What to do if your house keys are lost – and when you get new ones

Rummaging around in your bag or pocket for your house keys and coming up empty is a sure way to make your heart sink.

Whether you have misplaced them or they have gone missing for good, it’s important to act quickly in order to keep your home secure. These are some steps you can take:

What to do if your house keys are lost

Here’s what you can do if you find yourself in this situation:

• Retrace your steps and look in the places where you usually leave your keys. Start where you last remember having them and check where you have been since. If a passerby outdoors has found your keys, it’s possible they may have put them somewhere visible – on a wall or bench, for example.

• Check if you have left a spare key with a neighbour, family member or friend. Also, notify anyone you live with, such as a housemate or partner. This can help you get into your home, but does not remove any potential security risks.

• Report the missing keys to the police. Providing a clear description of what they and any keyrings look like will help the police get them back to you in the event that they are handed in.

• Post on your neighbourhood Facebook or WhatsApp group, or on an app such as Nextdoor, to see whether they have been picked up by someone. Do not include your address.

• If you think you probably lost your keys some way from your home, and there is no identifying information on them that could lead someone to the property, then some people would take the view that you don’t need to get your lock rekeyed or changed. (Rekeying is the process of changing the internal mechanism of a lock so old keys no longer work and a new set of keys can be used, and is generally cheaper than changing the whole lock.) But you may want to, just to be on the safe side.

• And if you have lost your only set of keys, you are going to need to call a locksmith. It is worth calling round a few firms to get quotes, and agree the price before the work is done. Emergency locksmiths are available 24/7 so can help even in the early hours of the morning. The price can vary depending on the time of day and the type of lock.

• If you are renting the property, you need to tell your landlord or housing association. They might be able to help with lock changes or provide a spare key in some cases.

What to do when you get new keys

Once you have dealt with any immediate security concerns, there are a few more things you can do to prevent future problems:

You may wish to get the lock changed or rekeyed. Photograph: Ian Nolan/Getty Images/Image Source

• Get a spare key (or two) cut in case you lose them again. It is not wise to keep it under the doormat or a flowerpot – leave it with someone nearby whom you trust.

• You may want to consider investing in a key safe or lockbox to securely store a spare key. If you don’t know anyone in your area, this is a safe alternative – as long as you remember the code, and to put the key back afterwards.

• Consider getting a smart lock if you are worried about losing your keys again. These allow you to unlock your door without a physical key using a code, card or app on your smartphone. Companies such as Yale sell various types, and tech websites such as TechRadar have have recommendations of which to buy. If you already have a smart lock, make sure you update the access code or deactivate any lost key cards.

• Think about buying a Bluetooth tracking device such as an Apple AirTag, a Tile Mate tracker or the Chipolo One tracke You can attach this to your keys (or a bag or purse). This can help locate them if they go missing again.