House Lockout in Annapolis, MD

Which door you are shut out of

A house lockout in Annapolis turns on how the building is divided, because that decides who else holds a key.

• Downtown row houses. The city's historic district design manual says the stoops along Pinkney Street mark each row house as its own dwelling, which usually means one household behind each door.
• Houses divided into apartments. The comprehensive plan gives an Eastport example: a house that looks like a single-family home but holds three apartments. Say whether you are stuck at the shared street door or at your own unit door, since the owner or another tenant may be able to open the first.
• Public housing. The Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis builds, owns and operates it, so residents should start with the authority.

Proof that you live there

Anyone asked to open a home will want to confirm that you live there. Photo ID showing the address is the usual starting point. If the ID carries an old address, a lease, deed, mortgage statement or utility bill in your name can fill the gap. In a multi-unit building, bring the lease for your own unit.

A landlord who locks a tenant out to force a move raises a legal issue rather than an ordinary lockout. Real Property § 8-216 bars a landlord from taking possession of a dwelling unit by locking the tenant out. A landlord gets possession only through a court's warrant of restitution, carried out by a sheriff or constable, or once the tenant abandons or surrenders the unit. Changing locks temporarily to secure an unsecured property is still allowed, provided the landlord makes good-faith attempts at reasonable notice. This is general information, not legal advice.

What to send with the request

Include the neighborhood or cross streets, the building type, which exterior door is locked (front, side, back or garage entry) and whether the key is inside or lost. Say too if the building is in the Historic District or managed by a landlord or the housing authority. If the key is lost, lock rekeying is the usual next step. The request form takes these details, and neighborhood notes are on the Annapolis page.