Window Handle, Lock & Hinge Repair in Tunbridge Wells
Stiff handles, snapped keys, dropped sashes and worn hinges fixed in one visit — from £100 per window.
A window that won't lock isn't just annoying — it's an insurance risk. Most hardware failures are mechanical, not structural, and almost always fixable in a single visit without touching the frame or glass.
Most jobs done in one visit
Handles, locks and the espagnolette mechanism
When a key won't turn, a handle is stiff, or you can hear something "crunching" inside the frame as you operate it, the failure is usually in the espagnolette — the gearbox strip that runs the length of the window and drives the locking points. We carry common gearboxes, handles and shoot-bolts on the van, so most replacements happen the same day as the survey.
- Handle replacement: Standard, spade and cockspur handles in white, brown, chrome, brushed steel or matte black to match your existing suite.
- Espagnolette gearboxes: The drive strip behind the handle — replaced when keys turn but the window won't lock.
- Ultion® anti-snap locks: Optional upgrade to 3-star insurance-approved cylinders, the recognised defence against lock-snapping break-ins.
- Snapped-key extraction: Removal of broken keys from the cylinder without damaging the lock barrel.
Hinges and friction stays
When a window sash drops, scrapes the frame on closing or leaves a visible gap at one corner, the friction stays (the metal arms that hold the sash) have worn or bent. Left alone, this puts the locking points out of alignment and forces the gearbox to take strain — which is how handles eventually snap.
- Friction-stay replacement: Top and bottom stays renewed in matched pairs.
- Egress / fire-escape hinges: Upgrade to wider-opening hinges where a window is a designated escape route under Building Regulations Part B.
- Restrictor hinges: Limit the opening angle for child safety or upper-floor letting compliance.
- Re-alignment: Adjusting keeps and lock-points after the new hinges are in so the window closes cleanly without forcing.
If you've been forcing a handle for months, get it checked — once the gearbox snaps under load you've usually got a window that can't be opened or closed until the strip is replaced.
Why repair, not replace?
Hardware repair is the single most cost-effective intervention on a UPVC window. A handle-and-gearbox job from £100 restores full security and smooth operation — replacing the whole window for the same fault would be £400–£800 and gain you nothing functional.
Clear pricing. No upselling. No pressure. Every job is backed by a written guarantee.
Where we work
We're a mobile service — we come to you. We cover Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding TN postcode towns. If your postcode starts TN1–TN12, we've almost certainly worked on your street.
Tunbridge Wells Hub
Southborough | Rusthall | St John's | High Brooms | Hawkenbury | Langton Green | Speldhurst | Bidborough | Pembury
Tonbridge Hub
Hildenborough | Tonbridge Town Centre
Paddock Wood Hub
Paddock Wood | Brenchley | Horsmonden
Frequently asked questions
Real questions from real customers in Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge.
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My window handle is stiff but still works — is it worth fixing now?
Yes. A stiff handle is the early-warning sign that the gearbox is wearing. If you keep forcing it, the strip will eventually snap and the window will be stuck in either the locked or unlocked position. Replacing the gearbox before it fails is faster, cheaper and usually possible the same day.
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Will you replace just one handle, or do they have to match the whole house?
Both. We can swap a single faulty handle, or re-suite every window in the property if you want a consistent look (popular before selling or letting).
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I've lost the key to my window lock. Can you help?
Yes. For keyed handles we can supply replacement keys if the lock barrel is intact, or change the handle entirely. For cylinder locks we can rekey or replace the cylinder, including upgrading to Ultion® anti-snap.
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How quickly can you attend a broken-lock emergency?
We usually offer same-day or next-day visits across Tunbridge Wells, Southborough, Tonbridge and Paddock Wood. Call 01892 300511 or WhatsApp 07908 267716 with the postcode and a photo of the handle.
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Do you guarantee the repair?
Yes. All hardware repairs come with a written guarantee on parts and labour. If a part we've fitted fails inside the guarantee period, we replace it free.
