variety of other services as well.
They are quick at what they do because of their skill and vast experience under their belt.
They have clear prices and quotes and will always give invoices with the cost breakdown according to the labour, material, and time.

WHAT SERVICES DO MLA APPROVED LOCKSMITHS OFFER?

MLA approved locksmiths are professional locksmiths who provide services for both residential as well as commercial properties. Their range of services includes:

Installing locks on doors and windows

Reinforcing the doors and windows of your property with high-quality locks is probably the first step towards maximising your property’s security. It is also probably one of the most common jobs undertaken by locksmiths.

Registered locksmiths not only install the locks with expertise but can also advise you on the best locking mechanism for your security needs depending on the level of risk.

Repairing and fixing locks on doors and windows

In addition to installation, professional and certified locksmiths offer repair services for locks that need fixing due to general wear and tear, jamming, the keys getting stuck inside, or due to tampering and vandalism.

Repairs and fixes must never be delayed since a vulnerable locking mechanism equals a weakness in overall security. Luckily, certified locksmiths are able to assess the issue and provide quick solutions in order to integrity of the system.

Replacing or rekeying locks

The locks to your doors and windows may need to be replaced or rekeyed depending on the situation, both of which require an in-depth understanding of various locking mechanisms and using the right tools to get the job done.

A professional locksmith will know when to do what and will replace your locks if they are damaged beyond repair and rekey them if key control is compromised, i.e. the keys are stolen or lost.

Responding to lockouts

You’d be surprised to know how many people lock themselves out of their homes and businesses. It can be extremely inconvenient and is probably one of the most common issues that professional locksmiths are contacted for.

Professional locksmiths offer 24/7 emergency callout services for such situations where they reach your property without wasting any time and open the locks causing no damage whatsoever to the locks or doors.

Key cutting

Key cutting is a popular method used to make keys. It can be done by either making a duplicate of an existing key (a spare key) or making a new one altogether.

MLA approved locksmiths can work with all types of keys and have the required key-cutting machines to get the job done quickly and precisely. They are also aware of the laws governing restricted keys and will never copy a “Do-Not-Duplicate” key without going through the proper channels.

Master keying

Master keying, in simple words, refers to the process of allowing one key to access more than one door/lock within a building. Its main purpose is to eliminate the use of different keys for each door and simplify access control.

A master key system can be extremely complex, especially where there are several doors and users to manage. A professional locksmith has the required skill and expertise to work on simple as well as complex master key systems with several levels of access.

They not only lend their expertise in hardware keying design but also in setting access permission policies, key tracking, and key storage.

Upgrading to digital locks

MLA approved locksmiths stay up to date with the latest locking technology and can work with advanced keyless door entry systems that work using a card swipe, key pin, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), or biometrics technology.

Professional locksmiths provide all services related to keyless door entry systems from requirement assessment to installation, maintenance, and repair.

Providing security safe services

Security safes are secure boxes used to lock up valuable items and confidential information from threats such as theft, fire, and flood.

Professional locksmiths can work on all types of safes and install, repair, maintain, move, and open them. They can suggest the best safe for your requirements along with the most suitable locking mechanism to keep its contents protected.

Installing alarm systems

Since many door locks are integrated with alarm systems, setting them up requires valuable insight from professional locksmiths.

Burglar alarms are one such example that works using a series of sensors that go off as soon as they detect any unusual activity, notifying the person in charge to take necessary action.

When triggered, some systems are programmed to automatically lock all unlocked doors and windows to ensure the intruders stay away and find no way to break in.

Other instances where professional locksmiths can offer their services is when installing fire alarms. Linking digital door locks with fire alarms is a great way to ensure that all the main exits are automatically opened as soon as a threat is detected.

HOW TO FIND AN MLA APPROVED LOCKSMITH?

Since locksmiths work so closely with home and business security, they must possess the necessary skill and expertise to carry out the tasks safely and with ease. It is also very important that they are trustworthy to not use your personal information for ill intent.

The best way to find all these features in a locksmith is to find an MLA approved one since they follow set standards and adhere to regulations.

So, how can you know if a locksmith is MLA approved?

The easiest way to check if a locksmith is MLA approved is to go on their website and look for the MLA logo. While this is the easiest way, it is not the most reliable. With no government-backed regulations in place, anyone can put up the logo on their website, regardless of whether they are MLA approved or not.

The best way to check if a locksmithing company is MLA approved or not is to go to the MLA website and find your nearest MLA approved locksmith using the search option! The website has a list of all the 350+ MLA approved locksmiths filtered by location and type of service.

As an added measure, you could ask your locksmith for proof of identification and ask questions related to their experience and skill set.

All MLA approved locksmiths carry an up-to-date MLA ID card as proof of having met the strict vetting criteria of the MLA.

CONTACT CALDER SECURITY

At Calder Security, we have professional locksmiths catering to both residential and commercial security who can work on a wide range of keys and locking mechanisms.

We are members of the Master Locksmith Association (MLA) since 1976 and can cut any type of key including cylinder keys, mortice keys, dimple keys, Mul-T-Lock keys, padlock keys, locker keys, and safe keys.

We possess the skill required in key cutting and our state-of-the-art digital key-cutting equipment allows us to cut virtually any domestic and commercial key to a high degree of accuracy in just a few minutes.

We can cut keys from existing keys, codes, and security cards, and thanks to our expert locksmiths and digital machinery, the copies are cut to the original key quality.

We have a Lock and Safe Shop in Wakefield where we offer key-cutting services while you wait, in addition to safe and lock sales.

Other than key-cutting services, our professional locksmiths are also able to work with a vast range of locking systems.

We are specialists in wooden, UPVC, and aluminium doors and the official suppliers for leading lock brands including Chubb, Yale, Securikey, and Garrison.

In addition to installation services, our professional locksmiths also offer repair services for when the locks become damaged or develop faults, and are also fully conversant in business master key systems.

Our qualified locksmiths have an in-depth knowledge of all kinds of locks and can often repair them on-site. We can also access locks that have become jammed, including safes, and can respond to your calls quickly which can be very useful if you’ve locked yourself out.

We also provide a complete solution for keyless entry systems for your home and business which includes professional installation, maintenance, and repair services.

We are SSAIB-approved installers and offer all types of access control systems including intercom, proximity fob, card swipe, and keypad. We also offer biometric systems that work with fingerprints or retina scans.

Photo by Masaaki Komori on Unsplash