Letter To Landlord For Lock Change Permission

When and how to use this letter

Never change a lock without written permission — it is one of the fastest ways to lose a deposit or breach a tenancy agreement. Most contracts require the landlord to have access in emergencies, so a unilateral lock change looks like you are hiding something, even when your motive is pure security.

The letter neutralises every landlord objection in advance: you pay, a professional does it, the landlord gets a spare key, the original lock is preserved, and no damage is done to the door. When every concern is answered before it is raised, refusal becomes difficult.

Keep the reason factual and undramatic. 'Previous tenant may hold a key' is perfect — it is a legitimate security concern that any reasonable landlord understands. Avoid implying the landlord is untrustworthy; the request is about unknown third parties, not about them.

What happens next: reasonable landlords almost always agree, since a tenant who cares about security also cares about the property. Get the permission in writing and keep the receipt from the locksmith. Store the original lock carefully — refitting it at move-out and handing over all keys avoids the most common deposit deduction of all: missing or changed keys. Take a photo of the original lock before removal and keep it with the permission message, so the move-out handover is smooth and undisputed.

Frequently asked questions

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