Lost the keys to the apartment - what to do first?

The client's name and certain details of the story have been changed to maintain confidentiality.

Let's call the client Alexey. After a day of work, he approached the apartment door and only then realized that there were no keys. I checked my pockets. A bag.

A car. I called the office. Nothing. First thought:

“What should we do now? Call a repairman right away or look for more?”

Losing keys is unpleasant primarily because of the uncertainty: it is not known whether they were forgotten somewhere or really lost. The source material also suggests starting with a systematic search: reconstructing the route and re-checking the most likely places.

Step 1: Recover the last few hours

Try to remember:

• when was the key in your hands for the last time;
• what clothes did you wear;
• where the car was opened;
• were you in the store;
• whether things were left in the office;
• whether the key was given to anyone.

Very often the key is actually found in the usual place.

Step 2: Check for spare kit

The key may be located:

• from a relative;
• from a spouse;
• at a neighbor's place;
• from the owner of the apartment;
• at the manager;
• in your other kit.

If you can get a spare key quickly, emergency opening may not be necessary at all.

Step 3. Determine whether you have simply lost access or whether there is also a security risk

These are two different problems. For example, one key was lost without any identifiers. Or lost along with it:

• documents;
• wallet with address;
• keychain with apartment number;
• pass with name;
• bag with personal data.

In the second case, the question concerns not only opening the door, but also further security. The material provided specifically notes that if keys are lost, the risk that someone else will be able to gain access to the property matters; in such a situation, changing the lock or other element of the access system may already be considered.

Step 4. Do not try to open the door yourself at any cost.

If the door is locked and there is no spare key, accidental attempts with tools may cause additional damage. Instead of one problem, several appear at once:

• damaged cylinder;
• broken key;
• damaged fittings;
• damaged door.

Therefore, if normal access cannot be restored, it is wiser to first determine the type of door and lock.

What to tell the master

It is useful to immediately write:

• the door slammed or was locked with a key;
• the key is completely lost or a spare one exists;
• what lock is installed, if known;
• is there anyone inside the apartment;
• whether there are urgent circumstances.

You can also send a photo of the door.