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Locked out of my flat? Here’s what it usually means

Guidance last checked on .

If you're locked out of your flat and a child is locked inside, someone inside may be ill or hurt, or something left on could start a fire, call 999. Otherwise, look for a spare key: ask your landlord, letting or managing agent, a neighbour, friend or family. If nobody can reach you with one, agree a locksmith's full price in writing before any work starts, and ask for the lock to be opened, not drilled.

Locked out of my flat: the questions people ask

Who can let me in if I'm locked out of my flat?

Someone with a spare key, so look for one before you call a locksmith. If you rent, your landlord or letting agent may hold a spare, and so may the managing agent or concierge in a block of flats. A neighbour, friend or family member you have given a key to is the other option. If nobody can reach you with a key, call a locksmith; if anyone is in danger, call 999 instead of waiting.

Will the fire brigade let me in if I'm locked out?

London Fire Brigade attends a lock-out only for a danger of fire, or where its control room believes a life may be at risk from what the caller says, such as someone elderly or unwell in bad weather, or needing medicine left inside. It attends anyone locked in without restriction, including a child locked in with the parent or guardian outside. For any of these, call 999. Otherwise it won't let you in, and advises finding a locksmith.

Can a locksmith open my door without damaging the lock?

Usually, yes. A locksmith should try non-destructive entry first, picking or bypassing the lock, and use a drill only as a last resort, for example when the lock itself has failed. A key left in the lock on the inside, a night latch or a thumb-turn euro cylinder can normally be opened without damage. Drilling as the first attempt is a common sign of a rogue locksmith, the Master Locksmiths Association warns.

What should I do if my key snaps in the lock?

Leave the broken piece where it is, and keep the half you are holding. Trying to dig a snapped key out yourself can push it further into the lock and damage the parts inside, so a lock that only needed the key removing can end up needing replacing. A locksmith has tools to extract it, and a new key can often be cut from both halves of a clean break.

Should I change the lock after losing my keys?

Changing the lock after losing your keys stops anyone who finds them from using them to get in, the Master Locksmiths Association advises. If the keys were stolen, report it to the police and keep the crime reference number. If you rent, ask your landlord or letting agent before a lock is changed: your tenancy agreement may say who arranges it and who pays.

What to do, in order

  1. 1. Check nobody inside is in danger

    If a child is locked inside, someone inside may be ill or hurt, or something left on could start a fire, call 999 and say so. Don't wait for a spare key or a locksmith in any of these cases.

  2. 2. Look for signs of a break-in

    If the door or lock has been forced, or a window is broken, don't go in or touch anything. Call 999 if the burglar may still be there; if they have gone, report it to the police online or on 101.

  3. 3. Find someone with a spare key

    Ask your landlord, letting agent or managing agent, if you have one, then a neighbour, friend or family member you have given a key to. If you rent, tell your landlord or letting agent before you call a locksmith.

  4. 4. Agree the full price in writing first

    Before a locksmith starts, ask for the total price, not just the call-out charge, and get it in writing. A very low advertised price can turn out to be the call-out alone, the Master Locksmiths Association warns.

  5. 5. Ask for the lock to be opened, not drilled

    Ask the locksmith to open the lock without damaging it, by picking or bypassing it. Drilling should be a last resort, for a lock that has failed or can't be opened any other way.

  6. 6. Change the lock if the keys are lost or stolen

    Once you are back in, change the lock if your keys are lost or stolen, so nobody who finds them can use them. Report stolen keys to the police, and if you rent, ask your landlord first.

What not to do

  • If a child is locked inside, someone inside may be ill or hurt, or something left on could start a fire, call 999 — don't wait for a spare key or a locksmith. The same goes if you are elderly or unwell and locked out in bad weather, or you need medicine that is inside
  • If you find signs of a break-in, such as a forced door or lock or a broken window, don't go in or touch anything: call 999 if the burglar may still be there, and if they have gone, report it to the police online or on 101 and keep the crime reference number for your insurer
  • Don't try to force the lock or dig out a snapped key yourself — forcing a jammed lock can snap the key, and digging at a broken key can push it further in and damage the lock, so a lock that only needed opening can end up needing replacing
  • Don't let a locksmith start work until you have agreed the full price in writing, not just the call-out charge — a very low advertised price can turn out to be the call-out alone
  • Don't accept drilling as the first thing a locksmith tries — opening the lock without damage, by picking or bypassing it, should come first, and drilling first is a common sign of a rogue locksmith
  • If you rent, don't have the lock drilled or changed before telling your landlord or letting agent — they may hold a spare key, and your tenancy agreement may say who arranges a new lock and who pays
  • Don't take a locksmith's claim to be licensed on trust — the UK has no licence or statutory register for locksmiths, so check any trade association membership they claim with that association itself

When to request help

Request a locksmith once nobody with a spare key can reach you, or when lost or stolen keys mean the lock should be changed. If you rent, tell your landlord or letting agent before booking. Treat it as a same-day job if you have nowhere else to stay, or the door can't be locked. Entry work needs proof of your right of access, photo ID and evidence that you live there or have authority to enter: a Hero must see it before opening any lock, and declines the job if it can't be established.

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Related questions

Are locksmiths regulated in the UK?
No. In the UK, a locksmith needs no licence and there is no statutory register of locksmiths. Locksmiths were left out when the private security industry was brought under licensing, and in 2021 the government said that, as yet, it did not judge there was a sufficient business case for licensing them. The Master Locksmiths Association, the largest trade association for locksmiths, runs a voluntary approval scheme, and you can check a locksmith's claimed membership on its website. Consumer protection law still applies to locksmiths, as to any trader.
Who pays for a locksmith if I rent my flat?
Check your tenancy agreement, and ask your landlord or letting agent before booking. The government's guidance for tenants in England says you are responsible for looking after the keys, and you can be charged the cost of replacing a lost key or other security device if your tenancy agreement includes that fee and your landlord shows in writing that the cost is reasonable. Lewisham and Haringey councils, for example, list replacing keys or locks after keys are lost among their tenants' own repairs. After a break-in, Victim Support advises tenants to tell the landlord about the repairs needed.

General guidance, not a substitute for an on-site professional assessment — and never for the gas emergency line (0800 111 999) if you smell gas.