Can a landlord change the lock on their tenant?

Call us Message us on WhatsApp in your language

Not on their own initiative. While the tenant is living in the property, even if they owe rent or the contract has ended, changing the lock on them can bring the landlord legal trouble. We do not do it.

If you have a problem with your tenant, the way forward is to consult a lawyer. When the property is yours again, because the tenant has left and handed back possession or after a court-ordered eviction, then we do change the lock.

What is advisable:

Changing or rekeying the cylinder when a tenant leaves and hands you the keys.
Putting in writing the handover of the keys and how many there are.
Keeping photos of the state of the door when you get it back.

We explain it in lock change after an eviction.

The service that solves it

Lock change after a court eviction

Opening and lock change on the day of the court eviction, with the court officials or the owner, so the property is left locked with new keys.

Related terms

Court-ordered eviction (lanzamiento judicial)

Other questions on this topic

Do you change the locks on homes bought at auction?

Yes, once you have possession of the property. If it is still occupied, that has to be resolved first through legal channels; we change the locks and reinforce it once it is vacant. Read the full answer

What details do you keep about each opening?

What is needed to help you, invoice and record that the right to enter was checked. It is not passed on to anyone, unless the law requires it. Read the full answer

Back to

Legal matters and proof of access

Answers about checking the right to enter, papers left inside, deceased relatives, auctions, evictions, tenants and the details we keep.

Need a locksmith you can trust?

Spanish locksmiths from Torrevieja, born and raised here. You get a fixed quote before we start.

Call us Message us on WhatsApp in your language