How is this not illegal?

WIAWSNB

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81927911#Comment_81927911

Thanks S62.

I may have assumed too much, that the OP did not have a handle-operated lock, but only key-operated.

somerandomusername

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81927920#Comment_81927920

This is correct, there is no latch or anything. To lock / unlock the door from the inside you need to turn the key. I was confused why people were saying I might get locked out if the door closes behind me, this is not true. The only way to lock the door is with the key.

WIAWSNB

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81928429#Comment_81928429

"I might get locked out if the door closes behind me." Soz, I'm still uncertain as to your setup.

By saying 'you might get locked out', folk are saying you are effectively locked out, as you'll still need a key to get back in. Is that not the case?

Photos would help.

user1977

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81928701#Comment_81928701

No, they're saying the door isn't going to lock itself, they'd need to use the key to lock it after leaving the house.

WIAWSNB

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81928760#Comment_81928760

But does it 'latch' itself? I don't know.

eddddy

WIAWSNB Said
But does it 'latch' itself? I don't know.

It's surprising that you haven't come across locks (for example euro cylinder locks) that use a thumbturn on the inside and a key on the outside.
Maybe the example in this vid will help explain the concept:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRBa5J5AAW4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRBa5J5AAW4

WIAWSNB

I don't think the OP has confirmed the type of lock/latch/thingy they have? If it doesn't include a 'handle', then it'll 'latch' whenever the door is pulled or pushed closed, and will require a key to be reopened from the outside, regardless of whether it was also further 'locked'.

eddddy

WIAWSNB said

I don't think the OP has confirmed the type of lock/latch/thingy they have?

The OP said:

…has a mortice lock which requires the key to lock and unlock it from the inside…

…so I've got a lock smith coming who will change it for a regular euro cylinder that obviously has a thumb turn on the inside.

Changing the lock from a lock that requires a key to unlock from the inside, to a lock that has a thumb turn on the inside does not increase (or reduce or change) the risk of locking yourself out.

WIAWSNB said

If it doesn't include a 'handle', then it'll 'latch' whenever the door is pulled or pushed closed, and will require a key to be reopened from the outside, regardless of whether it was also further 'locked'.

I don't really follow what you're trying to say.

• But if the OP currently has a mortice lock with a handle, they can replace it with a euro cylinder lock with a handle
• Or if the OP currently has a mortice lock with no handle, they can replace it with a euro cylinder lock with no handle

Here is an example of a euro cylinder locks with a thumbturn but with no handles:

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81926270#Comment_81926270

Depends, our door has a functional handle and multiple point locking so going out and closing the door does nothing, not even lifting the handle does anything other then engage the multipoint, a key is required inside or out which effectively stops the handle disengaging the locks and lock can't turn without the multi-point engaged.

We replaced our euro lock after we bought the place, the old one was very flimsy. The new one was selected after a US guy said someone had sent him one and whilst he did get into it he said it was one of the hardest he's dealt with and isnt sure he'd have managed outside of his "lab conditions". He normally only does US based products so assumed it was genuine and not just paid marketing.

There is ambiguity in the question asked about "key operated locks" given its not key operated from the inside but a search for cases on the Financial Ombudsman website for "thumb turn" only brings back complaints about injured thumbs and no complaints about Home insurance so its clearly not a major issue.

Section62

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81929527#Comment_81929527

Changing the lock from a lock that requires a key to unlock from the inside, to a lock that has a thumb turn on the inside does not increase (or reduce or change) the risk of locking yourself out.

It does make a difference because some Euro locks (and some other types of lock) which have key operation on both sides cannot be operated on the other side if there is already a key in the lock.

This leads to a classic 'lock out' situation in which the door with a latching-type lock is shut from the outside with a key in the lock on the inside. Having a key with you doesn't help because the key on the inside prevents the outside key being inserted/operated.

So there is an advantage of having a thumb-turn on the inside because by design the lock barrel will never have a key inserted on the inside that might prevent a key on the outside working.

The same scenario applies if someone locks the door from the outside and leaves their key in the lock. Even if a person on the inside has a key (and obviously if they don't) they would be unable to unlock the door and escape. So for dwellings with only one means of egress the door should always have a thumb turn type lock on the inside.