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AIBU?

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Original poster

There must always be keys near doors?

172 replies

Namechange202323 · 05/08/2023 11:55

im sick of arguing with DH and my parents about this. With UPVC doors that are locked with a key from inside, rather than putting keys on a hook near door, they will take them into the house / upstairs, pockets whatever. Meaning you have to find a key to open the door and/or leave the house! I feel really strongly (from a fire risk etc), that we should always be able to get out and there should ALWAYS be a key at the door. They just don’t care as much and don’t think it matters. Even if it means a visitor is waiting for a few mins while they go get a key. Please tell me they are being ridiculous, and if there are any ideas to make sure key is always there. We have loads of spares and every so often I’ll put all 4 spares on the hooks but within a week they are in pockets / bags etc and need to be found! grrrr!

OP posts:
DustyLee123 · 05/08/2023 11:56

That’s a fire hazard.

fuckthisprivilage · 05/08/2023 11:57

YADNBU.

We leave the key in the lock on the inside of the door for this reason. Absolutely crazy not to be able to open the door immediately should you need to.

Moltenpink · 05/08/2023 11:58

Agree YANU. I had the opposite problem that I couldn’t find keys to lock the door, so I had the locks changed to one that doesn’t need a key from the inside (it has a twist lock).

Rarewaxwing · 05/08/2023 11:59

Very silly. It's a fire hazard. And really annoying!

Chasingsquirrels · 05/08/2023 11:59

On a spring coil attached near the door rather than just on a hook? So is can be stretched to unlock the door but not easily walked away with.

kayserah · 05/08/2023 12:01

My husbands family do they same thing, they are stupid. Thankfully I’m passed the age of doing sleepovers at their house and I always have my door locked at home with keys on a shelf next to the door. Husband is always losing his keys

ArcticSkewer · 05/08/2023 12:01

If they are that childish, change the lock for one with a thumb turn on the inside.

cato75 · 05/08/2023 12:01

My parents are like this and it drives me mad. It's like they're more concerned that someone will get in to steal the telly than whether they can get out if there's a fire. It really worries me.

RampantIvy · 05/08/2023 12:02

Chasingsquirrels · 05/08/2023 11:59

On a spring coil attached near the door rather than just on a hook? So is can be stretched to unlock the door but not easily walked away with.

Good idea

inloveonholiday · 05/08/2023 12:02

Yes it's a real hazard.

Can you get a small easily accessible key caddy screwed to the wall next to the door?

If the key in this keeps walking away also then I'd tie a piece of string to it long enough to reach the lock.

Just get something sorted for your peace of mind. Others won't change easily and it's not worth the battle.

Brendabigbaps · 05/08/2023 12:03

put them on huge keyrings so they’re not easy to walk around with. Easier to find it they do

Createausername1970 · 05/08/2023 12:04

We have a front door, a side door and a patio door. Every one has a front door key and that is only double locked from the outside when the last person leaves the house. It is never locked when people are in the house.

The side door and patio doors are locked from the inside and a key is left in the lock. No-one has these keys on a keyring or needs to have their own.

I think you are definitely NOT being unreasonable.

It's a fire risk if you can't get out quickly in a smoke filled emergency.

elenacampana · 05/08/2023 12:04

I don’t leave my keys in or near the door. Burglars use a technique called fishing to get them and then let themselves in. I know where they are elsewhere in the house, but no, never ever near the door.

StubbleTurnips · 05/08/2023 12:07

No way would I leave the key in the door or in sight near it, for the fishing risk as above. Scrotes will do anything to steal cars where we are.

ohtobeme · 05/08/2023 12:07

You get an extra key

Somewhere near the door but safe

Goldensunnydays81 · 05/08/2023 12:08

My key is always in my door when it is locked don’t even have it on a hook as I’m worried that in a fire the time it would take to find and unlock it would be too long. But my door is only locked at night when I go to bed! Never have it locked during the day.

Konfetka · 05/08/2023 12:08

Chasingsquirrels · 05/08/2023 11:59

On a spring coil attached near the door rather than just on a hook? So is can be stretched to unlock the door but not easily walked away with.

The problem with this is that when the house is empty you want those doors deadlocked i.e. the keys shouldn't be accessible to be burglars. But I agree that whilst people are at home it's mandatory, for fire safety, to have keys in the locks. How about keys on lanyards with enormous tags - too big to be pocketed - labelled FRONT DOOR, BACK DOOR, etc.

TheGaffer · 05/08/2023 12:10

When I was little I remember one of those public safety adverts that showed a burglar smashing a small glass in the door, slipping their hand in, turning the key (which was in the lock) and getting into the house. It was supposed to show you how easy it is to break in to someone’s house and I guess the message was don’t leave you key somewhere easy to find. Fortunately my family ignored that. I’m with you OP! It seems a bit crazy…maybe that advert scared them?!

FrangipaniBlue · 05/08/2023 12:11

I have a very good friend who is a fire station chief.

He told me that the majority of fire deaths they go to the people were either asleep or they find them behind doors because they couldn't get out.

He told me to ALWAYS leave your house key in the lock in the back of the door.

AntiHop · 05/08/2023 12:12

Yanbu op. My inlaws are like this. They're intelligent and sensible people in every other way. But they keep all keys away from the doors and windows for security reasons. Their back door key is kept inside a jar, which is kept inside a cupboard. It really worries me how hard it would be to get out in a fire, and I've told them so. But they won't change this habit. It makes me uncomfortable when we stay over.

AffIt · 05/08/2023 12:13

Having been in a house fire, I am far more frightened of fire than I am of burglars.

Belongings can be replaced.

PupInAPram · 05/08/2023 12:13

Imagine if your smoke detector goes off in the night and the power goes out, trying to find a key to get out in the dark😔. I have my keys on a bit of ribbon (back door one colour, front door another). As I come in the door I lock it and hang the key from the door handle by the ribbon.

FrangipaniBlue · 05/08/2023 12:13

Honestly, I'd rather be burgled than my family die in a fire.

OHVanessaShanessaJenkins · 05/08/2023 12:14

Window keys too.

Our fire escape route upstairs is via a large lockable window. The key is in the lock.

All our keys are in a little lock box next to the front door. And next to the back door too.

Had a horrific tragic loss through a house fire a few years ago so through personal experience, we learned.
No one should have to bury their child after a house fire.
The thought that my family were trapped in a locked house because a small metal tool wasn’t accessible is just beyond comprehension. How the hell could you live on with that knowledge?

horseymum · 05/08/2023 12:16

Definitely needed to have keys near doors and I tell overnight guests where they are too. More worried about fire than burglars

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