Follow these tips to avoid getting locked out of your room

Locking yourself out of your room can be frustrating, inconvenient, and sometimes even a safety risk. Whether your accommodation uses a key or fob system, being prepared and mindful can save you time, stress, and embarrassment.

Lockouts often require staff to interrupt their regular duties. Repeated incidents can delay responses to other residents' needs, increase operational costs, and lead to formal warnings. Being proactive helps reduce the strain on Residences staff who respond to lockout incidents and maintains a respectful and efficient living environment for everyone.

Familiarise yourself with the common pitfalls and useful tips to stay one step ahead and avoid getting locked out.

Lockouts

The common pitfalls

1. Leaving without your key or fob: The most frequent cause of lockouts is simply forgetting to take your key or fob when leaving your room, especially for short trips to the kitchen, bathroom, or bin store.
2. Misplacing your key/fob: Keys and fobs are small and easy to lose, especially when carried loosely in pockets or bags. Keys and fobs can often be lost on nights out, or while travelling between halls and University campuses.
3. Lending keys/fobs: Lending your key or fob to a friend might seem harmless but this increases the risk of losing your access items — and actually breaches your halls contract.
4. Damaged or faulty keys and fobs: Keys and fobs can stop working due to wear and tear, damage, or mechanical/technical faults. If you notice inconsistent access, report this early so we can help resolve the problem before you get locked out of your room.

Top tips to stay secure and avoid lockouts

1. Build a habit: Always check for your key or fob before leaving your room. Placing a reminder on a sticky note near your door can be helpful
2. Use a lanyard or keychain: Attach your key fob to a lanyard, retractable clip, or a brightly-coloured keychain to make it harder to misplace and easier to spot.
3. Report issues promptly: If your fob is glitching or your key is damaged, inform reception immediately. Waiting could result in a lockout at an inconvenient time.
4. Avoid risky shortcuts: Don't wedge doors open or rely on others to let you back in. This compromises building security and creates a fire risk.

Safety first

Being locked out late at night or in poor weather can pose safety risks. If you do find yourself locked out, follow these steps to ensure your safety:

• Contact your halls site reception on 02380 595 777.
• Stay in a well-lit area while you wait for assistance.
• Do not attempt to force entry.
• If in doubt, visit your halls site reception which is open 24/7.

By forming good habits, using practical tools, and respecting Residences procedures, you can help reduce the number of lockouts at your site — saving yourself a lot of hassle and contributing to a safer halls community.

If you're unsure about your hall's lockout policy, or need advice on keeping your keys and fobs safe, speak to your Residences team at your site reception.