Emergency Locksmith Surry Hills: What to Do When You're Locked Out

Being locked out is stressful, but it is rarely dangerous, and it is almost always fixable without damage. The decisions you make in the first ten minutes have a big effect on how long it takes and how much it costs.

This guide walks through exactly what to do, in order, if you are locked out of your home, apartment, shop or car in Surry Hills or the surrounding suburbs.

Step 1: Make sure you are safe

Before anything else, check your situation.

• If you feel unsafe, or think someone has broken in, call 000. A locksmith is not a substitute for police.
• If a child, vulnerable person or pet is locked inside and at risk, call 000 first. Emergency services can act faster than any locksmith.
• If it is late, dark or raining, move somewhere safe and well lit, such as a nearby café, a friend's place or a well-lit street corner, while you sort out help.

Once you know you are safe, the rest is a practical problem.

Step 2: Check the simple options

It sounds obvious, but in the rush it is easy to miss these.

• Every door. Back doors, side gates, courtyard doors and balcony doors are often forgotten.
• Spare keys. A partner, housemate, neighbour, family member or friend may have one. Even if they are across town, a taxi or rideshare for the key is often cheaper than a locksmith.
• Your landlord or agent. Many rental agencies hold a spare key. They may not be able to come immediately, but it is worth asking.
• Building management. In apartment blocks, a building manager may be able to let you into the building, though they usually cannot open your own lot door.

Do not climb onto balconies, force windows or try to break a lock. A fall or a broken window costs far more than a locksmith, and forcing a lock usually turns a simple opening into a full replacement.

Step 3: Work out what kind of lockout it is

There are two very different kinds of lockout, and they need different solutions.

Keys inside

The keys are on the kitchen bench, in your other bag, or hanging inside the door. This is the most common lockout, usually caused by a self-latching nightlatch that locked behind you. Once the door is open, the problem is solved.

Keys lost or stolen

The keys are gone. They may be in a taxi, at a bar, or in someone else's pocket. If your keys had anything showing your address, such as a tag, a car fob linked to your registration, or a bag with ID, someone could use them. In this case, opening the door is only half the job. You will probably want the lock rekeyed so the missing key stops working. See lock rekeying.

Knowing which kind you have helps the locksmith bring the right gear and give you an accurate price.

Step 4: Call a real, local locksmith

When you search for a locksmith late at night, you will see plenty of ads. Some lead to genuine local businesses. Others lead to call centres that pass jobs to whoever is free, often at a price very different from the one advertised.

Before you agree to anything, check:

• Is there a real street address? A local business will list one.
• Do they answer as a business name, not just "locksmith"?
• Will they give you a price range on the phone?
• Do they tell you their actual hours? A business that is honest about closing at midnight is more likely to be honest about price.

Our workshop is at 423 Bourke St, Surry Hills. We answer calls from 7:00am to 12:00am, seven days. We are not a 24-hour service, and we will tell you that plainly. Our guide on what to ask before hiring a locksmith covers this in more detail.

Step 5: Tell the locksmith the right details

The more the locksmith knows on the phone, the faster and cheaper the job. Have this ready:

• Your suburb and street. In Surry Hills, the cross street helps, as many streets have tricky parking.
• The type of property. House, terrace, apartment, shop or car.
• The type of door. Timber, glass, aluminium, security screen.
• The type of lock, if you can see it. Is there a round cylinder? A keyhole in the handle? A brand name on the faceplate?
• Keys inside or keys lost.
• Access. Is it a secure building? Is there a gate? Are there stairs?

If you can, take a photo of the lock and send it when asked. It often answers half the locksmith's questions.

Step 6: Have proof that you live there

A responsible locksmith will not open a door without some reasonable proof that you are entitled to be inside. This protects you as much as anyone. It means a stranger cannot call a locksmith and ask to be let into your home.

Acceptable proof usually includes:

• Photo ID showing the address.
• A lease, rental agreement or recent utility bill.
• A letter, parcel or document with your name and address, once inside.
• Confirmation from your landlord, agent or building manager.

If your ID is inside, tell the locksmith. They can usually open the door and then check your ID inside before leaving. If nobody can confirm who you are, a careful locksmith may decline the job. That is not them being difficult. It is them doing the right thing.

Step 7: Expect a careful, non-destructive opening

Most standard residential locks, including the nightlatches common on terrace front doors, can be opened without damage. A skilled locksmith uses specialist tools and techniques to open the lock while leaving it in working order.

Some locks are designed to resist this. High-security cylinders, some patio doors and certain older mortice locks may need a different approach. If drilling or replacing the lock is genuinely the only option, the locksmith should explain why and agree the cost with you before starting.

Be wary of anyone who wants to drill the lock straight away without trying to open it carefully. Drilling turns a lockout into a lock replacement, and it is rarely necessary for a standard lock.

Step 8: Decide what happens next

Once you are inside, take a moment before the locksmith leaves.

• If the keys were lost, ask about rekeying now. It is far easier while the locksmith is already there.
• If the lock was hard to open, sticking or old, ask whether it needs repair or replacement.
• Ask for a spare key if you do not have one.
• Ask for an itemised invoice.

Locked out after midnight

Our day ends at midnight. If you are locked out between 12:00am and 7:00am and you are safe, the most cost-effective plan is usually to stay with a friend or somewhere nearby and call us from 7:00am. Late-night call-outs from services you do not know can be expensive, and forcing the door yourself almost always costs more in the end.

If you are not safe, call 000.

Locked out of your car

Car lockouts are a little different. Modern cars use transponder keys and remotes, and the right approach depends on the make, model and year. If the keys are locked inside a running or unlocked car, a locksmith can usually help. If the keys are lost, you may need a new key cut and programmed. Some vehicles must go to the dealer. See automotive locksmith.

Locked out of a business

For shops, cafés and offices, a lockout can mean lost trade. Many of the same steps apply: check for spare keys, find who else holds one, and call a local locksmith with clear details. Businesses also need to think about whether keys are lost, because a lost business key can expose stock and equipment. See commercial locksmith.

How to avoid the next lockout

A few simple changes make lockouts much less likely.

1. Leave a spare key with someone you trust nearby. It is the cheapest fix there is.
2. Avoid hiding keys outside. Under the mat and in the pot plant are the first places anyone looks.
3. Consider a deadlatch with a hold-back button, so the door does not lock behind you when you pop out.
4. Fix sticking locks early. A key that is getting hard to turn is a lockout waiting to happen. See lock repair.
5. Make a habit of checking for keys before closing a self-latching door.

Lockouts in apartment buildings

Apartment lockouts in Surry Hills and Darlinghurst have their own quirks, so it is worth planning ahead.

• The building door comes first. If you are locked out of your flat, a locksmith still needs to get through the secure street door. A neighbour, the building manager or the strata manager can usually let them in.
• Lot doors are often fire-rated. They close and latch automatically, which makes lockouts common. Hardware on these doors has to keep the fire rating, so it should be opened and repaired carefully.
• Concierge and intercom systems belong to the owners corporation. A locksmith can work on your own door, not on the building's access control.

If you live in an apartment, ask your building manager now what the after-hours access arrangements are. It is much easier to find out before you are standing in the corridor.

What it usually costs

A straightforward lockout with keys inside is usually the cheapest kind of locksmith job, because nothing needs replacing. Costs rise when keys are lost and the lock needs rekeying, when a high-security lock takes longer to open, or when a damaged lock needs replacing. A fair locksmith will give you a range on the phone and a firm price once they see the lock. Our guide to locksmith costs in Surry Hills explains the details.

What we will not do

We will not open a door for someone who cannot show a reasonable connection to the property. We will not promise an arrival time we have not confirmed with you. We will not drill a lock that can be opened carefully. And we will not publish how to bypass locks, because the same information helps people who should not be at your door.

The bottom line

If you are locked out: stay safe, check the simple options, work out whether your keys are inside or lost, call a real local locksmith, give clear details, have proof of residence ready, and expect a careful opening with a price agreed first.

If you are locked out in Surry Hills or nearby, call Surry Hills Locksmith Service on 02 3820 5414, open 7 days, 7:00am to 12:00am. See our lockout service page for more.