Ask for photo ID plus something that ties the person to the address, such as a driving licence showing that address, or photo ID with a recent bill or tenancy agreement in their name. Since much of that is usually locked inside, a common approach is to do a light check at the door and the full check once it is open, before you leave. There is no statutory checklist for UK locksmiths, so the important thing is to have a routine you apply to every job and a clear point at which you walk away.
This is practical guidance for locksmith businesses, not legal advice. If a job raises a legal question, such as a possible eviction, take advice before acting.
Is there a legal rule on ID checks for locksmiths?
Not a specific one. As Which? puts it, "Locksmiths aren't regulated", which means anyone can trade as a locksmith. There is no licence condition telling you what to ask for.
That cuts both ways. There is no rule to follow, but there is also no rule to hide behind if you open a door for someone with no right to be there. The question locksmiths get asked, and that shows up on locksmith firms' own advice pages such as this one on gaining entry, is what a reasonable professional should do.
What should I ask for?
| Evidence | What it shows | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Driving licence with the property address | Identity and address in one | The strongest single document |
| Passport or other photo ID | Identity only | Pair it with something showing the address |
| Recent utility or council tax bill | Address link | Name should match the photo ID |
| Bank statement | Address link | Recent is better |
| Tenancy agreement or landlord's letter | Right to occupy for tenants | Useful where bills are in someone else's name |
| Mortgage statement | Ownership | Rarely to hand, but conclusive |
| Vehicle on the drive registered to them | Supporting only | Never enough on its own |
A neighbour who knows the person can help confirm the story, but treat it as supporting evidence, not proof.
When do I do the check?
A three-stage routine works for most residential lockouts:
- On the phone. Take the caller's full name, the property address, a callback number and how they come to be locked out. Note whether they say they own or rent.
- At the door, before you start. Ask for whatever ID they have on them. Check the name matches what they gave on the phone. Ask a simple question only the occupant would know, such as which room is through the door.
- Once the door is open, before you leave. Ask them to show the address document from inside. Note what you saw.
If stage 3 fails, you have a problem, which is why stage 1 and stage 2 matter. A caller who gives a different name on the doorstep, cannot say what is inside, or is evasive about why they are locked out is a reason to slow down.
When should I walk away?
Write your own list and apply it every time. Common red flags:
- The name or story changes between the call and the doorstep.
- They cannot produce anything linking them to the address, and cannot explain how they will once inside.
- They want you to open a door while the occupant is "away", "at work" or "abroad".
- A landlord wants the locks changed while the tenant is out.
- Someone who is clearly not the occupant is directing you (for example, "my friend asked me to get her keys").
The landlord scenario deserves special care. In England, GOV.UK says it is a crime for a landlord to "try to remove you from a property without following the correct process", that illegal eviction is a criminal offence, and that removal needs a court order or a court-appointed bailiff (GOV.UK). Changing the locks on a tenant can be part of exactly that. Unless the landlord can show the tenancy has lawfully ended or the tenant has agreed, decline the job.
If you think someone is in danger, or a crime is in progress, that is a 999 call.
What should I record, and for how long?
You want enough to show you checked, without building a file of other people's identity documents. UK GDPR sets two limits that apply here:
- Data minimisation: personal data must be "adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary" (ICO).
- Storage limitation: "You must not keep personal data for longer than you need it" (ICO).
In practice, a job note like "Driving licence seen, name and address match, 21:40" is usually enough. Photographing someone's licence and keeping it on your phone indefinitely is harder to justify. Decide how long you keep job records and stick to it.
Where does the phone call fit in?
Stage 1 is the one that gets skipped, because the call comes in while you are driving or on another job and you just grab an address. A caller who has given a full name, address and number before you set off is easier to check on arrival, and a story that changes is easier to spot.
That is the part an answering service can do consistently. Remi answers your line around the clock, takes the caller's name, address and callback number, and puts urgent lockouts through to you with a summary first, so you can ask your own questions before you go. Here is more on the AI receptionist built for locksmiths. The ID check itself stays with you, on the doorstep.
The short version
There is no legal ID checklist for UK locksmiths, so use your own routine on every job: take full details on the phone, check what ID they have at the door, and confirm photo ID plus an address document once inside, before you leave. Walk away when the story changes or a landlord wants locks changed on a tenant, which in England can be part of an illegal eviction. Record that you checked, not copies of everything, and keep job records no longer than you need.