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Landlord & Letting-Agent Locksmith

Lock Change After Tenant Moves Out South LondonLandlords · Letting Agents · Property Managers · Airbnb Hosts

When a tenancy ends you cannot be sure how many keys exist or whether all were returned. We change or re-key rental locks across South London — same-day or pre-booked around your move-out, clean and move-in dates — and provide an itemised invoice for your records.

  • Same-day or pre-booked
  • Itemised invoices for your records
  • No call-out fee
  • Card or cash accepted
Call 020 8050 2017 WhatsApp a photo for a quote

★★★★★ 5.0 Google rating155 reviewsServing South London since 2015

Quick answer

Can a landlord change the locks after a tenant moves out?

Yes. Once the tenancy has legally ended and the tenant has moved out and returned the property, the landlord is free to change the locks — it is normal good practice between tenancies. You may not change the locks to shut out a tenant during a live tenancy or an ongoing eviction; that is unlawful eviction.

01Need locks changed after a tenant has moved out?

If you are a landlord, letting agent, property manager or Airbnb host, arranging a lock change after a tenant moves out is one of the simplest ways to protect your property. When a tenancy ends there is often uncertainty about how many key copies exist or whether every key has been returned.

A professional rental property lock change restores security and gives you complete control over who can access the property before the next occupant arrives. We work right across South London, attend same-day where it is needed, and hand you a fresh set of keys plus an itemised invoice for your records. If you would prefer the planned route, see our wider lock change South London service or our guidance on changing locks when moving into a new home.

Locksmith South London attending a lock change for a South London estate agents after a tenant moved out
Out on a tenancy-changeover job for a South London estate agents — locks changed before the next move-in.

The legal bit — a plain guide, England

02When can a landlord legally change the locks?

The timing matters far more than most people realise. The short version: you can change the locks once a tenancy has genuinely ended — but not before. Here is the honest picture for England.

While a tenancy is live — no

You must not change the locks to keep a current tenant out, even if rent is owed or you have served notice. Locking a tenant out is unlawful eviction under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977. A tenancy is ended by a court possession order and county court bailiffs — not by a locksmith. The same applies during an eviction that is still in progress.

Once the tenancy has ended — yes

When the tenancy has legally ended and the tenant has moved out and handed the property back, changing the locks is normal, sensible practice. There is no law forcing a change between every tenancy, but a landlord owes a duty of care and most insurers expect reasonable security, so a fresh lock change between tenants is widely treated as standard good practice.

Not sure whether the tenancy has truly ended — for example with possible abandonment, an unfinished eviction, or a dispute? Take advice first from a solicitor, your local council or a service such as Shelter. We are locksmiths, not legal advisers; we change locks once a tenancy has lawfully ended.

03Lock changes between tenants

Many landlords change the locks between tenants as part of their standard property turnover. Replacing or re-keying locks before new tenants move in helps prevent unauthorised access, improves tenant confidence and removes lingering security concerns about who still holds a working key.

Whether you need to change the locks after a tenant leaves or want them changed as part of routine maintenance during a void period, a prompt lock replacement makes sure the property is genuinely ready for its next occupant — with one clean set of keys and no question marks over old copies.

04What if a tenant doesn’t return the keys?

When a tenant does not return all the keys at the end of a tenancy, the security of the property can no longer be guaranteed. Missing keys may have been copied or passed to a third party, creating an unnecessary risk for you and for the incoming tenant.

In this situation it is sensible to change the locks as soon as possible. A fast lock change — or, where the lock itself is sound, a cylinder swap — restores security and gives everyone peace of mind before the property is re-let. We can usually attend the same day and leave you with a complete, freshly cut set of keys.

05Who pays — landlord or tenant? Deposits and lost keys

You upgrade between tenancies

If you simply choose to refresh or upgrade the locks between tenants as good practice, that is the landlord’s own cost — a normal part of maintaining a rental property and protecting your investment.

The tenant lost or kept keys

If the outgoing tenant lost keys or failed to return them, the reasonable cost of replacing the affected locks or keys is commonly a fair deposit deduction under the Tenant Fees Act 2019 — provided it is reasonable and properly evidenced.

We provide an itemised invoice for every job so you have clear, receipted evidence for a deposit-scheme deduction or for your own records. We will not advise on the deduction itself — that is between you and the tenant or your deposit scheme — but we make sure the paperwork is there.

Transparent pricing — no hidden numbers

06What it costs — and when a cheaper re-key will do

Many letting pages leave the price blank. We do not. Below is honest guidance for the common rental lock changes; we always confirm an exact quotation before any work begins. The simplest way to get a firm price is to send a WhatsApp photo of the existing lock.

JobFromWhen it’s the right choice
Euro cylinder change (uPVC / composite doors)£135The everyday rental lock change — swap the cylinder, supply new keys.
BS3621 5-lever mortice (timber doors)£180Final-exit timber doors where insurers expect a British-Standard lock.
Anti-snap TS007 cylinder upgrade£2003-star anti-snap protection on uPVC and composite doors.
Key safe supplied & fitted£150Agent, cleaner or contractor access on void and short-let properties.

Sometimes you only need the cylinder, not the whole lock. If the lock body and mechanism are sound, a cylinder swap or re-pin restores security at a lower cost than a full replacement — we will tell you honestly on the day which one your door actually needs. For anything bespoke, send a photo and we will give an exact quotation before any work begins. Card or cash accepted.

07Lock changes for landlords, letting agents & property managers

Our landlord lock change service across South London is built for landlords, estate agents, letting agents and property management companies. We provide reliable lock replacement for single rental properties, portfolios and managed developments — whether you need a one-off lock change after a tenant moves out or ongoing support across many addresses.

Every job comes with an itemised invoice suitable for rental records, agency accounts and deposit-deduction evidence. For portfolio landlords and agents we can work to a single point of contact and book lock changes around your inspections, cleaning and move-in dates. Where a tenant needs the same key to work on both the front and back door, we can set front and back doors to the same key on request — one key per tenant, kept simple and secure. And if you would rather hand off out-of-hours access altogether, our 24/7 property access service for residential buildings covers tenant lockouts, emergency attendance and contractor access across the whole portfolio.

Locksmith South London van outside a South London estate agents — lock changes arranged for letting agents and landlords between tenancies
On the road for South London letting agents — lock changes booked branch-to-door between tenancies, keys handed back to the office.

08What locks should a rental property have?

The right lock depends on the door and the property type. Getting this right protects your tenants, keeps you the right side of insurance and, for shared houses, meets fire-safety rules. Here is the short version.

BS3621 on final-exit doors

Most home insurance for houses expects a British-Standard BS3621 lock on final-exit doors. If a rental falls short, a claim can be at risk.

TS007 anti-snap on uPVC

uPVC and composite doors should use a 3-star anti-snap TS007 cylinder so the lock cannot be defeated by snapping the cylinder.

BS8621 keyless egress (HMOs & flats)

HMOs and many flats need keyless escape — a thumbturn inside (BS8621) so anyone can get out without a key in a fire, under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

Key safes for managed access

A fitted key safe gives cleaners, agents and contractors controlled access on void and short-let properties — and the code can be changed between lets.

09HMO & short-let (Airbnb) turnovers

Shared houses and short-lets change hands far more often than a standard let, so they need a faster, more methodical approach to keys. For HMOs we can change or re-key individual room locks and check that final-exit doors keep their keyless-egress (BS8621) escape compliance after the work.

For Airbnb and short-let hosts we offer quick turnarounds that fit cleaning and changeover windows — re-keying or changing locks and re-coding key safes between guests so previous codes and keys no longer work. Each new guest arrives to a property that has been freshly secured, with no lingering access from the last stay.

Print it · use it every changeover

10Tenancy changeover security checklist

  • Collect and count every keyGather all keys from the outgoing tenant — front, back, window and any outbuilding keys — and check the count against your inventory.
  • Check window locks & outbuildingsTest window locks, side gates, sheds and garages; a missing shed or gate key is still a security gap.
  • Change or re-key the front & back door locksSwap the cylinders or re-key so no previously issued key still works on the main doors.
  • Check BS3621 / anti-snap against your insurerConfirm final-exit doors meet your insurance standard — BS3621 on timber, TS007 anti-snap on uPVC, BS8621 keyless egress for HMOs and flats.
  • Fit or re-code the key safeIf cleaners or agents use a key safe, fit one or change the code so old codes no longer open it.
  • Record serials and keep the invoiceNote the new lock or cylinder details and file our itemised invoice with your tenancy records.
  • Hand new keys to the incoming tenant onlyIssue the fresh set to the new tenant at move-in — and keep a recorded spare for your own records.

11Same-day & pre-booked lock changes

We offer both same-day attendance and scheduled appointments to suit how you manage your properties. Whether you need an urgent lock change after a tenant moves out or want to arrange pre-booked work between tenancies, we provide flexible appointments right across South London.

That lets landlords and agents coordinate the lock change alongside inspections, cleaning and maintenance — so the property is secure and ready exactly when the next tenant is due to move in, with no awkward gap where old keys still work.

Locksmith South London on an end-of-tenancy job — lock change at a South London property being cleared and put up for sale
End-of-tenancy turnaround — locks changed on the same visit while the property is cleared and re-listed.

What landlords & agents say

★★★★★ 5.0 rating · 155 Google reviews · serving South London since 2015

“A tenant moved out of one of my flats without returning a single key. They re-keyed both doors the same afternoon and emailed me a proper itemised invoice for my records. I now use them across the whole portfolio.”

Marcus WhitfieldPortfolio landlord, South London

“We book our between-tenancy lock changes around the cleaning slot and they fit in every time. Clear pricing, one invoice per property and no surprises — exactly what an agency needs at changeover.”

Priya DeshmukhLettings manager, letting agency

“Between Airbnb guests I needed the lock and the key safe re-coded fast. They turned it around inside the changeover window and explained the keyless-escape rule for my HMO room locks. Genuinely helpful.”

Gareth LoweryShort-let & HMO host

12Areas we cover for tenant move-out lock changes

We change rental locks for landlords, agents and hosts right across South London. Pick your area for a local lock change page, or call us for anywhere not listed:

Lock change Croydon Lock change South Croydon Lock change Purley Lock change Crystal Palace Lock change West Norwood Lock change Streatham Lock change East Dulwich Lock change West Dulwich Lock change Peckham Lock change Hither Green

…plus all surrounding South London areas. See our full locksmith services or the main lock change South London page.

Tenant move-out lock changes — your questions answered

Should landlords change locks between tenants?

It is not legally required, but most landlords change or re-key locks between tenants as standard good practice. You cannot be certain how many key copies the previous tenant made or who else held one, so a fresh lock change restores full control of access before the next occupant moves in.

Can a landlord change the locks after a tenant moves out?

Yes. Once the tenancy has legally ended and the tenant has returned the property, the landlord is free to change the locks. This is normal practice between tenancies. It is only a problem to change locks while a tenancy is still live or an eviction is in progress.

Can a landlord change the locks while the tenant still lives there?

No. Changing the locks to keep a current tenant out is unlawful eviction under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977, even where rent is owed. A tenancy is ended by a court possession order and bailiffs, not by a locksmith. We only change locks once a tenancy has lawfully ended.

What if a tenant does not return all the keys?

If keys are missing you cannot know whether copies exist or who holds them, so the property is no longer secure. The safest step is to change or re-key the affected locks before re-letting. We can usually attend the same day and provide a fresh set of keys for the incoming tenant.

Who pays for the lock change — landlord or tenant?

A landlord choosing to upgrade or refresh locks between tenancies pays for it themselves. If the outgoing tenant lost or failed to return keys, the reasonable cost of replacement is commonly a fair deposit deduction under the Tenant Fees Act 2019. Keep our itemised invoice as evidence.

How much does it cost to change locks on a rental property?

A euro cylinder change starts from £135, a BS3621 mortice from £180, an anti-snap TS007 upgrade from £200 and a key safe fitted from £150. Often only the cylinder needs swapping, not the whole lock, which keeps the cost down. We confirm an exact quotation before any work begins.

How quickly can locks be changed between tenancies?

We offer both same-day attendance and pre-booked appointments across South London. Many landlords book the lock change around the move-out or cleaning date so the property is secure and ready before the new tenant arrives. Send a WhatsApp photo of the lock for a fast, accurate quote.

Is a landlord legally required to change locks between tenants?

There is no specific law forcing a lock change between every tenancy. However a landlord owes a duty of care for the property and most insurers expect reasonable security, so changing or re-keying locks between tenants is widely treated as standard good practice rather than an optional extra.

Do HMOs need special locks?

Often yes. Final fire-escape doors in HMOs and flats usually need keyless egress (a thumbturn inside, BS8621) so anyone can get out without a key in a fire, under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. A standard double-locking BS3621 mortice can fail HMO escape requirements.

Can you change locks on an Airbnb or short-let between guests?

Yes. Short-let and Airbnb hosts often re-key or change locks and re-code key safes between guests so previous codes and keys no longer work. We offer fast turnarounds that fit cleaning and changeover windows so each new guest arrives to a freshly secured property.

Do you provide invoices for letting agents and property managers?

Yes. We provide itemised invoices for every job, suitable for rental property records, agency accounts and deposit-deduction evidence. For portfolio landlords and managed developments we can work to one point of contact and book lock changes around inspections, cleaning and move-in dates.

Should I re-key the lock or replace it completely?

It depends on the lock. Often only the cylinder needs swapping or re-pinning, which restores security at a lower cost than a full replacement. If the lock is worn, damaged or below your insurer’s standard, replacing it is the better choice. We advise honestly on the day before any work begins.

Tenancy ended? Let’s secure the property.

Same-day or pre-booked lock changes for landlords, letting agents and hosts across South London — with an itemised invoice for your records every time.

Call 020 8050 2017

Invoices provided · No call-out fee · Card or cash accepted · 5.0 ★ since 2015

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