lost a set of keys, now want to replace front door lock

arc

Hi all

I live in a block of flats and have lost my set of keys somewhere in the building. The property is rented via a letting agent. They charge silly amounts of money for little things so i dont want to get them on the case unless i have to.

I still have my spare key, but do not feel safe knowing there is a copy of my front door key out there.

What are my options? I assume the lock can be rekeyed, but then again it's a new build and i suspect that all the locks are 'the same' and would all have to work with the building managment companies master key.

What can i do?

NJW69

Which key have you lost? Front door or your flat? If it's just yours it's actually quite easy to change a lock. Open the door and on the edge of the door where the plate is that has the bit thatcomes/sticks out to fit into the door frame there should be a screw. If you unscrew that you can see what the lock is and then go and buy a replacement. All you do is unscrew the old one and slot the new one in and put the screw back in. Easy!

I only know because my teenage son lost his key recently and I changed it myself with advice from people on here. Took two minutes. He then found his key!!!!

arc

its my flat door. the lock is massive though, not a yale or mortice type lock. there are levers throughout the door / frame that engage when you lock it.

Imp

Check out 'Euro Cylinder locks' on google to see if you have a Euro cylinder in your lock. If you do then they are straight forward to replace and cheap to buy a replacement for.

http://www.diydata.com/carpentry/euro_cylinder_lock_replacement/euro_cylinder_lock_replacement.php

NJW69

Post again on the 'how much should it cost thread' in my home as there are some locksmiths on there. My door is only twelve months old but the bit you have to replace is only the 'barrel' the bit you put your key in.

AGBAGB

You shouldn't really change the lock the behind the Landlords back. It is his lock and keys!
You could ask him if you can, and offer to give him a key. Or at least do it and then tell him and give him a key.

Mankysteve

They'll be more than likly a clause in your contract that states you can't touch the locks. As long as you didn't have a keyring with your address on it and only lost your keys, no other personal info and it wasn't on your door step I would just buy a new key.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

does the block have a concierge or caretaker, maybe keys were found and handed in, or if you had a whistle key finder on it you could just go about whistling a happy tune until you get a response. :rotfl:

arc

There was no info on the keys, but they were lost in the building somewhere. I have been to the building office and no one has handed them in. I have put signs up asking if anyone has seen them but office think someone would just keep them due to cost of the front door and car park entry fobs :'(

chappers

rey keying the lock probably won't be worth it.
It does sound like a euro cylinder and these are cheap and easy to replace.
However your place is let, I'm sure your LL/LA wouldn't have a problem if you replaced the lock and then supplied them with alternative keys. However there is nothing they can do if you change the lock , so long as you change it back to the original at the end of your tenancy.