So now I can't open my bedroom door and am barricaded in

[Anonnynonny]

I have a door handle which no matter how hard you push down, will no longer have any effect on the latch so I can't open the door to my bedroom.

Luckily as it's in a loft conversion, there's a fire door which means I can go round and get out that way. But does anyone know how I can get the door open? I don't feel I can close the fire door now, in case it also develops the same problem (it has the same type of door handle).

Remove the handle and if it has a square hole where the handles rod usually goes you can push a screwdriver in and use it to turn the lever which should open the door. Then leave it open until you have fitted a new handle.

Take the door off at the hinges.Then you will have access to the lock and can either release the lock/jammed part or take the lock off altogether.

Use something to slide between the doorcand frame round the back of the latch so you can pull it to release the door. Then you can change or adjust the latch.

I used to use this method to get into the side door at school using a bent kebab stick (outside of the door had no handle).

I expect it has a Tubular Latch which is badly worn. If you unscrew the handle from one side and turn the square bar even more than usual (you can use the knob or handle for this once it is unscrewed from the door) you will probably move it enough to take up the wear and open the door. If not, you can inch the latch back from inside the room using the tips of two knives.

Go to the Screwfix website and search "Tubular latch" and you will see what it looks like.

Once the door is open, undo the two screws holding the fore-end of the latch to the edge of the door, and pull the latch out. Tapping on the square bar after taking both the handles off will help. Once you have taken the latch out it can no longer trap you. Then measure the old latch and buy a new one the same. It will probably be about 63mm. If the square bar or the handles are worn (likely if aluminium) buy new ones.

When a latch, handle or bar is getting worn, you usually notice that you have to turn the handle increasingly hard.