Can Tenants Change the Locks without Permission?

Whilst unusual, occasionally a tenant will take it upon themselves to change the locks of their rental property. This could be because they feel you have breached their privacy, perhaps they feel unsafe in their home, or it could be because of a breakdown in the relationship between you and them. 

With changes to UK housing law continuing into 2025, including the long-anticipated abolition of Section 21 evictions, it's more important than ever to understand your rights (and your tenants') when it comes to property access and tenancy agreements.

In this article, we take a look at what you need to do to determine if the tenant is justified in changing the locks and what legal recourse you have.

Are Tenants Allowed to Change the Locks?

Generally speaking, tenants aren’t allowed to change the locks. Landlords have statutory obligations to ensure the property is safe for habitation. This means conducting regular health and safety inspections for things like electrical and gas appliances.

If the tenant isn’t home, the landlord should have a key available to let tradespeople in to perform essential work and carry out legal inspections. The tenant changing the lock removes the landlord’s ability to perform this duty.

It is also essential for the landlord to have access to the property in the case of an emergency, whether this is to deal with a gas leak or a burst pipe. Alternatively, if the police need to carry out a welfare check and nobody is answering the door, the letting agent or landlord can then use the key in their possession.

As such, most standard tenancy agreements will stipulate clearly when and how the landlord is allowed to use their key. Additionally, it should stipulate that the tenant cannot make major changes to the property without the landlord’s permission. And of course, changing the lock is a major change.

It’s always a good idea to draw your tenant’s attention to important clauses in the tenancy agreement to ensure both parties are clear on their roles, responsibilities, and rights throughout the tenancy.

Despite the above, there are, in fact, some circumstances where a tenant can argue they were justified in changing the locks.

When is a Tenant Justified in Changing the Locks?

Exceptional Circumstances

There are some exceptional circumstances in which tenants do have the right to change the locks. 

Tenants in the UK have what’s known as the “right to quiet enjoyment.” This means that once they’ve moved in, they’re legally entitled to live in the property without interference,  including from you, the landlord.

Technically speaking, this right can extend to changing the locks, but only in some very specific situations, such as:

• To protect themselves from domestic abuse or harassment.
• Following a break-in, a lock change is urgently needed for safety.
• If they have been granted explicit permission by the landlord.

However, unless your tenancy agreement says otherwise, tenants are generally expected to inform you before they make any of these sorts of changes, and they must provide a 

Now we’ll have a closer look at each of these.

The Landlord Repeatedly Accessed the Property without Proper Notice

While landlords maintain the right to access their property for routine inspections, maintenance, and emergencies, they cannot simply enter the property whenever they want. Proper notice needs to be given to the tenant in writing before the landlord enters the property. Tenants have the right to quiet enjoyment of the property, and so, apart from in the case of emergencies, landlords cannot enter without permission.

The right to “quiet enjoyment” is enshrined in law and, therefore, not negotiable or ‘optional’. Landlords must give reasonable notice to tenants before entering a rental property to carry out repairs or do a routine property inspection.

The law states you cannot enter a tenant’s home without permission unless certain conditions prevail (i.e., it’s an emergency).

Should the landlord persist in entering the property without adequate notice, and should the tenant feel sufficiently threatened, then under these circumstances, it would be justified for them to change the locks to prevent you from entering the property again.

There is a Security Risk

Should a key be lost, stolen, or duplicated and the tenant feels threatened by the party that now has access to their home, they will likely want to get the locks changed for security purposes.

The tenant should first consult with the landlord and request that they change the locks, but if you don’t act promptly enough, they would be within their rights to get the locks changed themselves. One thing to remember is that your landlord’s insurance policy will also be invalidated should the property not be properly secured, so it is in your best interest to act quickly.

What If the Tenant Changes the Locks Without Telling You?

If a tenant changes the locks without permission and refuses to give you a key, they may be in breach of contract. It also prevents you from carrying out your legal obligations (such as emergency repairs or gas safety checks). 

In previous years, you may have used a Section 21 notice to regain possession of the property in such situations. But in 2025, Section 21 “no-fault” evictions are being phased out, so that’s no longer an option.

Instead, landlords will need to rely on Section 8 eviction grounds. In this case, you might consider:

• Ground 12: Breach of tenancy agreement (e.g., changing the locks without consent or not allowing access). 
• Ground 13: Damage or neglect to the property. 

To take this route, you'll need documented proof - another reason to use software like Landlord Studio to keep a record of tenant communications and agreement terms.

You can read more about the eviction process and grounds on the government website here

How Much Does it Cost to Change the Locks?

Changing the locks isn’t massively expensive. You can expect to pay a locksmith around £100 for a new standard cylinder lock.

Claiming Damages when a Tenant Changes the Locks

Unless the tenant is upfront with you, you likely won’t know that the locks have been changed until you go to enter the property and find your key doesn’t work. If the issue is resolved, the tenant gives you a copy of the key and can justify their actions, then no further action will need to be taken.

However, if they caused damage when changing the lock, or you need to change the locks again as the tenant refuses to give you a copy of the key, you may want to consider asking them to cover the costs. In this scenario, it is their responsibility to pay to fix the issue.

Final Thoughts & What to Do Next

Lock changes are one of those murky areas of tenancy law where clear expectations and a bit of empathy can save a lot of hassle later.

If your tenant has changed the locks, here are some steps you should take: 

1. Check the tenancy agreement. Does it prohibit lock changes or require written permission?
2. Open a line of communication. Ask for a key and find out why the change was made.
3. Log everything. Keep a written record of your correspondence - it’ll be vital if you need to take legal action later.
4. Seek advice. If things escalate, speak to a solicitor or eviction specialist before taking steps toward Section 8 proceedings.

Want to make this process easier in the future?

With Landlord Studio, you can store signed tenancy agreements, log key communication, record inspection access, and keep everything neatly in one place. It’s property management without the stress, and it gives you peace of mind if things go south. 

Create your free Landlord Studio account today.

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