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Locked out in Paris: flat, Airbnb or hotel

The door clicked shut behind you, the keys are on the kitchen table, and your phone is at 8%. It happens to residents and visitors alike, and it is the job we do most.

Locked out of your flat, Airbnb or hotel

First, work out which kind of lockout you have. A door that has simply slammed, with the key still on the other side, is usually the easiest. A locked door with a key broken inside, or a lock that turns but will not release the bolt, takes longer. Tell us which one when you call and we will know what to bring.

In most Paris buildings the street door and the flat door are two separate problems. If the building code or the entry buzzer is the trouble, a neighbour or the concierge is the quickest answer. If it is the flat itself, that is where we come in.

What happens when we arrive

We ask to see proof that you live there or have the right to be there: a lease, a booking confirmation, a letter with the address, or a message from the host. This is not an insult. A locksmith who opens a door for the wrong person is part of a burglary. If you are a guest and the host cannot be reached, tell us now and we will explain what is possible.

Then we look at the lock before we quote. Most standard doors can be opened without damage and without changing anything. Call-out from €90, the price confirmed on the spot, and you decide before we start.

Renting an Airbnb or a short let

If the lock is the owner's, try to warn them first. Some owners have an agreement with their own locksmith, and a damaged lock can mean a deposit dispute. If you cannot reach anybody, we can still help, and we give you a clear invoice that you can pass on to the host.

Hotel rooms

Hotels have their own staff and keycard systems, and we do not work on those. If you are renting a flat that people call a hotel, show us the booking and we will see.

While you wait

• Do not force the door or kick it. It nearly always costs more than the opening itself.
• Check the windows and the balcony only if it is safe. Never climb.
• Find somewhere warm to wait, and keep your phone charging.

It also helps to know that a snapped key can often be pulled out, and that if the cylinder is simply stiff, the fix may be a new cylinder, not a new door.

Need something else?

If the locksmith turns up and tells you the door must be destroyed, ask for the price and call someone else. See our page on emergency calls at night, or go back to the English home page. The online quote form is in French, but the Question button at the bottom of the screen speaks English.