Find a trusted locksmith in Brisbane

Two locks on every doorway

Many Brisbane houses have a security screen door in front of the main door, so a full rekey after you move in often means twice the cylinders you’d expect. Front, back and laundry doors, their screens and the sliders onto the deck can add up to eight or ten locks. Keying them all alike at one visit, so a single key opens everything, keeps the price per lock down. It’s also worth asking whether the screen doors themselves still close and latch properly, because a lock can only hold if the door sits square in its frame.

Older Queenslanders bring their own quirks. Original timber doors, French doors onto the verandah and windows that have never had a lock are common, and a locksmith can fit deadlocks, keyed window locks and better strikes without spoiling the period look. When a door has dropped because the stumps have settled and the bolt no longer meets the strike, get a carpenter to square it up before you spend money on locks. Glass panels beside or in the door are worth a thought too, because a thumb-turn deadlock behind breakable glass is easy to reach, and a double-cylinder deadlock or a different layout may suit better. Talk through fire safety with the locksmith first, so everyone inside can still get out quickly.

Renters, unit blocks and Queensland’s lock rules

If you rent in Queensland, the tenancy rules say locks can be changed only when the tenant and the owner or property manager agree, in an emergency, or under a QCAT order. Tenants experiencing domestic and family violence can change the locks without permission. The state’s minimum housing standards also require working locks or latches on external doors, and on windows that can be reached without a ladder, so fixing a broken one is generally the owner’s responsibility.

Unit buildings in places like Newstead, South Brisbane and Kangaroo Point often run restricted master-key systems controlled by the body corporate. New keys usually need the body corporate or building manager’s authorisation, and the cutting is restricted to the locksmith who registered that key system.

Checking a locksmith’s licence in Queensland

Queensland treats locksmithing as security work. Fitting, repairing or replacing the locks on a home generally needs a security equipment installer licence under the Security Providers Act 1993, unless the locks go in as part of a build or renovation, and cutting keys at a shop counter is exempt. Ask for the licence number and check it on the Office of Fair Trading licence search, making sure the name matches the business you called. Our Queensland licence checks page explains the other registers.

What a Brisbane locksmith charges

Brisbane sits mid-range nationally. Rekeying usually costs around $50 to $120 per cylinder, a business-hours house lockout $100 to $250, and an after-hours lockout $180 to $350. A deadlock supplied and fitted is typically $150 to $400. With screen doors in the mix, ask for a per-lock price and a total before work starts. Our locksmith price guide has more jobs, all indicative.

One Brisbane locksmith for planned jobs

A rekey on moving day or a deadlock upgrade is planned work, so there’s time to choose the locksmith properly. Tell us what needs doing and roughly where you are in Brisbane, and we’ll match you with one local locksmith whose licence, insurance, ABN and reviews we’ve checked. Find out how locksmith matching works, look at other trades around Brisbane, or get a free quote.