Book help with access, repairs or new locks
In short
Choose a locksmith who serves your Perth suburb and works on your type of lock. For regulated property lock work, check the attending person's relevant WA Security Installer licence and the Security Agent licence behind the booking through WA Police's current licence-holder lists. Confirm the attendance fee and agree on the work and price before it starts. Call Triple Zero (000) if someone is in immediate danger or a serious crime is in progress.
Step 1
Check safety before arranging entry
A safe lockout can be handled through a spare key or a locksmith booking. If there is an immediate threat to people or property, call 000 and give your location. For a crime that has already happened and needs police assistance without an immediate emergency, contact WA Police on 131 444.
Match the problem to the first action
| What has happened | What to do first |
|---|---|
| Someone is trapped and in immediate danger, or a break-in is happening | Call 000 and follow the emergency operator's instructions. |
| You are locked out and everyone is safe | Ask an authorised person about a spare key, then contact a locksmith if needed. |
| A shared entrance or building access system is not working | Contact the building or strata manager to arrange authorised access and repairs. |
| A lock is damaged after a burglary | Report the incident to police and ask about preserving evidence before arranging repairs. |
Step 2
Check the licence class against the actual job
WA Security Installer Class 1 covers installation, maintenance and repair of prescribed locks, safes and vaults. Class 4 covers installation of prescribed locks. Security doors and electronic equipment have separate classes. Ask WA Police to clarify any uncertainty about the proposed work.
A Security Agent licence covers advertising and supplying services, rather than performing installer work. Ask for both installer and agent licence details. Self-employed installers and subcontractors working under their own ABN need their own Security Agent licence.
Open the Security Installer, Security Agent and Organisations lists on WA Police's current licence-holder page. Match names and numbers to your booking and ask to see the attending person's licence. Vehicle, vessel and aircraft security equipment falls outside the Security Installer licence. For a car key or lockout, ask about experience with your vehicle model.
Step 3
Give enough detail for the locksmith to prepare
Give your suburb and explain whether the key is missing, trapped inside, snapped or unable to turn. Identify the door or gate and send a photo if you can safely take one. Confirm the company's service area and expected attendance directly.
Explain any shared entrance, intercom, parking or access arrangements. Ask what proof of identity and authority to enter the property is needed, especially if your identification is locked inside. Arrange permission from the owner, property manager or strata manager where needed. Keep identity documents, access codes and key locations out of a public job brief.
Step 4
Separate the attendance charge from the work price
Before booking, ask for the call-out fee, any after-hours or travel charge, and what is included. Check whether providing a quote or assessment costs money, and what you will owe if you decline the work after the locksmith arrives. WA Consumer Protection advises checking call-out fees for urgent work and asking about fees for quotes.
An estimate is an approximate cost; a quote is an agreed price for the specified work. Request a written breakdown of labour, parts, taxes and any potential extras. If inspection is needed first, authorise that assessment at an agreed price, then decide on the proposed repair. The locksmith should obtain your permission before extra work proceeds.
Ask why drilling or replacing a lock is proposed, what damage could result and which parts and keys are included. For planned work, compare written quotes for the same scope. Rekeying changes the key that operates a lock; replacement changes the hardware. Ask which option suits your existing locks and whether old keys will still work.
Step 5
Test the result while the locksmith is there
With the door open and access available, test each supplied key and ask the locksmith to show you the locking and opening functions. Check any shared access arrangements affected by the work before they leave.
Keep the accepted quote, approvals for extras and an itemised invoice with the business details. Record the lock or parts supplied and any warranty information. If something does not work as agreed, contact the business with the fault and your records; seek help from WA Consumer Protection if you cannot resolve the dispute.
Sources and useful links
Sources checked 7 October 2026
- WA Police: contact WA Police
000 for immediate threats or serious crime in progress; 131 444 for other police assistance and past crimes.
- WA Police: types of security licences
Agent and installer roles, Class 1 and Class 4 lock work, separate equipment classes and the vehicle equipment boundary.
- WA Police: current licence holders
Official downloadable lists for Security Installers, Security Agents and Organisations.
- WA Consumer Protection: estimates and quotes
Written quotes, estimates, potential quote fees, urgent call-out charges and permission for extra work.
