A landlord can change the locks on a rental property. Whether it is right to do so depends on the tenancy agreement, the reason and the notice given. In routine cases, such as a tenant moving out or a planned security upgrade, a landlord lock change is simple to arrange. Our guide to landlord and tenant lock change law sets out the legal side in full.
Tenant changeovers
When a tenancy ends, a new cylinder or a new BS3621 lock is standard practice. This stops former tenants from keeping access, since old keys no longer work. A mobile locksmith covering Bayswater and nearby W2 districts can attend on the move-out day.
We supply the number of keys you need, along with a key-receipt sheet for your records. Booking the work for the same day as the inventory check saves a second visit, because the property is empty. It also keeps the property secure for the next tenant. Our guide to HMO tenant changeover locks lists the checks that matter most.
HMOs and shared houses
Houses in multiple occupation often have a shared front door, bedroom locks and sometimes a fob system. Changing several doors in one visit therefore causes less disruption for tenants who stay. It also gives you one clear key plan, which suits larger houses in particular. For example, the locksmith can master-key the shared cylinder, while each bedroom keeps its own key.
We can also set up extra fobs or cards if the building uses access control. Because the work is planned in advance, the locksmith brings the right cylinders for every door. As a result, you rarely need a second visit.
Working with letting agents
Letting agents usually need the change finished between check-out and the next check-in. An itemised invoice lists each cylinder, the keys cut and any master-key work. This makes it easy, for instance, to match costs to the tenancy file. We also supply a spare key set for the agent’s records, which speeds up later handovers.
Lost keys and lock-outs between tenants
Sometimes a tenant leaves without returning every key, or a new tenant loses one on day one. In that case a lock change is the safest fix. Our guide on what to do when you are locked out of your flat explains how we open a door without damage first. After entry, we can fit a new cylinder in the same visit.
Where we work
In particular, we cover let properties around Bayswater, Queensway, Paddington and Westbourne Park. Our locksmith in Paddington page and our locksmith in Bayswater page show the local cover. To book a changeover, use the enquiry form and tell us the number of doors.