Modify front door so exterior handle opens door when unlocked?

[volks]

As seems to be standard these days, front doors can only open from the outside with the key, even if the door is unlocked. Seems turning the key opens the door instead of the handle.

It's all well and good but it makes an unlocked door impossible to get inside without the key, a few times I've locked myself out as the door was "unlocked" but I shut it behind me without a key and couldn't get back in. (Worse when I shut it behind me with the key on the inside of the lock so I can't get inside even with the key!)

Is it possible to modify it so the external handle can open the door while unlocked? I can't see any reason for it to not open externally while unlocked. Security maybe but if I want to keep people out then I'd lock the door!

 

[Loofah]

It's a split spindle which you can presumably swap out but I've never tried

 

[ronniecabers]

It isn't standard either. It has to be requested

 

[ronniecabers]

And to modify, you'll need the correct size lever/lever handle , rather than a lever/pad that normally comes with split spindle. All you do is replace handle using the longer spindle in thelower of the two spindle holes in the lock