House Lockout in Bridgeport, CT

The building decides the job

A Bridgeport house lockout depends on the kind of building you are shut out of, not just the lock.

• Rowhouses in Seaside Village. This South End district holds 257 brick rowhouse homes, built in 1918 and 1919 for World War I munitions workers and run as a cooperative since 1955. Once you are back inside, check with the co-op before changing an exterior lock.
• Two- to four-unit houses. About 15 percent of Connecticut homes sit in buildings with two to four units. Between you and your kitchen there may be a shared street door, your own unit door and a rear porch door. If only the shared door is locked, the owner or a neighbor may be able to let you into the hall, and no lock work is needed.
• Detached houses. Almost six in ten Connecticut homes are detached single-family houses. List every exterior door and which ones are locked; a side or rear door may have simpler hardware than the front.

Older houses in the city's historic districts, such as Lakeview Village in North Bridgeport, may still have original wood doors with mortise locks, and a photo of the locked door from outside helps show what kind of lock it is. The Bridgeport page lists the districts.

Papers to have ready

Have proof that you live there: photo ID showing the address, or a lease or deed in your name. If those are locked inside, say so in the request.

When a landlord is involved

Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-214, a landlord, lessor, owner or agent who keeps a tenant out of the unit or away from their possessions without a court order commits criminal lockout, a class C misdemeanor.

If a door or lock is damaged during a lockout, keep a record of what happened. In Bridgeport, Chapter 2.94 of the city code makes it a defense to a Fair Rent Commission complaint that the tenant is responsible for damage beyond ordinary wear and tear (§ 2.94.100). This is general information, not legal advice.

If you lost your key rather than locking it inside, lock rekeying keeps the missing key from working.