House Lockout in Philadelphia, PA

Which Philadelphia door has you locked out

Census estimates put 54 percent of Philadelphia's homes in single-family attached buildings, and the City Planning Commission's rowhouse manual says rowhouses outnumber every other housing type in the city. A house lockout here is usually a rowhouse lockout, but the door involved changes with the age of the block.

• Trinity houses in Society Hill and Queen Village. These small early houses often sit mid-block with no street frontage and a single entry. Describe how the door is reached from the street, since it may not face one.
• Vestibule rows in South and West Philadelphia. The 19th-century workingman's house often has an entry vestibule, which puts two doors in a row. Being shut out at the street door is a different job from standing in the vestibule with the inner door locked, so say which.
• Airlite rows in Northeast and Southwest Philadelphia. These postwar houses usually have a garage built into the lower level. Mention whether that garage entry is locked too, because it is a second way into the house.

Have proof of address ready

About 48 percent of Philadelphia's occupied homes are rented, so many lockouts involve a door that the person outside does not own. Have photo ID on you that carries the address. If your ID lists an older address, a lease or deed with your name on it fills the gap. If both are inside the house, say so at the start. Renters can also try the landlord or property manager, who may keep a key.

Waiting outside in Philadelphia weather

NOAA's Pennsylvania climate summary flags Philadelphia for extreme heat and humidity, so on a summer afternoon wait in shade or with a neighbor rather than on a sunny stoop. A winter lockout brings cold hands and a phone battery that drains sooner. If a child, an older person or anyone who needs care is alone inside, call 911 instead of waiting.

What to put in the request

Give the street address, the door type (street, vestibule, unit or garage), and whether the keys are lost or simply inside. If the keys are gone for good, plan on lock rekeying afterward. Details are on the house lockout and Philadelphia pages.