Try some pencil lead in the lock. It works kind of like a lubricant.
Does the black button thing need to be pressed? I have a really vague recollection of a lock like that on my door as a kid.
Have you got anyone you can call to try and use the key on the other side of the door? It’s a possibility that there’s a plastic holder that holds the handle to the spindle, and it’s broken, so they may still be able to open it from the other side
If you rent, call the landlord. If you own, call a locksmith. Just don’t pick the first locksmith to pop upon Google – get some quotes first.
Get a store card you don’t want anymore and cut a notch in it to squeeze it between the frame and the door to push the latch in.
Its not turning out to be a good Era 😭
It’s the latch button locking it. If it doesn’t seem like it at first, play with it a bit more, while jiggling the handle.
Warm it up with a hairdryer
If you’re locked in somewhere you have a screwdriver, you can always take the door off the hinges and then deal with the lock problem? If you own, 100% the landlord/agency’s problem if you rent.
This is giving that Peep Show episode where they’re stuck in the stairwell between Zara’s flat and the front door. Would recommend watching that to decide the next course of action.
My mrs once got herself stuck in the bathroom when the door latch jammed. Tried the usual wd40 trick but no joy. Eventually had to kick the cunt in.
After I broke the door down, of course. *jazz hands*
Got a wire coat hanger you can straighten out? Feed it down the back so it’s poking out top and bottom and yank towards you
Try hitting the case with a mallet from various angles whilst jigging the handle. Working the key whilst jiggling the handle and mashing the snib button can also work.
Do you live alone or could someone have double locked it from the outside?
The flat owner needs to change the lock ASAP as this setup is not compliant with fire escape regulations (no key should be need to exit the flat). If the owner is too stingy to do it, then the freeholder for the building needs to make them do it.
Jostle the black pin lock as it will be jammed on the lock position and not turning the spindle handle.
Go out through the window.
Can you call a friend, slip them the key under the door and have them try to unlock the door from the other side?
If you’ve got a decorators palette knife and a mallet you should be able to get it in between the lock and the catch.
Pretty sure your handle has decided to define itself as a lock.
Wiggle it, jiggle it, and if that doesn’t work, you might have to tickle it.
Have you asked the lock for its consent to be unlocked?
This happened to me! After some frantic googling of the specific lock model I found a video explaining what happened. Long story short, it could only be unlocked from the outside. Luckily, I live on the ground floor.
Is there anyone who can help you see if it’s the same thing? A neighbor who you can pass the keys to through the mail slot?
If you do get trapped in your flat, try not to get trapped in your flat.
I haven’t left my flat in over 3 months, since the council erected an iron door.
have you tried an excesive amount of force?
I have been saved!
It has been a proper saga.
The lock was jammed: after realising it wasn’t going to open no matter the amount of percussive maintenance performed and getting a neighbour to try the door with a key from the other side, I called a local lock smith.
The lock smith arrived, and had to stand on a wheelie bin to hand up his tools as he couldn’t get in. He was an absolute hero and later borrowed a ladder from a neighbour to climb in through the window (I live in a Victorian conversion). The bolt had to be angle ground off.
The lock has now been replaced, and I’m off to the pub!
30 comments
Try unlocking it anyway.
Smash the cunt off with a hammer
Try some pencil lead in the lock. It works kind of like a lubricant.
Does the black button thing need to be pressed? I have a really vague recollection of a lock like that on my door as a kid.
Have you got anyone you can call to try and use the key on the other side of the door? It’s a possibility that there’s a plastic holder that holds the handle to the spindle, and it’s broken, so they may still be able to open it from the other side
If you rent, call the landlord. If you own, call a locksmith. Just don’t pick the first locksmith to pop upon Google – get some quotes first.
Get a store card you don’t want anymore and cut a notch in it to squeeze it between the frame and the door to push the latch in.
Its not turning out to be a good Era 😭
It’s the latch button locking it. If it doesn’t seem like it at first, play with it a bit more, while jiggling the handle.
Warm it up with a hairdryer
If you’re locked in somewhere you have a screwdriver, you can always take the door off the hinges and then deal with the lock problem? If you own, 100% the landlord/agency’s problem if you rent.
This is giving that Peep Show episode where they’re stuck in the stairwell between Zara’s flat and the front door. Would recommend watching that to decide the next course of action.
My mrs once got herself stuck in the bathroom when the door latch jammed. Tried the usual wd40 trick but no joy. Eventually had to kick the cunt in.
After I broke the door down, of course. *jazz hands*
Got a wire coat hanger you can straighten out? Feed it down the back so it’s poking out top and bottom and yank towards you
Try hitting the case with a mallet from various angles whilst jigging the handle. Working the key whilst jiggling the handle and mashing the snib button can also work.
Do you live alone or could someone have double locked it from the outside?
The flat owner needs to change the lock ASAP as this setup is not compliant with fire escape regulations (no key should be need to exit the flat). If the owner is too stingy to do it, then the freeholder for the building needs to make them do it.
Jostle the black pin lock as it will be jammed on the lock position and not turning the spindle handle.
Go out through the window.
Can you call a friend, slip them the key under the door and have them try to unlock the door from the other side?
If you’ve got a decorators palette knife and a mallet you should be able to get it in between the lock and the catch.
Start a fire to keep warm
https://youtu.be/s8h0OAcs5TQ?si=oXSsxsCQH0k54oPo here’s a song about being trapped in your flat to keep up morale.
Pretty sure your handle has decided to define itself as a lock.
Wiggle it, jiggle it, and if that doesn’t work, you might have to tickle it.
Have you asked the lock for its consent to be unlocked?
This happened to me! After some frantic googling of the specific lock model I found a video explaining what happened. Long story short, it could only be unlocked from the outside. Luckily, I live on the ground floor.
Is there anyone who can help you see if it’s the same thing? A neighbor who you can pass the keys to through the mail slot?
If you do get trapped in your flat, try not to get trapped in your flat.
I haven’t left my flat in over 3 months, since the council erected an iron door.
have you tried an excesive amount of force?
I have been saved!
It has been a proper saga.
The lock was jammed: after realising it wasn’t going to open no matter the amount of percussive maintenance performed and getting a neighbour to try the door with a key from the other side, I called a local lock smith.
The lock smith arrived, and had to stand on a wheelie bin to hand up his tools as he couldn’t get in. He was an absolute hero and later borrowed a ladder from a neighbour to climb in through the window (I live in a Victorian conversion). The bolt had to be angle ground off.
The lock has now been replaced, and I’m off to the pub!