What to Do If You're Locked Out of Your House

Step 1 — Don't Force the Door

The instinct to shove your shoulder against it or shove a card into the frame is understandable, but resist it. Forcing a door can split the frame, damage the lock mechanism, and warp the door itself — repairs often run to a few hundred pounds. You can also hurt yourself in the process.

Take a breath. Find somewhere sensible to wait — your car, a neighbour's doorstep, the café on the corner — and work through the steps below before doing anything drastic.

Step 2 — Check Whether You Can Actually Get In

Worth a proper look before you call anyone:

• Back door — did you lock it this morning?
• Side gate — could you get into the garden and try a back window?
• Any ground-floor windows open a crack?
• Do you have a key safe fitted outside? (If not, after this experience you might want one)

A slightly open window at ground level might get you back in without a penny spent. Just make sure it's definitely your house before you start climbing in.

Step 3 — Does Anyone Have a Spare Key?

A trusted neighbour, a family member nearby, a friend with a key to feed the cat — if there's anyone who might have a copy, now is the time to ring them. Free, fast, and the best outcome if it's available.

Once you're back inside, sort out a spare. Our key cutting service in Ashton starts from £3 — it's cheap insurance against this happening again. Leave one with a neighbour you trust, or get a wall-mounted key safe fitted outside.

Step 4 — Check Your Home Insurance First

A lot of people don't realise their home insurance includes emergency home assistance cover. Before you pay a locksmith out of your own pocket, ring your insurer's emergency line — they may dispatch someone at no extra cost to you.

There's usually a helpline number on the back of your policy documents or in your app. Worth a 2-minute check before anything else.

Step 5 — Call a Locksmith You Can Trust

If the free options haven't worked out, it's time to call a locksmith. Don't just call the first number on Google — the rogue trader problem in this industry is very real. Look for someone who:

• Gives a fixed, all-inclusive price over the phone before they leave
• Is genuinely local, not a national number that patches you through
• Has real Google Reviews mentioning your area
• Is fully insured

Not sure what a fair price looks like? Our UK locksmith price guide gives you exact figures for every job type — so you can tell straight away if you're being overcharged. In Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan, or anywhere in the surrounding area, call our 24/7 emergency locksmith in Ashton on 07309 903243. You'll get a fixed quote immediately and we'll be with you in 30 minutes.

Step 6 — Get That Spare Key Cut

Once you're safely back inside, do this before you forget. A spare key from our Ashton cutting service starts from £3. One lockout experience is usually enough to make it feel like the best £3 you've ever spent.

What NOT to Do When You're Locked Out

• Don't post on social media that you can't get in — opportunist thieves do monitor Facebook and X
• Don't call the first result on Google without checking reviews first
• Don't agree to any work without a fixed quote — a reputable locksmith will always confirm the price upfront
• Don't try credit cards, screwdrivers, or brute force — it almost never works and usually causes damage that costs more to fix than the locksmith would have