uPVC Window Repairs

A Window That Won't Lock Is a Way In

A uPVC window that won't lock properly is more than an annoyance — it's an entry point a burglar will happily use, and it can leave you falling short of what your insurer expects on accessible windows. The good news is that window faults are common, well understood and almost always a quick repair rather than a new window. LocksmithLocal fixes uPVC window locks, handles and mechanisms across your area, usually in a single visit.

What's Usually Wrong

Window faults nearly always come down to one of a handful of parts: the handle (loose, won't turn, or a snapped spindle), the gearbox behind it (turns but doesn't engage the locks), the espagnolette or shootbolt strip down the edge (bent, worn or failed), or simple alignment where the sash has dropped and the bolts no longer meet their keeps. Signs it needs a look:

• The handle turns freely but nothing locks
• The handle is stiff, loose, or won't turn at all
• The window locks when open but won't when it's shut
• You have to lift or push the sash to get it to lock
• Grinding or crunching from inside the frame
• A key snapped in the window lock

What We Repair on uPVC Windows

We source branded window hardware and carry the common parts, so most jobs are done on the spot:

• Window handles — loose, stiff, broken or seized
• Espagnolette locking mechanisms — the multi-point strip down the edge
• Shootbolt systems that have jammed or failed
• Gearboxes where the handle turns but nothing engages
• Keeps and strikers realigned so the bolts meet the frame
• Dropped or misaligned sashes — toe-and-heeled back square
• Friction stays and hinges, and broken keys extracted

Repair, Not Replace

It's rare that a locking fault means you need a whole new window. The frame and glazing are usually perfectly sound — it's one mechanism inside the sash that has worn or slipped, and that part can be replaced for a fraction of a new unit. If a mechanism has been discontinued we'll source a compatible alternative from the leading brands rather than send you back to the window company.

What a Window Repair Costs

No call-out fee, ever, and a fixed price before we start — labour, parts and VAT included. A handle or gearbox swap is an affordable job and sits well below the cost of replacing the window. Our price guide shows honest UK ranges, and our guide to how burglars break in explains why a working window lock matters.

The handle turns but the window won't lock — what is it?

That's almost always a failed gearbox or worn espagnolette strip. Both are straightforward to replace once we've opened the sash up to confirm.

Do I need a whole new window?

Rarely. The glazing and frame are usually fine — it's the internal mechanism that's failed, and that's the part we replace.

Is a failed window lock an insurance problem?

It can be — many insurers expect key-operated locks on accessible windows, so a broken one is worth fixing promptly to keep your cover valid.