There’s nothing quite like the relief that comes from making it home after an exhausting day. You think of all the things you can do once you make it inside your apartment—change into comfy clothes, sprawl out on the couch, snuggle with your pet, dance it out, what have you—as you’re making your way from your parking spot to your front door (bonus points if stairs are involved). You reach your door. You’ve been waiting for this (maybe all day or night). You turn the handle…and it’s locked. You don’t have your key. Or maybe you do have your key, but the top lock is shut from the inside. Whatever happened, you can’t get in.
Perhaps you’ve tried all you can, but nothing seems to be working.
You’re locked out of your apartment.
What more can you possibly do?
What to do When Locked Out
While you may be at your wit’s end, thinking you’ve already tried everything, there’s a good chance that there are a few things you haven’t considered yet. Have you tried:
Calling the leasing office.
Your leasing office representatives definitely have an extra copy of the key to your apartment (some might say…your major key). They’re also well-versed on the community’s lockout policy. If this is your first time being locked out of your apartment, you likely won’t have to pay any fees. But if you constantly find yourself locked out (say it isn’t so!), you may be subject to a fine for a replacement key. It really just depends on what your community’s policies are. If you rent from an individual landlord, give them a call and ask them if they can help you out with a spare key—or a locksmith referral.
Contacting a locksmith.
If you’re at the point where you’re feeling stressed and anxious about being locked out (completely understandable), your best bet is to call a professional locksmith. Locksmiths can unlock your apartment for you—preferably without damaging the lock. Just make sure to consult your property manager or landlord before you do anything drastic, like changing the lock to your apartment.
Finding alternative ways to get in.
If you don’t want to shell out extra cash for a locksmith, check for any open windows or back doors to your unit. Is there anyone you forgot about who has a key to your apartment? What about your pet sitter, house sitter, partner, neighbor, or close friend? It may seem obvious, but sometimes you forget these things when you’re in a panic (I know I do)!
How to Prevent Getting Locked Out Again
In a perfect world, we would never forget our keys (or anything else). But that’s not where we live, so consider the following for future reference:
Keep a spare key.
Just in case you were to ever get locked out again, consider keeping a spare key in the glovebox of your car or somewhere else you can easily access it. It’s better not to leave one in any common spots, like under the welcome mat, on the top of the door frame, or in a decorative rock that’s been designed specifically for hiding a key. If you can think of any discreet hiding places for your key outdoors, have at it, but just be sure to consider any safety implications as well.
Give someone you trust an extra key.
Knowing that someone has your back in case something like this ever happens again can be comforting (at least) or lifesaving (at best). Even if you never forget your key or accidentally lock yourself out again (no one plans these things), having a backup plan will always be beneficial—just in case.
Consider keyless entry.
A lot of newer, more modern apartment communities are including an array of smart devices in their rental units, such as smart locks. Smart locks afford renters keyless entry to their apartments, whether it be through Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, mobile app, or voice commands. Talk to your landlord about your options for changing the lock.
Being locked out of your apartment can feel distressing, but try to remember that it’s a solvable problem! You’ll be inside your home again in no time. And should it happen again, you’ll know just how to handle it.
