Door doesn't lock help!

[confusedlittleone]

My front door doesn't lock anymore- I live alone with 2 small children, I told the landlord the minute I discovered the problem (it shuts and seemed locked but can be pushed open) and they've told me it will be Friday before they could possibly get someone out but maybe not till Monday Aibu to think that's completely unacceptable!? We've had already had issues with them leaving heating/hot water repairs but this really takes the cake! We also don't like in area super hard hit by the snow

can you speak to council? I think they have departments that deal with such landlords.

I think they can even fine the ll.

I’m sorry to hear about your DA @confusedlittleone

or they may house you.

DA = DS, obvs

@bluebell34567 I'm not a uk/eu citizen so won't be entitled to council housing (or refugee)

Your landlord should be treating this as an emergency and dealing with it within 24 hours. Contact them again in the morning telling them you have taken advice and the repair needs doing that day. If they won't, providing you have a paper trail you can get a locksmith to sort it out and deduct the cost from your rent ensuring you send a copy of the paid invoice to them. I'm a landlord of a few properties and I would have sent a locksmith asap but at least within 24 hours. Anything less is taking the piss

For now, can you drag a heavy piece of furniture across the door? Hope you can get some sleep.

I second speaking to Shelter again, and the local council. For tonight could you put a chair against the door, wedged under the handle? Hope you get something sorted soon.

post a photo of your door lock please.

It may be quite easy DIY if you have a medium and a small screwdriver.

I have a feeling you have a plastic front door, they go wrong much more often than wooden ones. There will be a plastic door and window specialist in your town (there always is, because they go wrong) who may be a better bet than a so-called locksmith.

Don't call an emergency service or any ad with an 08 number. It will be an agency.

@PigletJohn it's a wooden door and Yale lock

I think amyrose has the solution

easy fix

please post a photo. Indicate where the non-functioning part is.

Have you got a screwdriver?

That is appalling. I once managed to break my lock from the outside and permanently lock myself out. I called emergency locksmith and he arrived, let me in and changed the lock barrel within an hour.
There are emergency locksmiths on call at all times.

Once you have this sorted you need to move. Your LL is awful.

Does it lock with a key? If so you could try spraying lots of oil or WD40 on the key, put said key in lock and turn it a few times. It might free the mechanism so that it does lock.
If you have wooden clothes pegs you can separate the two halves and use each side as a wedge. Half a dozen along the bottom would hold it overnight for you.

24 hour locksmith right now and bill your landlord for it. They can say all they want that they wouldn't pay it but they know they'll have to as no court in the land would support leaving a family with small children without adequate security on the doors.

@BrownOwlknowsbest we've tried that- my neighbour is a handy man for a housing association so tried several things to fix it but said it needs replacing

Odd question but what's the layout like as you come in the door? I only ask as this happened to us once and the house had a small square hall with the stairs leading off right opposite the front door. DH found a sturdy piece of wood and wedged it between one of the steps and the centre of the door so it couldn't be opened. Long shot you have the same layout but thought it was worth a mention.

are you in a weather zone OP? whats exactly wrong with the lock, its the lock coming out of the barrel? does the catch latch onto the snip?

is it a wooden door or composit door?

Neighbour meantion something to do with lock replacement- the lock works exactly as it should on the face off it and you couldn't tell it wasn't working, unless you push in the door, and then it opens with zero issues

A Yale lock on a wooden door can easily be replaced by a person with a screwdriver. The new one fits straight into the old holes. You just need to measure to see if it is a 60mm (distance from centre of keyhole to edge of door) or a 40mm (very rarely a 50mm)

I gather you aren't able to post a photo.

You don't need to pay a locksmith if you know a helpful handyperson.

You can get a cheap "traditional" one, or a British Standard one that is stronger. Almost certainly you can leave the old cylinder in place and use your existing keys. The "traditional" is basically rubbish and is not secure.

Here are some examples to give you an idea of price.

OP when you lock your door, how many locks to you have done the side of the door?

Just the one? in the same way as an internal door? but without the key?

Can you take a photo?

Yup just the one it was designed to have to buy they covered up the hole in the doorframe where the second one went into (if that makes sense)