House Lockout in Lexington, KY

Which door are you locked out of?

Census Bureau estimates for 2020–2024 put 25.9 percent of Lexington homes in buildings of five or more units, more than double the 11.7 percent statewide. There, two locks can stand between you and your couch: the shared breezeway or building entry and your own unit door. The property manager may control the shared entry and hold a spare unit key, so call the manager first, and give the building and unit number when you request a house lockout visit.

Detached houses are a different job. Ashland Park, one of the city's H-1 historic districts, was laid out by the Olmsted Brothers in the early 20th century and named for Ashland, Henry Clay's estate. Its National Register district is roughly bounded by Ashland Avenue, Richmond Road, Chinoe Road and Fontaine Road and holds American Foursquare, Craftsman, Colonial Revival and Tudor Revival houses. An original door there may still carry a mortise lock, a keyed body set into a pocket cut in the door's edge. Say which door is stuck shut and whether it is original.

When a landlord changed the locks

About 46.2 percent of Lexington's occupied homes are rented, and a lost key and a landlord keeping a tenant out are different problems. Kentucky Justice Online's April 2025 list of places that adopted the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act includes Lexington-Fayette County. Where the act applies, KRS 383.655 lets a tenant whom a landlord unlawfully removes or excludes recover possession or end the rental agreement. That question belongs with a lawyer or the court, not a locksmith. This is general information, not legal advice.

Waiting outside, and what to have ready

If a child, an older adult or a pet is alone inside and at risk, call 911 first. Otherwise wait somewhere shaded in summer or warm in winter.

Have ready:

• proof you live there, such as a photo ID with this address, a lease or a utility bill; if the papers are inside, say so
• the lock type if you know it: knob, deadbolt or mortise
• whether the keys are inside or lost; if lost, rekeying afterward makes the missing set stop working

Kentucky Locksmith Pros takes service requests from homes, businesses and drivers in Lexington. For the city's historic districts, see the Lexington page.