Locksmith in Huertas, street door or flat door

In Huertas, like most of old Madrid, there are usually two doors: the street door of the building (the portal) and the door of your flat. Two doors, often two different keys on the same ring. That's where the confusion starts.

Stuck at the street door

The portal belongs to the whole building. Before calling anyone, try the intercom of a neighbour or the doorman (portero) if there is one, or wait for someone to come in or out. I don't change a building's street-door lock without the building's OK.

Stuck at the flat door

That's the usual call. The door shut behind you, the key snapped or the lock jammed. That one I can sort out.

Opening costs €150–250, call-out included. One question matters more than most: how was the door left?

• Pulled shut on the resbalón (the latch). Usually the simpler job, at the lower end.
• Locked with the key, one or more turns. More work, especially on a puerta blindada (armoured door).
• Key snapped or lock broken. I'll ask you what you see and tell you honestly what to expect.

The door type, the lock and the distance count too. I tell you the exact price on the phone before I leave, also at night or on Sundays, and that's what you pay. A new bombín (the lock cylinder) is from €150, only if you want one. All prices are on the prices page.

Friends sharing a flat for a long weekend often get one set of keys, maybe two. Then someone heads back early, someone else stays out, and the keys are with the wrong person. Some simple fixes:

• Agree who has the keys before you split up for the night.
• Ask the host for a second set on arrival. Many have one.
• Share the host's number with the whole group, not just the person who booked.
• Keep the booking confirmation on more than one phone. If I need to open the door, I'll ask to see it with ID.

And if it still goes wrong, you know who to call. One phone call, one price, and the door open again.