Blog>Expert Advice>Locked out of your house? Here's what to do
Last updated: 20 December 2023
Locked out of your house? Here's what to do
There’s nothing worse than getting home after a long day out only to realise you’re locked out of your house. Whether you’ve lost your keys, you’ve left them inside, or your key has broken in the lock, you don’t want to be left sitting on your doorstep for long. Here’s what to do, and when you should call a locksmith to get you in.
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I'm locked out of my house, what do I do?
Right now, you probably have that dreaded feeling in your stomach after realising you’re locked out of your house.
First things first, don’t panic!
Instead, follow these simple steps.
Get hold of any spare keys
Do you have a neighbour with a spare key, a housemate or a landlord? Contact them to see if they can let you in.
Check other doors
If you left the house in a rush and forgot your keys, you may have forgotten to lock other doors too.
Just be sure never to force a door – this could damage the door and be dangerous to boot.
Check first-floor windows
If there’s a window that’s unlocked and big enough to crawl through, remove the screen carefully and check what’s on the other side. Always proceed with caution if you decide to climb through a window, as it could be dangerous and you wouldn’t want to hurt yourself
If you’ve followed the steps above and you’re still locked out
Your best bet is usually to call a locksmith. Not only will they be able to get you into your house quickly, but they’ll usually be able to do so without damaging your locks or doors.
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Locked myself out of my apartment or house
If you’re locked out without a key (perhaps you’ve lost your key out and about or you’ve left it in your apartment or house), there is a trick you can try.
Use a credit card
If your door has a standard spring bolt, you’ll need a hard plastic card like a credit card to get in. Make sure you use a card you don’t need as unlocking a door in this way can damage it.
Insert the card between the frame and the door where the latch is and hold it at a right angle to the door
Wiggle the card around and bend it away from the doorknob while you lean against the door
Slide the latch back to get the card between the latch and the doorframe – this should allow you to push the door open
If this works, make sure to call a locksmith immediately to get more secure locks fitted – if you managed to get into your house like this, anyone else could too!
How to remove a broken key from a lock
Another reason why you might be locked out of your house is if your key has broken off in the lock.
In this case, even getting hold of a spare key won’t be much help.
To get in, you’ll need to remove the broken key from your lock.
Spray the lock with a solvent such as WD-40 (this is just to help get the key out and shouldn’t be used to maintain your lock)
Slip a thin tool like a jigsaw into the lock opening to drag the broken bit of key out (you could also use a DIY tool like a hairpin, tweezers or Swiss army knife)
If that hasn’t worked and the broken key is protruding from the lock, you can superglue a longer item to the exposed part of the key. Then, use this as a handle to pull the key free when the glue sets
A locksmith would usually use a tool called a broken key extractor to remove a broken key from a lock. You can buy one online or from a hardware store for as little as £5 – it might not help you this time but it could be handy to have one around in case you get locked out again!
Locked out of the house with the key in the door
If your door has a common double cylinder lock, you won’t usually be able to open it from the outside if someone’s left a key inserted on the inside – even if you have your key handy! This can be an issue if someone’s injured inside your house and you need to get in to help them.
Usually, you’ll need a locksmith to help you get in.
However, if your door has a large, old-fashioned lock, you might be able to get access:
Slide a piece of newspaper under the door
Push a long object such as a screwdriver or skewer into the lock and move it around to dislodge the key
Once the key falls out onto the newspaper below it, slide the newspaper back under the door to retrieve the key
Locked out of house help
If none of these DIY fixes work, you’ll need to get a professional locksmith to help.
We recommend hiring a locksmith from the offset – not only are they easy to get hold of in an emergency, but they’ll also give you the best chance of getting into your home without damaging your door or your lock!
Locksmith prices are around £65 per hour during normal working hours.
For an emergency locksmith to come out in the same day, it'll be more around the £150 mark.
We’d say the extra cost is probably worth it - it's better to be tucked up in bed rather than being locked out in the cold at 2am!
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How to avoid getting locked out of the house
In an ideal world, instead of figuring out how to get back into your house, you’ll avoid getting locked out in the first place!
Here are some tips to help.
If you keep forgetting your key inside or losing it…
Hide a spare set of keys (make sure they are in a safe space as you do not want to make your house vulnerable)
Give your neighbour a spare key
Get a smart lock (one that pairs with your phone)
Put a sign near the front door reminding you to take your keys with you
Get roller rim locks fitted so that you have to turn a key to lock your door
Use door restrictors to stop the door from unexpectedly closing behind you
To prevent your key from breaking off in the lock…
Get your lock installed by a professional
Lubricate your lock at least once a year
Replace your lock if you notice it isn’t working as smoothly as it was
Don’t use excessive force to unlock your door
Only use your keys for what they’re intended (they’re made from soft metals and can get damaged if you use them to open parcels or tins of paint, for example)
Keep your keys in a separate compartment in your bag so they don’t bounce around too much
Avoid placing your keys in a back pocket so you don’t sit on them
Don’t leave your keys in direct sunlight
Key takeaways
Try to get hold of a spare key if you’re locked out
A locksmith will be able to help you get back into your house without causing damage
Lubricate your lock regularly to prevent your key from breaking or getting stuck in the lock
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