Of all the jobs a landlord needs a locksmith for, changing the locks between tenancies is the one that comes round most often — and the one most worth getting right. Every time a tenancy ends, you face the same question: who still holds a working key to that property? This guide explains why the changeover matters, whether you legally have to do it, the difference between re-keying and replacing, what it costs, and how to handle it cleanly so a void period never leaves a property exposed.
This guide covers good practice and the relevant rules for landlords in England. For your specific circumstances, check GOV.UK or the NRLA.
When a tenancy ends, you genuinely do not know how many working keys exist or who holds them. Over a typical let, keys get copied for partners, family, friends, cleaners, dog-walkers and lodgers — and not all of them come back. A previous tenant from two lets ago might still have one in a drawer. Changing or re-keying the locks between tenancies draws a clean line: from handover day, only the new tenant (and you) can get in.
It also protects you. If an incoming tenant is burgled and it turns out an old key was used, a landlord who never changed the locks is in an uncomfortable position — practically, and potentially with their insurer. A between-tenancy lock change is cheap peace of mind on both sides.
There is no single law that says “a landlord must change the locks between every tenancy”. But it is strongly advised, and several things push it close to a practical requirement:
One critical point that often gets confused: this is about the gap between tenancies, when the property is empty. You must never change the locks on a tenant who is still living there — that is an illegal eviction under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977. Our guide to whether a tenant can change the locks covers that line in full.
You often do not need a whole new lock. There are two routes, and the right one depends on the door and the hardware:
A good locksmith will tell you which is genuinely needed rather than defaulting to the more expensive job. On a timber door with a mortice lock, the economics differ — re-keying a mortice is possible but often a full BS3621 deadlock replacement makes more sense.
Sound euro-cylinder door → swap the cylinder (cheapest, stops all old keys). Worn, damaged or sub-standard lock → replace and upgrade while you are there.
Between-tenancy lock changes are one of the more affordable landlord jobs. A straightforward euro-cylinder swap is at the low end; an anti-snap upgrade or a BS3621 mortice replacement costs a little more for the better hardware. Doing several doors, or keying them alike so one key runs the whole property, is usually only marginally more than a single lock. We quote a fixed price before any work and never charge a call-out fee — and our dedicated cost guide for rental properties sets out honest UK ranges.
The changeover is the ideal time to make sure the locks actually meet your policy. Many landlord policies specify a BS3621 five-lever mortice deadlock on timber doors, or anti-snap TS007 3-star cylinders on uPVC and composite doors, plus key-operated window locks. Fit below the specified standard and a future claim can be refused. We fit to the required standard and confirm in writing what was installed — more on this in our guide to landlord lock and security responsibilities.
If you run an HMO or several properties, the changeover is also a chance to think about key management across the board. A keyed-alike or master-key approach lets you carry one management key while each tenant’s key opens only their own door — far less admin than a drawer full of unlabelled keys. Bedroom-door changes between room-lets in an HMO follow the same logic as a whole-property change. See our guides to HMO locks and fire-door compliance and master key systems.
A named, vetted master locksmith covers your area — no call-out fee.
We turn between-tenancy lock changes around fast — usually same-day — so a void never sits unsecured, and we work to your insurer’s standard with a written record every time. For agents and portfolio landlords we can keep your key plan on file and handle changeovers to a schedule. See our landlord locksmith services for the full picture, or find your local locksmith to book one in.
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