House Lockout in Colorado Springs, CO

What differs by building type

• Old North End houses. The historic district north of Colorado College holds houses built from 1885 to 1965. On a door that old the aim is an entry that leaves the wood and its hardware undamaged, so say so at the start.
• Houses from the 1970s and 1980s. Say whether the deadbolt was thrown or only the knob was locked behind you.
• Newer houses. A keypad or smart lock that has gone dark is usually a power problem, not a lost key. Note the brand and whether a backup key exists.
• Locked apartment buildings. You may face two doors, the building entry and your unit. A Knox box, where a building has one, is rapid-entry equipment for the Colorado Springs Fire Department rather than a spare key for residents, so call your property manager about the entry door.

Rentals and short-term stays

A guest locked out of a short-term rental should try the rental's own contact first. The city's short-term rental rules call for a point of contact on file with the Planning Department who can respond within one hour in an emergency, and the Good Neighbor Guidelines displayed in the unit name that person.

A tenant shut out after the landlord changed the locks is in a different position. Under C.R.S. 38-12-510 a landlord may not remove or exclude a tenant without court process, except in situations such as mutual consent or abandonment, and willfully taking off locks, other than for repair or maintenance, counts as removal. This is general information, not legal advice.

What to have ready

• Photo ID, plus a lease, deed or mail showing the address if your ID lists an older one.
• Which doors are locked, and whether a garage or side door has its own lock.
• Your street and the nearest cross street, or the building name for an apartment complex.

In winter, and especially in March, the snowiest month in Colorado Springs, a wait outdoors can turn dangerous. Wait in a car, with a neighbor or in a nearby business rather than on the step.

See house lockout for the service itself. If your keys went missing rather than being left inside, lock rekeying is worth considering once you are in, and the Colorado Springs page describes the neighborhoods.