I've lost the key to my house, what should I do?

D BURGESS • October 28, 2022

What steps should you take when you misplace your key?

You reach into your bag or pocket, searching for that familiar, comforting jingle. But it doesn’t come. Your heart sinks. Where are your keys?!

We’ve all been there; that wave of nausea as you cast your mind back in a panic. Even if we tap another pocket and find them moments later, the threat of losing your house keys is a big one. Would you know what to do if it happened to you? Or even worse, if you had your keys stolen?

Lost your keys? Don’t panic!

This might sound like frustrating advice, but no one can think straight in a panic. There is always something that can be done.

The first thing to remember is not to try to break into your own home. Instead, call a locksmith. Lost or stolen keys are one of the most common calls a locksmith receives! The damage you’ll do breaking in to gain access to your home is highly likely to outstrip the cost of getting in touch with a locksmith and leaving your home unsecured.

Are there other sets of keys?

If you have other sets of keys, you have options - retrieving them from your friends or family, or waiting for your partner for example. But if you’ve lost your only set of house keys, unfortunately, replacement is your only option.

Do I need a new key or a new lock?

You should ask yourself this very important question before following your next course of action, and it vastly depends on how and where you’ve lost your keys. Security should be your primary concern. If there is any possibility that your keys can be used to break in, you should definitely consider installing new locks instead of cutting a fresh key.

If your address is likely to be known or easily identified, you likely want to consider installing a new lock instead, so that you have the peace of mind that your lost keys can’t be used to access your home. In this instance, the locksmith will likely drill or pick your lock to gain entry.

Changing the locks of course does cost more than having a new key cut. But running the risk of not replacing the locks may cost you an awful lot more. If your own keys are used to burgle your home, this will invalidate your house insurance. In this instance, your provider will likely say that you didn’t take adequate steps to secure your property. In fact, most providers insist that there is evidence of forced entry in order to pay out on your claim. You could lose thousands of pounds or priceless sentimental objects, rather than paying the significantly smaller fee to secure your home with new locks.

I’ve lost my house key and need a new one. What should I do first?

Step one - call 101 to talk to the police (don’t call 999, unless you believe someone has acquired your keys and is inside your property). Notify your local police force that your keys are gone (whether lost or stolen), and let them know if there are any obvious ways of identifying them (a certain colour or specific keyring, for example). If they are handed in to the police, this will make getting them back to you much easier. At this stage, also consider what else could be left unsecured - did your keyring also have a fob to access work, for example, your garage key, or keys to a neighbour’s house?

The next step? Get in touch with a locksmith. Preferably contact one you know or have heard of, or one local to your area and well-renowned. They will need to come out to you. A skilled locksmith will then be able to hand-make you a new key for your lock, even without your original. Check the timescale on this, as some locksmiths provide a quick service and are guaranteed to leave your home secure after this initial visit.

How much does it cost to call out a locksmith?

Unfortunately, it’s hard to be precise with a price, as the cost of this process varies, depending on the type of lock you have installed and therefore the intricacy and time-consuming nature of the job to cut you a fresh key. You will have to pay a call-out charge as well as the cost of cutting a new key (or drilling your lock and installing a new one).

It’s not a course of action any of us want to take, but acting quickly to resecure your home when your keys are gone is so important. Here at DB Locksmiths, we can provide access to your home, and give you the presence of mind to feel confident and newly secure following this unpleasant scenario.

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My Front Door Won't Open, What Should I Do?

By D BURGESS • June 19, 2026

Finding that your front door won’t open can throw your whole day into chaos. You might be rushing to get to work, collect your children or attend an important appointment. Or perhaps you want to get home and sit down after a long afternoon. Whatever the situation, when you can’t open your front door, you need to solve the problem quickly. The good news is that these front door problems are usually quite simple to fix. Just try these easy ways to open a stuck door, and you should be able to get your day back on track. And if that doesn’t work, call DB Locksmiths on 07772 962 247 for 24-hour emergency locksmith services in Bristol, Bath and the surrounding areas. Why won’t my front door open? If your key broke in the lock , for example, you’re facing quite a clear problem. And there are a few steps you can take to prevent your key from breaking in a lock again. But one of the most frustrating things about a front door that won’t open is that it’s often hard to understand why the problem happened in the first place. This can happen for a few reasons, such as: Internal wear on the latch can keep it from moving back fully when you move the handle Broken springs inside the handle can leave the latch stuck in place A dropped door might cause the latch to catch on the frame rather than release Hot weather can cause your front food to expand, putting pressure on the lock Dirt or corrosion can stop the handle or lock mechanism from operating smoothly A damaged gearbox could prevent a multi-point lock from disengaging properly Finding out why your front door won’t open doesn’t solve the problem, of course. But understanding the cause can make it much easier to carry out our quick fixes. What not to do when your front door won’t open When your front door won’t open, it’s tempting to use force - especially if you’re locked out of your house at night . But this can make the problem much, much worse. So before we look at how to fix a front door that won’t open, be aware that you: Must not kick or shoulder the door, as this can damage the frame, hinges and lock Must not force the key if it feels stuck, as this could make your key break in the lock Must not use a screwdriver, knife or other tool to force the mechanism, as it could break Must not pull aggressively on the handle, which could cause it to come off in your hand A professional local locksmith can repair most front door problems quickly and affordably without replacing your door handle or the locking mechanism. But if you cause unnecessary damage, it’s just going to cost you more money - and it won’t get you into your house safely! Quick fixes for a front door that won’t open It’s most likely that your front door won’t open because of alignment, wear or a partially engaged locking mechanism. Try these quick fixes in order to get your front door open again: Push or pull the door gently as you move the handle, as this can free a latch that’s catching on the frame Move the handle up and down (or left and right) several times to return a stuck latch to its normal position Lift the door slightly by the handle as you try to open it, which can correct a door that’s dropped and catching on the frame For a uPVC door, lift the handle fully before trying to open it again, as some locking points might be holding it shut If your door key won’t turn in the lock , try a spare one in case your first is worn or damage Remove and reinsert your key to engage the locking mechanism properly before trying to open it again Apply a small amount of graphite or silicone lubricant to a stiff lock to reduce friction between moving parts In most cases, these simple solutions will free up your handle, latch or lock, helping you get back inside. Hopefully, this was just a one-off problem. But if it happens again, it’s a good idea to call a trusted local locksmith to fix the underlying problem. Otherwise, your front door could stop working completely at the worst possible time! What to do if your front door still won’t open If you’ve tried these basic checks and quick fixes but your front door still won’t open, it’s time to call a locksmith. Professional locksmiths can easily spot what causes a stuck front door. And we usually solve the problem with a few simple repairs rather than full replacement. At DB Locksmiths, we provide 24-hour emergency locksmith services across Bristol, Bath and the surrounding areas. So no matter why your front door won’t open or when the issue strikes, you can always rely on us for a fast, affordable fix. Call us today on 07772 962 247 to get your front door working properly again.