Opening a locked door

matchboxyouth · 08-01-2018 1:12pm #1

Hi, so I've had the misfortune of losing my house keys over xmas to the house I am renting during college year. The fact that I have lost the front door key is not the problem, as I have a spare and all the other housemates have keys to the front door. The problem is they also had my bedroom door key and my room is locked and apparently there are no spares. (it came up in conversation with my housemate/landlord a few months back)
Now, ideally I would rather fix all this without needing to tell my landlord that I've lost the keys, so I'm wondering, is it possible to open a locked bedroom door, by possibly unscrewing the door handle out. I know this is straight forward if the door is open and you have access to both sides of the door but what is the situation when you're locked out? And if it is possible, could I bring the lock to a locksmiths and get some replacement keys then if I did remove it?

jmBuildExt · 08-01-2018 2:27pm

What type of lock is on the door?

Most of the old style mortice locks have a finite number of keys so the key will exist somewhere.
A locksmith will get it open for you either by using one of the finite number of keys or by picking it.

matchboxyouth · 08-01-2018 2:32pm

Thanks for your suggestion. I know a locksmith, but from what I've read it's going to cost anything upwards of €80. If its my only option fair enough, but if I can do it with a screwdriver myself and just screw it back into place myself once inside, I'd save myself paying so much for it to be done.

As I'm not there right now (back in my family home still on Xmas holidays from college) I can't tell you what type of door handle it is, but I'm assuming its just a standard door handle, with four screws holding in place on each side?

Alun · 08-01-2018 2:36pm

I'm not sure if they still do it, but many hardware stores will have a large keyring with every possible key on it which you can borrow for a while if you put down a deposit. Once you know which key number it is, go back and just buy the key you need.

Nekarsulm · 08-01-2018 2:37pm

Probably a standard Basta lock. There are only 14 or 15 keys in total. Ask a friendly local hardware store if they'll loan you a set.
Auctioneers often have a set.

Alun · 08-01-2018 2:39pm

You may even be lucky and find that one or more doors in the same house have the same key number.

jmBuildExt · 08-01-2018 2:39pm

matchboxyouth wrote: »

Thanks for your suggestion. I know a locksmith, but from what I've read it's going to cost anything upwards of €80. If its my only option fair enough, but if I can do it with a screwdriver myself and just screw it back into place myself once inside, I'd save myself paying so much for it to be done.

As I'm not there right now (back in my family home still on Xmas holidays from college) I can't tell you what type of door handle it is, but I'm assuming its just a standard door handle, with four screws holding in place on each side?

This will be your cheapest option OP.
You cant just screw the handle off and open the door without doing damage - it would kind of defeat the purpose of the lock.

matchboxyouth · 08-01-2018 2:43pm

Thanks everyone, I've emailed a locksmith who do a call-out service. If the keys don't show up by Monday I will have to go with that.

Nekarsulm · 08-01-2018 4:00pm

See what make of lock is on the other doors. If they are Basta, you will buy the full set of 16 for 32 euro approx. Save yourself 50 euro.

...__... · 12-01-2018 10:44pm

ask your housemate for a picture of his key and post it here
if your lucky and its a basta the next number up or down will open it with a little jigging