Landlord & Tenant Lock Changes

When a tenancy ends, there is no reliable way to know exactly how many copies of the keys exist. A departing tenant may have handed a spare to a friend, a family member, or a previous partner — entirely innocently, with no ill intent — and never thought to mention it. That is simply the reality of how people live. The only way to close that uncertainty completely is to change the cylinder or the full lock mechanism so that every previously cut key becomes useless. It is a small piece of work that eliminates a significant risk, and it matters equally in a terraced house in Belvedere and in a purpose-built block of flats near the river.

From an insurance perspective, many household policies issued to tenants — and landlord building policies — require that front doors meet certain standards. In practice, this usually means a Yale-type nightlatch alongside a 5-lever mortice deadlock rated to BS3621, or, on uPVC and composite doors, a multipoint locking system with a cylinder that meets TS007 standards. When we carry out tenancy lock changes in Erith, we always check whether the existing hardware still meets those standards, and we advise honestly if it does not. A cylinder that has been in place for several years, or one that shows signs of wear or attempted interference, may need replacing on safety grounds regardless of the tenancy changeover.

For landlords and letting agents, the ideal moment to arrange a lock change is on the day the previous tenant vacates — before the new tenant's move-in day. If you are managing a property near Belvedere station or along Picardy Street, timing matters: a lock change between tenancies keeps void periods tidy and means the incoming tenant receives fresh keys on day one. We work with single landlords, managing agents handling multiple properties, and housing associations. Our technicians can attend at a prearranged time, or we can respond at short notice if the outgoing tenant has left later than expected or if a lock is found to be damaged during the checkout inspection.

For tenants moving into a new property, the question of lock changes sits in a slight legal grey area in England. A landlord cannot unreasonably refuse a tenant's request to change the locks, though the tenancy agreement may require the landlord's consent and a copy of the new key to be provided to the agent. If you are a tenant who has just moved in and you have genuine concerns about the security of the existing locks — perhaps the door feels flimsy, the cylinder looks worn, or you were told the previous tenancy ended acrimoniously — it is worth raising the matter with your landlord first. If consent is given, or if you are in a situation where immediate action is needed for safety reasons, call us on 020 3757 5599 and we will attend the property, verify your status as the occupant, and carry out the work correctly and without unnecessary damage to the door.

These four terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but they describe different scopes of work. A lock change (or cylinder change) means the existing hardware is removed and a new one is fitted in its place — no structural alteration to the door. A lock replacement goes one step further and involves fitting an entirely new lock body, often because the old one is a different type, is severely worn, or needs upgrading to a higher security rating. A new lock installation applies when there is no existing lock in that position at all — for example, adding a deadlock to a back door that previously only had a basic latch. A lock repair addresses a functional problem with an existing lock — a stiff key turn, a dropped door causing the bolt to miss the keep, a handle that has become loose — without full replacement.

The factors that determine the final quoted price include the type and security rating of the lock or cylinder being fitted, the number of doors being worked on, the time of day (our call-out charge varies between standard hours, evenings, weekends and bank holidays), travel distance to the property, and the specific parts required. We always confirm an exact up-front price before any work begins, so there are no surprises on the invoice. If you are a landlord managing several properties across Erith, Belvedere and Slade Green and want to discuss a regular arrangement for tenancy changeovers, speak to us when you call and we will make sure the quote reflects the full scope of what is needed.

When you ring 020 3757 5599, you will speak to a real person at any hour. We will ask for the address (including the postcode district), a brief description of the door type, and the nature of the job — whether it is a standard tenancy lock change, an emergency lockout, a damaged lock, or a security upgrade. Based on that information, we give you a confirmed price before we dispatch anyone. A technician then sets off towards the property — we aim to arrive in around 30 minutes, though travel times can vary depending on where in Erith or Belvedere the property is located and what time of day it is.

On arrival, our technician will inspect the door and confirm the work agreed before starting. All our technicians are trained, experienced and fully insured. We carry the most common cylinder types and lock mechanisms for the housing stock found across south-east London, so the vast majority of tenancy lock changes and emergency call-outs can be completed in a single visit without needing to source specialist parts. Once the work is done, we will show you that the new keys operate correctly and that the door locks and unlocks smoothly before we leave. For landlords and letting agents, we can also provide a brief written note of the work carried out, which is useful for property records.

Our team handles euro cylinder changes on uPVC and composite doors, 5-lever mortice deadlock replacements rated to BS3621, Yale-type nightlatch cylinder changes, full multipoint lock mechanism replacements on uPVC doors, anti-snap cylinder upgrades to TS007 3-star rating, wooden door lock repairs where the mechanism has stiffened or the keep is misaligned, communal entrance door lock changes for blocks of flats, additional deadlock fitting to back doors and French doors, emergency door opening when no entry can be gained without damage, damage-free entry techniques where the door type allows, lock changes following lost or stolen keys, lock changes following a break-in or attempted forced entry, security assessments at tenancy changeovers, advice on whether existing locks meet current insurer requirements, letterbox restrictor fitting, door reinforcement advice, snap-resistant cylinder fitting as an upgrade during a standard visit, multipoint lock servicing to restore smooth operation without full replacement, nightlatch deadlocking feature checks, window lock inspections as part of a wider security review at the property, uPVC door adjustment where door drop is causing the lock to bind, emergency locksmith response for tenants locked out at any hour, landlord portfolio visits covering multiple properties in a single session by arrangement, pre-tenancy security inspections with a written summary of recommendations, and re-keying advice where a landlord is managing master-key systems across multiple units.