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

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.