In Germany, many apartment and house doors are designed to lock automatically. A draught, wind or just the weight of the door can slam the door shut — even if you deliberately left it open.
Step outside without your key and you may suddenly find yourself locked out.
A few small habits can save you a very expensive phone call.
Make it a habit to take your keys with you every time you close your apartment or house door — even if you are only stepping outside for 10 seconds.
It is very easy to think, “I’m just going downstairs,” or “I’ll only put the rubbish out.” But if your door locks automatically when it closes, you could suddenly find yourself standing outside with no way back in.
Give one to:
Don’t hide it under the doormat or in a plant pot.
Apart from being a security risk, hiding keys outside can potentially create problems if the key is lost or stolen and the tenant is considered negligent
Don’t wait until you’re standing outside in your pyjamas.
Find a genuine local company, check its address and save the number in your phone.
The Verbraucherzentrale specifically recommends finding a local locksmith in advance rather than relying on the first search result during an emergency.
Test it.
Close the door while you are safely outside with your key and see whether it locks automatically.
Don’t discover this for the first time when you’re already locked out.
This is particularly useful for doors that automatically lock.
But remember to remove it when you actually leave the property, because a door that cannot close properly can obviously create a security problem.
Before they send someone, ask:
„Was kostet die Türöffnung insgesamt?“
Ask for the total price including Anfahrt, labour, VAT and any surcharges — especially at night, weekends or public holidays.
If possible, get the price in writing by SMS, WhatsApp or email..
It happens — especially with German doors that close and lock automatically.
Before you call a Schlüsseldienst, take a moment and work through these steps. The few minutes you spend checking your options could save you a very expensive emergency call.
Before calling anyone, check the obvious:
☐ Someone else is home
☐ Trusted person has a spare key
☐ Another authorised entrance
☐ Emergency key arrangement
⚠️ Don’t force the door or climb through a window.
This is important when you call a Schlüsseldienst.
„Die Tür ist nur zugefallen.“ The door has simply fallen shut.
This means the door closed behind you, but you did not lock it with the key.
Or:
„Die Tür ist abgeschlossen.“ The door is locked.
Tell them which situation applies. A professional locksmith can then assess what type of door opening is required and give you a more accurate price.
Don’t automatically call the first “24-hour emergency locksmith” that appears in a Google search.
Some online listings make a company appear local when the actual locksmith may be coming from much further away — meaning a much higher travel charge.
Look for:
The Verbraucherzentrale recommends choosing an ortansässigen Schlüsseldienst and checking that the business actually operates at the advertised address.
Don’t settle for: „Die Türöffnung kostet ab 49 €.“
Ask: „Was kostet die Türöffnung insgesamt – inklusive Anfahrt, Arbeitszeit und aller Zuschläge?“ What is the total cost of opening the door, including travel, labour and all surcharges?
Then ask: „Können Sie mir einen verbindlichen Komplettpreis nennen?“ Can you give me a binding total price?
The Verbraucherzentrale recommends agreeing a binding total price before placing the order, including travel costs and possible surcharges.
If they refuse to give you a price or can only say “it depends” without explaining what affects the price, consider calling another company.
Don’t be surprised if the locksmith asks for identification.
A reputable locksmith should establish that you are authorised to enter the property. Asking to see the address on your ID is therefore not suspicious — it is actually reassuring.
Have your Personalausweis or other proof of residence available.
If your ID shows an old address, explain the situation and, if necessary, provide another form of proof such as your Mietvertrag.
„Ich kann mich ausweisen. Hier ist mein Personalausweis.“
I can identify myself. Here is my ID.
If the door has simply fallen shut, don’t ask for a vague “locksmith service.”
Tell them: „Ich möchte nur, dass die Tür geöffnet wird. Bitte keine weiteren Arbeiten ohne meine Zustimmung.“ I only want the door opened. Please don’t carry out any additional work without my permission.
A complete lock replacement is often unnecessary for a simple fallen-shut door, according to the Verbraucherzentrale.
If the locksmith says drilling, replacing the cylinder, removing the lock or other more invasive work is necessary, ask why before agreeing to it.
„Warum ist das notwendig?“ Why is that necessary?
„Wie viel kostet das zusätzlich?“ How much will that cost extra?
This is an important nuance: a surcharge isn’t automatically illegal.
Emergency work at night, on Sundays or public holidays can legitimately cost more. But the Verbraucherzentrale says such surcharges must remain reasonable; its guidance states that surcharges for outside normal working hours should not exceed 100% of the normal remuneration.
And the Verbraucherzentrale specifically says “Sofortzuschläge”, “Bereitstellungszuschläge” and “Spezialwerkzeugkosten” are not automatically legitimate just because a company puts them on the invoice.
Ask for an itemised Rechnung and compare it with what you agreed on the phone.
The Verbraucherzentrale advises paying only the amount that was agreed and challenging unjustified additional charges. If a locksmith becomes threatening or refuses to leave, you can contact the police.
Potentially, yes.
There are now electronic locking systems that allow access using things such as:
For some people, this can be an excellent solution.
If you rent your home, don’t assume that every electronic lock can simply be installed without permission.
If your apartment is part of a Schließanlage, be particularly careful.
A renter should also think about what happens when they move out and whether the original locking arrangement must be restored.
When in doubt, ask the Vermieter in writing before making permanent changes.
A Vermieter does not normally have the right to keep a spare key to your apartment simply “for emergencies.”
The Mieterverein zu Hamburg states that the landlord must hand over the keys at the beginning of the tenancy and may not simply retain one for themselves.
If you knowingly agree that the Vermieter keeps a key for a specific purpose, that’s a different situation. The important thing is that you know about it and have agreed to the arrangement.
And even where a landlord has a key, that doesn’t mean they can simply enter your apartment whenever they want.
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Emergency Contacts The following numbers can be dialled in an emergency, either from a landline or mobile phone. 112The national emergency number. This can be used for any medical or fire/smoke/explosives emergency. It can also be dialled when someone is trapped or if you have witnessed a suicide attempt 110The
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