What the sources say
- Shelter (housing charity): “You can change the locks if you feel unsafe. Keep the old locks so you can put them back at the end of your tenancy.”
- CIA Landlords (landlord insurer): generally a renter cannot change the locks without the landlord’s permission, and doing so may breach the tenancy agreement.
- Room-only lets: Shelter says you can only change the lock on your own bedroom door.
Both can be true at once: the tenancy agreement is what decides it for you. Since 1 May 2026 most private tenancies in England are periodic assured tenancies under the Renters’ Rights Act; we have not found anything in the Act that changes the position on locks.
How to do it without a dispute
- Read your agreement for a clause about locks, keys or alterations.
- Ask in writing (email is fine) and explain why — new tenancy, lost keys, safety.
- Keep the original cylinder. A euro cylinder swap leaves the door untouched, so it can be refitted.
- Offer your landlord a key, and note that access still needs proper notice.
- Keep the invoice showing what was fitted and when.
Your landlord’s access
A landlord keeping a key does not mean they can let themselves in. Where the statutory repairing covenant applies, the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 allows entry to inspect condition and repair at reasonable times on 24 hours’ written notice. If someone is entering without notice or trying to lock you out, contact Shelter or your council — that is a different problem from a lock change.
See our lock change for tenants — £149 flat, and we can leave the old cylinder with you.