My interesting door lock

pieroabcd

Hi,
The lock of my front door is very interesting: from inside it opens as usual, while from outside I must use the key in all cases: even if it's unlocked the handle alone doesn't open it.

Very handy, but I've already been locked outside a couple of times. Fortunately the windows were open.

Is there a way to disable this mechanism if needed?

By the way, is it totally safe to leave unlocked at night or is there some trick that people can use to open it from outside?

I had never seen a mechanism like this before (like I had never seen a handle to pull up to lock the door).

Thanks 

mexican_dave

Can you help us with a photo?

pieroabcd

Tomorrow, with some proper light

New_in_the_fens

Assuming this is a UPVC door, they can be opened from the outside by putting a bar through the letterbox and pushing down the handle. You need to lock it. This is pretty standard for a lot of UPVC front doors and a thief will know it’s not locked as the handle will pull down outside. If you lock it, the handle will not pull and you can’t use the letterbox trick to get in. 

Section62

pieroabcd said:

Hi,
The lock of my front door is very interesting: from inside it opens as usual, while from outside I must use the key in all cases: even if it's unlocked the handle alone doesn't open it.

Very handy, but I've already been locked outside a couple of times. Fortunately the windows were open.

Is there a way to disable this mechanism if needed?

By the way, is it totally safe to leave unlocked at night or is there some trick that people can use to open it from outside?

I had never seen a mechanism like this before (like I had never seen a handle to pull up to lock the door).

Thanks 

Fairly common for front door locks to be configured this way - otherwise if you leave the door unlocked during the day when you are home then someone could use the handle on the outside to open the door and walk in the house. Depending on the area you live that could be a problem.

Typically the external handle is either a fixed dummy, or operates with a split spindle so the external handle only operates the deadlock side of the lock.  In principle you might be able to replace the split spindle with a solid one, but it depends on the type of lock and obviously has security implications. Some locks have a double spindle, and with those it may be impossible to convert them.

One way of avoiding getting locked out is to get into the habit of lifting the handle as you open the door to operate the deadbolting mechanism - that way the door shouldn't be able to close and lock with you on the outside

New_in_the_fens

Oh, and some advice on if you do get shut out and your windows are closed (door shut behind you and not locked), a local independent locksmith will get you in your house in about 15 seconds if you have a letterbox, so don’t let anyone pull out their drill as they are just going to take you for a ride and charge you through the nose. 

pieroabcd

Thanks everybody. This is the door lock. Nothing special.
Yes, pulling up the handle makes the bolt hidden in  the door frame come out and prevents the door from locking :-)
And yes, I'll keep locking it at night.

I've had a problem with this lock that has happened twice: suddenly the key wouldn't turn, at least not smoothly.
I had to use some force (not much) to turn it, but in that  case something in its lodge must have been affected: to lock the door I had to turn the key half a turn less. If before this incident the key could be removed with the teeth down, after that I had to remove it with the teeth up.
The thing happened in reverse the second time (a week weeks later), so now the key locks in the same position as before I had the first blockage.
Is this lock at rick of breaking down? What should I replace to be safe?

Thanks again.

Rodders53

As the two handles are in the same line a "Split spindle" can be fitted that means you won't get locked out.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6163867/i-want-to-change-to-way-my-front-door-locks is worth a read?

Mr.Generous

When "locked" by just closing the door only 1 latch secures the door, not the multipoint. They can be openened from the outside in seconds by a skilled person with no damage, or in seconds by an unskilled person with minimal damage.

A mate told me his son in law and daughter dont need to lock the door as it locks automatically when they go out, which explains why they left the house and keyless car key (after staring the car then nipping to the loo) on the hall table before driving 200 miles to a wedding.

The car kept flashing up "Key out of range" but he ignored it. £500 later ...

GrubbyGirl_2

Rather than worry about being locked out get yourself a key safe.  I have one and it has spare keys for all of the outside doors.  Much cheaper than a locksmith.  Something like this.

https://amzn.eu/d/1sM8FDV

ashe

We also have a key safe. You need to inform your home insurance and they usually specify that it must be police approved and out of plain sight - ours is hidden behind a planter by our garage. We've only had to use it once - apparently they can be opened fairly easily if you know how, but you'd need to know 1) that there was a keysafe 2) where it was and 3) how to open them fairly easily and as majority of crime is opportunistic and going for lowest hanging fruit, I'm fairly fine with it and much prefer having our door lock automatically as we close the door. Our letterbox is at the bottom of the door and we have a guard on the thumb turn - but again probably limited use as people are going for the unlocked doors usually, but better safe than sorry.