What to do if you are locked out

Follow our 5 top tips for what to do if you get locked out. They ensure that you can get back into your home and without damage or high cost.

1. Keep calm!

It seems so obvious. But, if you panic and stress, you may miss a solution to get back into your home.

Panicking often leads to bad decisions. It can stop you from being level-headed. So, stay calm and explore the available options.

2. Don’t try to break-in yourself if you are locked out

Trying to get back into the property by fiddling with the lock is the worst thing you can do. You are unlikely to succeed and could damage the lock. Then, you would have to pay for a new one. Significant lock damage can then make it harder for a Doncaster locksmith to gain access later.

3. Think about who has a spare

There may be a family member with another key who can open for you. Or, you may have given a spare set to a friend or neighbour.

Leaving a spare key with a trusted person who lives nearby in advance can help you out in a situation like this. If you have lost your original key, we advise changing your locks. You don’t know where it is or who might have found it. Remember to give a spare to your family.

4. Call a specialist locksmith NOT 999

If you find yourself locked out without a spare key, contact a trusted locksmith in Doncaster. They are available 24 hours a day. We would always recommend finding a local Doncaster locksmith. They should be police and insurance approved and DBS checked. This is better than calling a national call center. They might send out an under-qualified tradesman. Their charges will seem low on Google but will escalate very quickly as they proceed. Try to get a fixed price over the phone and the name of the locksmith who will be attending.

Don’t call 999 unless there is a risk of fire, it’s a real emergency, or you can’t get to a child inside. Firefighters helping people who have locked themselves out has cost UK taxpayers millions. Their methods are what we term destructive, they will get you in though!

If they break in, you’ll still need a locksmith to fix or replace the lock.

5. Ensure any new locks are to the British Standard

If you need an emergency Doncaster locksmith, make sure your new locks are British Standard 3621:2004. This standard requires locking a door from both sides. Once you lock it, you need a key to open it from the inside and outside. Your Home Insurance Provider will often need you to have British Standard locks. This can be a very important step

6. Bonus tip! – Add our number to your contacts

This extra tip can save you a lot of time and money if you are wondering what to do if locked out of your property in the future .

People accidentally locking themselves out of their house, car of even place of business happens a lot more often than you might think. If it’s ever happened to you then you’ll know how extremely stressful and worrying getting locked out can be.

Follow our 5 top tips for when you get locked out to ensure that you can get back into your home safely, in good time and without damaging anything or spending a fortune.