Guide
Can a Tenant Change the Locks? Rights and Duties
A tenant can usually change the locks only with the landlord's agreement, and most tenancy agreements require a copy of the new key. Read your agreement first. A landlord, in turn, cannot change the locks to remove a tenant who lives there without following the legal process. If safety is the reason, tell the landlord and ask for help.
Can a tenant change the locks without permission?
Check the tenancy agreement first, because it usually decides this. Most agreements say the tenant must not change or add locks without the landlord's written consent, and must give the landlord a key if they do. Changing a lock against those terms can be a breach of the agreement, and the landlord can usually charge for putting the original back.
If the agreement says nothing, it is still sensible to ask. A landlord needs a key for emergencies such as a leak, and an insurer may expect them to hold one.
In Wales, most tenants are now 'contract-holders' under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016. Their written statement of contract is the document to check.
When is a tenant right to ask for a lock change?
When you have a good reason, and you put it in writing. Common ones:
- Lost or stolen keys, especially if the keys could be linked to the address. - A burglary or attempted break-in. Report it to the police first and keep the crime reference number. - The locks were not changed since the last tenant left. - Personal safety, for example a former partner who still holds a key. If you are at risk, contact the police. Many councils and charities run schemes that fit extra locks for people experiencing domestic abuse.
Ask the landlord to arrange the change or to agree in writing that you can, and agree who pays. Then give them a copy of the new key, as the agreement usually requires.
Who pays for changing the locks?
It depends on why. As a general pattern, a tenant who loses keys usually pays, and a landlord usually pays for a change between tenancies or for a lock that has failed through wear. The tenancy agreement may set this out, so read it.
For context, a euro cylinder change costs about £105 to £175 fitted, from the MLA and MyJobQuote, and a BS 3621 mortice deadlock about £100 to £205 across the MLA, Checkatrade, MyJobQuote and Bark. If you are paying, ask the locksmith for an invoice that names the lock and its standard, and keep the original lock so it can be refitted when you move out if the agreement requires that.
Can a landlord change the locks on a tenant?
Not to remove a tenant who still lives there. A landlord who wants a tenant to leave has to follow the legal process for ending the tenancy. In England and Wales, locking out a residential occupier without that process can be unlawful eviction under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977, and other parts of the UK have equivalent protections.
If your landlord has changed the locks while you live there, contact your local council's housing team, Shelter, or Citizens Advice straight away. In an emergency, call the police.
A landlord may change locks once a tenancy has properly ended and the property is empty, and often does so between tenants.
Can a landlord use their key to come in?
Holding a key does not give a landlord the right to let themselves in whenever they like. Tenants have the right to live in the property without unreasonable interference. For visits such as inspections and repairs, landlords are usually expected to give at least 24 hours' notice in writing and to visit at a reasonable time, except in a genuine emergency such as a flood or a fire. Check the access clause in your tenancy agreement, and keep a record if a landlord enters without notice.
Common questions
Can I change the locks in my rented flat?
Usually only with your landlord's written consent, and most agreements require you to give them a copy of the new key. Check your tenancy agreement, then ask in writing.
Does my landlord have to change the locks between tenants?
There is no general legal requirement to do so, but it is common practice and insurers may expect it. Ask your landlord or letting agent whether the locks were changed before you moved in.
What can I do if my landlord changed the locks?
If you still live there and the tenancy was not ended through the legal process, contact your council's housing team, Shelter or Citizens Advice at once. In an emergency, call the police.