Can I Get My Locks Changed for Free?
- No national law gives anyone a free lock change. State law and your lease decide it.
- Texas makes the landlord rekey at the landlord's cost within seven days after each tenant turnover.
- California makes the landlord pay for a safety lock change within 24 hours when a tenant shows a protective order or police report.
- Illinois gives the landlord 48 hours but lets them charge a fair fee. Washington puts the cost on the tenant.
- New York City runs free lock change programs for survivors of abuse and crime.
- Homeowners pay their own way. A rekey is the cheap version.
Who Pays Depends on Who Owns the Door
We list locksmiths in cities across the country, and this is a fair thing to ask before you call one. The honest answer starts with a second question. Whose door is it?
If you rent, the locks belong to your landlord. Some states tell the landlord when they must change or rekey them and who pays. If you own, the locks are yours. Nobody else has a duty to change them, so free only happens through a program, a contract or your own two hands.
Rekeying and replacing are not the same job. A rekey swaps the small pins inside the lock so old keys stop working. Replacing puts in a whole new lock. When a law says rekey, the cheaper job is all the landlord owes you. Our rekey or replace guide explains the difference.
Renters and the State Rules We Checked
On October 10, 2026 we opened the official state law pages for four states that spell out lock changes for renters. Here is what each one says, in plain words.
| State | When the lock gets changed | Who pays | How fast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | After every tenant turnover, with no request needed | Landlord | By the 7th day after turnover |
| Texas | Any extra rekey the tenant asks for | Tenant | Presumed within 7 days of the request |
| California | Tenant shows a protective order or police report about abuse or violence by someone who is not a tenant of the unit | Landlord | Within 24 hours |
| Illinois | Tenant believes there is a credible threat of domestic or sexual violence and gives the needed proof | Landlord may charge a fair fee | Within 48 hours |
| Washington | Tenant has a court order giving them the home to the exclusion of a cotenant | Tenant | No set time in the law |
Sources for the table are the Texas Property Code, Chapter 92, California Civil Code 1941.5, the Illinois Safe Homes Act, Section 20 and Washington RCW 59.18.585. Other states may have their own rules, so check yours.
Texas Has the Clearest Free Rekey Rule
Texas is the state where a renter is most likely to get a free rekey without asking. Under Section 92.156 of the Texas Property Code, any lock that works with a key, card or code must be rekeyed by the landlord at the landlord's expense no later than the seventh day after each tenant turnover. So the last tenant's keys should be dead within a week of your move in.
Here is what else the Texas law says.
- Extra rekeys are on you. You can ask for more rekeys as often as you like, but you pay for those.
- Master key changes are on the landlord. If the rekey is about the landlord's master key, the landlord pays.
- Worn out locks are on the landlord. Section 92.162 says a landlord cannot bill you to fix or replace a lock because of normal wear and tear.
- Closets and inside doors do not count. The rekey rule covers security devices, not interior doors.
- A spoken request can count. Section 92.159 says a request can be oral unless your written lease requires writing in bold or underlined print. Put it in writing anyway.
If the landlord skips the turnover rekey, Section 92.164 lists remedies. One is to have the rekey done and deduct the reasonable cost from your next rent, following the steps the law sets out. Read those steps first, or ask a tenant rights group, before you hold back any rent.
Free Lock Changes for Survivors of Abuse or Crime
This is where most truly free lock changes happen. If someone who hurt you may still have a key, these rules and programs exist for you.
California. Civil Code 1941.5 says the landlord must change the locks at the landlord's own expense within 24 hours of a written request. The request must include paperwork such as a restraining or protective order or a police report. If the landlord does not act in 24 hours, the tenant may change the locks without permission. The landlord must then pay the tenant back within 21 days. The tenant must use a lock of the same or better quality, tell the landlord within 24 hours and get them a key. That part of the law applies to leases signed on or after January 1, 2011.
Illinois. The Safe Homes Act gives the landlord 48 hours after notice and proof to change the locks or let the tenant do it. The landlord may charge a fee that does not go past the usual price of a lock change. If the landlord does nothing in 48 hours, the tenant may change the locks and must try to give the landlord a key within 48 hours.
Washington. Under RCW 59.18.585, a tenant with a court order giving them the home can ask for a new lock or key. The landlord must do it, and must not give keys to the person the order restrains. The tenant pays.
New York City. The city's Home+ program offers free lock change and repair for survivors of domestic and gender based violence. No order of protection or other proof of status is required, and services depend on an assessment and on what is available. The NYPD victim services page also says Safe Horizon's Project SAFE may change your top lock for free if you filed a police report or were a crime victim in the last 30 days. Victims of rape or sexual assault do not need the police report. In 2024 Gothamist reported that Safe Horizon changed 581 locks the year before through its free program.
If you are in danger right now, call 911. In New York City, the 24 hour Hope Hotline is 800-621-HOPE (4673), and Safe Horizon's crime victims hotline is 866-689-HELP (4357). Outside New York, ask a local domestic violence or victim services group whether they cover lock changes.
Homeowners Rarely Get It Free, but Cheap Is Easy
When you own the house, nobody owes you a lock change. There are still a few ways to pay little or nothing.
- A home warranty. American Home Shield says its members can ask for a rekey and pay their normal service fee. It covers up to six keyholes with four matching keys on working, non electronic knobs and deadbolts. That is not free, but it can be cheap if you already pay for the plan.
- A crime victim program. The New York City programs above are not only for renters. Ask your local victim services office what exists where you live.
- Rekey it yourself. Some locks rekey with a small tool and the current key. Others need a kit. Our post on how to rekey a lock walks through both.
- Ask the store. Some big box stores rekey new locks at the counter. Our post on whether Home Depot or Lowe's rekey locks lists what to ask first.
If you just bought the house, rekey every outside door, including the door from the garage. Our list of locks to change when you move in covers the ones people forget.
How to Ask Your Landlord the Right Way
- Read your lease first. Look for anything about locks, keys, rekeying or lock change fees.
- Find your state's rule. Search your state name with landlord tenant law and locks, or call a local tenant rights group.
- Ask in writing. Say which doors, why, and the date. Keep a copy or a screenshot.
- Attach proof if the law asks for it. In California and Illinois a safety lock change needs paperwork such as an order or a police report.
- Do not change the locks on your own first unless your state law allows it. Most of these laws spell out when a tenant may act alone and how to get the landlord a key.
- Follow up in writing if the deadline passes.
If you get locked out instead, our locked out of your house guide covers what to try before you call anyone.
What a Lock Change Costs When You Pay
If free is not an option, know the going rate so you do not overpay. HomeGuide, in a cost guide dated April 7, 2026, puts changing locks at $35 to $150 per lock, with most homeowners paying around $95. It lists a locksmith service call fee of $60 to $140 to come to your home.
Two habits keep the bill down. Do every door in one visit so you pay one trip fee. Ask for a rekey instead of new locks if the locks still work. Our locksmith cost guide has more ranges, and you can find a locksmith by city when you are ready.
What Most Answers Get Wrong
When we searched this question on Google on October 10, 2026, most top results were price pages that never say who should pay, or news about one city's program. Neither tells a renter in Texas that the landlord already owes them a rekey, or tells a survivor in California that the landlord has 24 hours. The rule that matters is the one for your state and your lease. Start there, and only then pay a locksmith.
This post is general information, not legal advice. Laws change, and your lease may add rules. Check your lease and your local law, or talk to a lawyer or a tenant rights group.
Common Questions
Do landlords have to change locks between tenants?
It depends on the state. Texas requires the landlord to rekey at the landlord's expense by the seventh day after each tenant turnover. Other states may not have that rule, so check your state law and your lease.
Can I change my locks without my landlord's permission?
Usually not, unless your lease or state law allows it. California and Illinois let a tenant change the locks if the landlord misses the deadline on a safety request, and the tenant must then give the landlord a key.
Will my landlord charge me to change the locks?
It depends on why. In Texas the turnover rekey is free to you, but extra rekeys you ask for are at your cost. In Illinois the landlord may charge a fair fee for a safety lock change. In California a safety lock change is at the landlord's expense.
Can I get my locks changed for free after a break in or abuse?
Sometimes. In New York City, Home+ and Safe Horizon's Project SAFE offer free lock changes to people who qualify. Elsewhere, ask your local victim services or domestic violence group.
Does a home warranty change locks for free?
Not quite free. American Home Shield says members can request a rekey and pay their normal service fee, for up to six keyholes with four matching keys.
How much does it cost to change locks if I pay?
HomeGuide puts it at $35 to $150 per lock, with most homeowners paying around $95, plus a service call fee of $60 to $140 if a locksmith comes to you.