Can you change the locks on a rental in Western Australia?

Written by Magnus Aller, owner of Amco Locksmiths. WA Police-licensed security installer (licence 30629), 25 years’ experience as a locksmith in Perth, Western Australia. Reviewed September 2026.

Tenants usually ask us this after a lost key, a housemate moving out or a break-in. The lock is the easy part. The real question is who is allowed to change it.

Can a tenant change the locks without asking the landlord?

In most cases, no. Consumer Protection WA says tenants must ask permission to change or add a security device, and must give the landlord a copy of the key or code. The exceptions are a lock that needs replacing, or a good reason such as an emergency or a break-in. Even then, put it in writing.

In practice, send the property manager or owner a short message first: what you want done, why, and who is paying. Keep their written reply.

Can a landlord change the locks while I’m living there?

Not without your consent. Consumer Protection WA says landlords must not remove or change the locks without the tenant’s consent, and must give at least one set of keys, fobs or devices for every lock on the home. The same agreement rule works both ways: if either side wants a change, it should be agreed and signed.

What counts as a good reason to change the locks quickly?

Consumer Protection WA names an emergency, a break-in, or a lock that needs replacing. If a door has been forced or a lock is broken, getting the home secure comes first. Tell the landlord or property manager as soon as you can, and put what was done in writing.

If you are changing the locks because of family and domestic violence, different rules apply, and Consumer Protection WA explains them on its Safe Tenancy WA page.

Who pays, and who ends up with the keys?

Consumer Protection WA says a tenant who wants a change or upgrade pays for it, including installation and upkeep. The landlord supplies at least one set of keys; extra copies are at the tenant’s expense. The tenant gives the landlord a copy of any new key or code, and returns all keys when the tenancy ends.

Two things catch people out. A code counts: add a keypad or digital lock and the landlord needs the code as well as any backup key. And “all keys” at the end includes the copies you had cut.

What does a rental have to have by law?

Consumer Protection WA says minimum security standards are set by the Residential Tenancies Regulations 1989, and the landlord is responsible for them. In short: a deadlock or compliant key-lockable security screen door on the main entry, a deadlock, patio bolt or compliant screen on other external doors, window locks or latches, and a light at the main entry.

The official page has the detail, including apartments and exemptions. For tenants, the useful point is this: if something on that list is missing or broken, raise it with the landlord first rather than treating it as your own upgrade.

How does a locksmith handle a rental lock change?

We treat a rental like any other home, with one extra question at the start: who is booking, and does the owner or property manager know? We ask for photo ID and something showing you live there, the same as for any home. If the landlord’s OK is still being sorted, we can talk it through with the agent.

On the day, most rental jobs are a rekey rather than new locks. A rekey changes the pins inside the existing lock so the old keys stop working and the lock stays on the door, which also means nothing on the landlord’s property is swapped out. We count every keyed lock first, including the security screens, and cut the copies on site so the landlord’s set is done before we leave.

In suburbs such as Maylands, a rekey between tenants is one of the jobs we are asked for most. The smoothest ones are where the agreement is already in writing.

What if I’m the landlord?

Between tenancies, the practical step is to rekey so the last tenant’s keys stop working, then hand the new tenant their set. Our guide to locks and keys on a rental property covers the landlord side: which doors get missed, how many keys to cut, and when a digital lock makes sense.

Just moved in? Our moving home guide explains why the keys you were handed are rarely all the keys that exist. For how a lock change is priced, read how much a locksmith costs to change locks in Perth.