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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Locked in the house with broken lock? Any ideas?

24 replies

Undecidedandtorn · 17/05/2022 11:58

I live by myself, have just gone to leave and the lock is jammed! Any ideas?

OP posts:
EatYourVegetables · 17/05/2022 11:59

Call an emergency locksmith?

Undecidedandtorn · 17/05/2022 12:00

And this is the lock (not sure if it helps)

Locked in the house with broken lock? Any ideas?
OP posts:
Undecidedandtorn · 17/05/2022 12:01

EatYourVegetables · 17/05/2022 11:59

Call an emergency locksmith?

That sounds expensive and I'm moving next week

OP posts:
heldinadream · 17/05/2022 12:01

WD40?

Landlord got a spare key or would come and see?

If you haven't got any WD40 or friendly landlord, call a locksmith?

If you're expected somewhere let them know you're stuck so you can concentrate on getting out and not worry about other people.
Good luck. Don't panic!

Madmog · 17/05/2022 12:01

Does anyone else have a key they could try from the outside? Either way, I think you need an emergency locksmith.

FlibbertyGiblets · 17/05/2022 12:02

Use the back door for the time being?

Ask on your local sm pages, someone might be able to help, a handyman or similar.

HangingOver · 17/05/2022 12:02

This happened to me. I rang the shop on the corner and asked the guy to stand outside my window and threw him don my keys...it worked. He was so confused!

Undecidedandtorn · 17/05/2022 12:03

Thanks for coming with helpful messages. It's a place I own so no landlord

OP posts:
Summerholidayorcovidagain · 17/05/2022 12:06

My dd asked a ndn to open hers from the outside. Or can you go out the back and to the front?

Undecidedandtorn · 17/05/2022 12:09

Just my luck it's a 2 floor flat so no other door options and I don't know anyone to call in the local area (love the shop story). Emergency locksmith seems the best option

OP posts:
MrsReeves · 17/05/2022 12:10

You haven't accidentally knocked the snip down have you?

skgnome · 17/05/2022 12:11

Can you go out via the back? Or a ground floor window and try from the outside?
any nice neighbours/local friends/community FB page - you pass them keys using a window and get them to try from the outside?
if all that fails, locksmith I’m afraid

ImBurtMacklin · 17/05/2022 12:12

Do you have a metal coat hanger?

If so. Bend into a square U shape and rotate it so the bottom of the U is behind the gold locking part. Then pull towards you

YetAnotherRainyDay · 17/05/2022 12:22

Might be a similar issue

www.diynot.com/diy/threads/broken-yale-lock-how-can-i-remove-it.343560/

JudgeJ · 17/05/2022 12:28

If it's a Yale style lock maybe you could try a credit card slipped between the door and the lock to open it, my late OH was a wizard at opening door like that! Good luck.

DecayedStrumpet · 17/05/2022 12:33

Is it the snib? Try a combination of wiggling the little black button up and down while you try and move the lever and see if any combination of positions will set you free

Isaidnoalready · 17/05/2022 12:37

Do you know a neighbour you can call pass them the key through the letterbox?

LaurieSchafferIsAllBitterNow · 17/05/2022 12:40

roaring with laughter that somehow the OP had completely forgotten she might be able to get out the back door.

What a malarkey, I'd try to pop it with a credit card/screwdriver, jiggle the snib and the latch and then probably end up hitting it with a hammer and breaking it off completely.

Will the latch pull off and out...like a knob for a gas hob... and then maybe you can take off the box part and have at it with a screwdriver.

Tomikka · 17/05/2022 12:42

See if the dark round button is engaged or can be ‘wiggled’
Then more detail as per @YetAnotherRainyDay linked

It might just be the picture but the lock looks wonky. Is it loose/has it moved ? In which case try to shift it back to level

Then ultimately what to do once you have it open.
Is it the only lock on the door? (Eg do you have a lever lock as well?)
If it isn’t the only lock then I would say to take off the lock, lock up with the other and deal with the problem lock - if it’s badly aligned then adjust that, if the lock itself is unreliable then I’d get a replacement from a hardware shop (or online with next day delivery if you can’t get to a shop)

If you were not moving and that’s the only lock then I’d recommend getting an extra lock fitted, so there are at least two points of failure and that the door would be harder to kick in

If you are unable to unlock it then attempts with a coat hanger etc may help, but are obviously meant to be hard to do, and ultimately brute force - eg prise the doorframe end of the lock
Try to minimize the force as you could be adding to expense to fix it up before moving

A clever Cloggs idea is to pop the hinge pins and release the other side of the door, but that’s not necessarily so simple

LanaGardner · 17/05/2022 12:53

If you can't get anyone to come or climb out of a window
Have a look at the the smaller section of the lock, the bit the lock goes into is it possible to get to the screws to take that bit off ? The door will just open then.
Failing that I'd hit the smaller bit with a big hammer and knock it off if you've got a large flat screwdriver you can put that up against it then hit the back of the screwdriver.
Or first try sliding something, kitchen knife, flat screwdriver to see if the lock will move, that bit may not be jammed

bigbluebus · 17/05/2022 13:09

Does the lever move up and down at all? If not then I'm guessing the button has been touched which has caused it to lock. You need to jiggle the lever whilst fiddling with the button to see if that releases it.

AdobeWanKenobi · 17/05/2022 13:14

Undecidedandtorn · 17/05/2022 12:01

That sounds expensive and I'm moving next week

You say you own the flat? Surely you aren't planning on completing with a knowingly knackered front door lock?
Please dont make this your new buyers problem.

RB68 · 17/05/2022 13:31

honestly I would try a good had hit with a hammer or similar and jiggle about a bit - honestly sounds like it is just old and worn. The snib could also be on or have slipped. Once you get it open they are about 30 quid to replace yourself and its not too tricky - I did my MILs when she was burgled once to replace the lock barrel as they took keys. But if you can call a locksmith and he is able to come just get him to do it so its worth the call out - lol

NoWordForFluffy · 17/05/2022 13:34

AdobeWanKenobi · 17/05/2022 13:14

You say you own the flat? Surely you aren't planning on completing with a knowingly knackered front door lock?
Please dont make this your new buyers problem.

This! It needs fixing (once you're free!).

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