Changing locks between tenants isn’t a legal requirement for landlords in England. Landlord bodies still recommend it, and some insurers expect it, because once a tenancy ends, you can’t be sure who kept a copy of the old keys.
The right approach depends on the door, the lock, how the last tenancy ended and, for HMOs, what your fire risk assessment and licence conditions say.
This guide covers when you’re legally allowed to change locks, whether you need a whole new lock or just a new cylinder, what HMO bedroom and exit doors need, who pays, and a handover checklist to use at every check-out.
The Veteran Locksmith changes and upgrades locks for landlords and property managers across Manchester and Greater Manchester.
Key takeaways
- There’s no legal duty to change locks between tenancies, but it’s good practice, and some landlord insurance policies require it.
- Wait until the tenancy has legally ended before touching the locks. Changing them to keep a tenant out is unlawful eviction.
- On most uPVC and composite doors, you only need a new euro cylinder, not a new lock.
- HMO bedroom and exit doors must open from the inside without a key, which usually means thumb-turn locks.
Do Landlords Have to Change Locks Between Tenants?
No. There’s no statute in England that makes landlords change the locks when one tenancy ends and another begins. The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) confirms this, while strongly recommending it anyway.
There are three good reasons to do it:
- You don’t know who has a key. Over a tenancy, keys get lent to partners, flatmates, cleaners, contractors and letting agents. Any of them could have had a copy cut.
- Insurance. Many landlord policies ask for locks that meet a recognised standard such as BS 3621, and some include a clause requiring a lock change between tenancies. If a burglar lets themselves in with an old key, there’s no sign of forced entry, and that can make a claim much harder.
- Your duty to keep the home safe. Councils assess rented homes using the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, and “entry by intruders” is one of the hazards they check. Poor door security can lead to enforcement action.
When changing the locks is the right call
Treat a lock change as essential, rather than optional, when:
- Not every key has come back, or the number returned doesn’t match your records
- You suspect copies were made, or the tenancy ended on bad terms
- The lock is worn, or the key sticks or has to be jiggled to turn
- There’s been a break-in or an attempted one
- The existing cylinder isn’t anti-snap
- Your insurance policy asks for it
- Several agents, contractors or previous tenants have held keys, and nobody kept a key log.
If every key came back and the door already has a modern anti-snap cylinder, a change is still sensible but less urgent. A door that’s simply hard to lock often needs adjusting rather than replacing. Our guide to uPVC door problems explains the usual causes.
When can a Landlord Legally Change the Locks?
You can change the locks once the tenancy has legally ended and you’ve got possession back. In practice, that means one of these situations:
- The tenant gave notice, moved out and handed back the keys, or you both agreed in writing to end the tenancy.
- A court made a possession order, and County Court bailiffs or High Court enforcement officers carried out the eviction.
- The tenant agreed in writing to the change, for example after losing their keys.
- There’s a genuine emergency, such as a break-in that has left the door insecure. Give the tenant new keys straight away.
Never change locks to remove a tenant
Changing the locks while a tenant still has the right to live there is unlawful eviction under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977. Rent arrears, a broken tenancy agreement or an expired fixed term don’t change that. It’s a criminal offence; the tenant can claim damages, and the NRLA notes that councils can also issue civil penalties of up to £40,000.
What changed on 1 May 2026
The Renters’ Rights Act changed how private tenancies end in England. Since 1 May 2026, landlords can no longer use Section 21 “no fault” notices, and assured shorthold tenancies have become periodic tenancies with no fixed end date. Tenants can end a tenancy with two months’ written notice. Landlords need a legal ground for possession and, if the tenant doesn’t leave, a court order. The government’s guide to ending a tenancy sets out the current rules.
For locks, the upshot is simple: the lock change comes at the end of the process, never as part of it. If you’ve reached the enforcement stage, our bailiff and warrant locksmith service can attend on the day to gain entry and change the locks once possession has been recovered.
What if the tenant seems to have abandoned the property?
An empty-looking property doesn’t mean the tenancy has ended. If the rent has stopped and the tenant appears to have left without handing back the keys, take legal advice before you change anything. Lodgers who share your own home are usually excluded occupiers and follow different rules, but check your position before acting there too.
Getting in during a tenancy
For inspections and repairs, give at least 24 hours’ written notice and visit at a reasonable time. Holding a spare key doesn’t give you the right to let yourself in.
Do You Need a New Lock or Just a New Cylinder?
For most rental properties, you need a new cylinder, not a whole new lock, which keeps the cost down.
Most uPVC and composite front doors use a euro cylinder that operates a multipoint locking mechanism. The cylinder is the part the key goes into. Replace it, and every old key stops working, while the handles, gearbox and locking points stay as they are. If you’d like to know more about how they work, read our guide to euro cylinder locks.
Since you’re changing the cylinder anyway, use the chance to upgrade it. Cheap cylinders can be snapped in seconds. Look for one rated TS 007 3 Star or Sold Secure SS312 Diamond, both of which are tested against snapping and other common attacks. Our anti-snap locks page explains the options, and this quick snap-resistance checklist shows how to check what’s fitted now.
| Door or lock | What to change between tenants | Standard to look for |
| uPVC or composite door with a multipoint lock | The euro cylinder, if the mechanism works smoothly | TS 007 3 Star or Sold Secure SS312 Diamond |
| Timber door with a mortice deadlock | The lock, or its levers where the lock allows it | BS 3621, which many insurers ask for |
| Timber door with a nightlatch (rim lock) | The rim cylinder, or the whole nightlatch if it’s worn | A BS 3621 deadlocking nightlatch where insurers require it |
| Keypad, fob or smart lock | Reset every code and delete old users and fobs | Check the emergency release still works |
| HMO bedroom door | The cylinder, keeping a thumb-turn on the inside | Your fire risk assessment and licence conditions |
Not sure which type you have? This guide to rim cylinders, euro cylinders and mortice locks explains the differences.
Stop tenants copying keys
A restricted key system limits who can cut new keys. The keys use a protected profile that only an authorised supplier can copy, usually on production of a key card. That’s useful for landlords with several properties or high tenant turnover, because a lost key no longer means wondering how many copies are out there.
In an HMO, a master key system lets each resident’s key open their own room and the front door, while you keep one master key for emergencies.
What are the HMO Door Lock Requirements in England?
HMO lock requirements come mainly from fire safety guidance, not from one national lock standard. Most councils inspect against the national LACoRS fire safety guidance for existing housing, published in 2008, and many write its expectations into HMO licence conditions. Details vary between councils, so check your own licence and fire risk assessment.
HMO bedroom doors
Bedroom doors in an HMO should lock with a key from the outside and open from the inside without one. That usually means a thumb-turn cylinder or a thumb-turn sashlock on the room side.
Avoid locks that need a key to get out, such as a double-key euro cylinder, a key-only mortice deadlock or a padlock and hasp. If a resident would have to find a key in the dark during a fire, the lock is wrong.
Front doors and final exit doors
Residents must be able to open the door they use to leave the building with no key, card or code. A thumb-turn euro cylinder is the usual answer, and anti-snap versions are widely available.
There is one risk to plan for. If the thumb-turn sits close to a letterbox, a burglar can reach it with a tool through the flap. A letterbox guard or cage closes that gap without slowing anyone’s escape.
Fire doors
If a bedroom, kitchen or communal door is a fire door, its lock is part of the door’s tested fire performance. Changing it carelessly can undo that. Before any lock change on a fire door:
- Use a lock suitable for fire doors and compatible with that door set
- Don’t enlarge the cut-out to fit a bigger lock case
- Keep any intumescent protection around the lock in place
- Check the self-closer still pulls the door fully shut onto the latch.
The common parts of an HMO fall under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which requires a fire risk assessment, so update yours if door hardware changes. The government’s fire risk assessment guide for sleeping accommodation explains what it should cover. If you don’t know what a door is rated to, ask a fire safety professional before changing its hardware.
Keypads and electronic entry
Change entry codes at every tenancy change and delete old fobs and app users. Any electronic lock on an escape route must release automatically when the fire alarm sounds and if the power fails.
Who Pays for Changing the Locks?
Between tenancies, the landlord usually pays. You’re choosing to secure the property before re-letting it.
Lost keys are different. Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, landlords can charge tenants for replacing lost keys or security devices, provided the tenancy agreement includes the fee, the charge reflects reasonable costs, and the landlord supplies written evidence of those costs. The government guidance on tenancy fees sets out the conditions. An itemised locksmith invoice gives you that evidence.
If keys aren’t returned at the end of a tenancy, you can claim the reasonable cost from the deposit. Keep the invoice in case the tenant disputes it through the deposit protection scheme.
How Much Does Changing Locks Between Tenants Cost?
The NRLA puts a lock change at roughly £80 to £200, depending on the lock. A straightforward cylinder swap on a working uPVC door sits towards the lower end. Repairing a multipoint mechanism, fitting fire door hardware or upgrading to a high-security cylinder costs more.
To keep costs down:
- ask for an itemised quote showing parts and labour
- book every door at the property in one visit
- fix small faults at the same time, rather than calling someone out twice.
At The Veteran Locksmith, there’s no call-out fee, and we agree the price before any work begins.
Tenant Handover Checklist for Locks and Keys
Run through this at every check-out:
- Collect every key and fob, including back door, window, garage, shed and meter cupboard keys.
- Count them against your key log and note anything missing in the check-out report.
- Test each external door. The key should turn smoothly, and the handle should lift and lock without force.
- Check window locks and make sure their keys are still at the property.
- Change cylinders where needed, upgrading to anti-snap at the same time.
- Reset keypad, alarm and smart lock codes, and remove old users.
- Cut keys for the incoming tenants plus a set for you. Mobile key cutting can be done on site.
- Hand keys over against a signed receipt, update your key log and store spares on coded tags, never labelled with the address.
Need Locks Changed Between Tenancies in Manchester?
The Veteran Locksmith is based in Sale and covers Manchester and Greater Manchester. A master locksmith with 26 years of Army service leads the business, and every locksmith undergoes a DBS check. We charge no call-out fees, agree on the price before starting work and complete most jobs on the first visit.
We can change cylinders between tenancies, upgrade rental properties to anti-snap locks, fit thumb-turn locks in HMOs and attend on eviction day. Call 07507 358 484 or book a free security survey before your next tenancy starts.
If you’re a tenant or buyer moving into a new home, read why you should change the locks when you move in.
