lock help please

silvercar

lock on front door is starting to fail in that you need the key to release the latch.

Its a legge key/ barrel but the latch part (ie inside the house) is a yale

Any idea which part would have failed and how easy it is to replace?

Locknut

It could be one of 2 locks If you could post a pic I will be able to advise further.

silvercar

THanks for the offer but its at a let property and the tenant pointed it out on an inspection.

From outside the house you see a legge keyhole. From the inside there is a latch with a push up switch that holds the latch on (ie stops the door from locking you out). To release the latch normally you just push the switch down, but now you need to put the (legge) key in the lock to get the latch to release as well as pushing the switch down.

Locknut

It sounds like it may be running dry and a good dose of spray grease in the latch case would sort it. If not then a replacment is not a hard job.

Syman

sounds like the cylinder is ok as the key "goes in" and turns.
I would look at the latch mechanism first. (may save the need for having keys cut)