How to check a locksmith is licensed in Ireland
Locksmithing is one of the few trades in Ireland with statutory licensing, and it is worth knowing about precisely because you usually hire one under pressure. Standing outside your own front door at eleven at night is the worst possible moment to start assessing whether a business is legitimate.
The licence is a legal requirement
Since 1 February 2017, contractors providing locksmith services in Ireland must hold a licence from the Private Security Authority, the regulator established under the Private Security Services Act 2004. Trading as a locksmith without one is an offence, and it is also an offence to knowingly engage an unlicensed locksmith.
Only licensed businesses may describe or advertise themselves as locksmiths. Licensing is assessed against a published standard for the sector, so the licence reflects an actual assessment rather than a paid membership.
How to check
The PSA publishes a register of licensed contractors. Look the business up on it. The register is the authority; a badge on a website, a logo on a van or a claim in an advert is not.
Two practical points:
- The licence belongs to the contractor, so check the business you are actually hiring, not just the individual who arrives.
- A national-sounding brand or a local phone number tells you nothing about who will turn up. Some call centres subcontract nationally, which is legal, but you still want to know which licensed business is doing the work.
Do this before you are locked out
The single most useful thing here is to find a licensed local locksmith now, while you have time to check the register, and save the number. Searching in a hurry is how people end up on the first advert they see and paying accordingly.
What to ask on the phone
- What is your PSA licence number?
- What is the call-out charge, and does it change at night or at weekends?
- Will you need to drill the lock, and what is the cost of the replacement if so?
That third question matters more than people expect. A skilled locksmith can open most standard domestic locks non-destructively, and drilling should be a considered decision rather than a default. If someone says over the phone that they will definitely have to drill, without having seen the door, treat that as a warning sign.
After a break-in or lost keys
If keys have been lost or stolen rather than just left inside, changing the cylinder is usually enough on a uPVC or composite door, and it is quicker and cheaper than replacing the whole multipoint mechanism. Check your insurance policy too, as some specify a minimum lock standard on final exit doors and fitting below that standard can affect a claim.