Changing Locks as a BC Landlord

Only with the tenant's agreement. Under section 31(1.1) of the Residential Tenancy Act, you may not change the locks to a rental unit during a tenancy unless the tenant agrees to the change and you give the tenant new keys. Both conditions apply.

Locks that give access to the wider residential property, such as a common entrance, follow section 31(1): you must give each tenant new keys. The Residential Tenancy Branch's locks and keys page sets out the rules from the tenant's side.

The main point for landlords: a lock change is never a way to remove a tenant, collect rent or resolve a dispute. Even during an eviction, the Branch says landlords can't lock a tenant out of a rental unit.

Who	What	Rule
Landlord	Lock to the rental unit	Tenant agrees and you provide new keys (s.31(1.1))
Landlord	Lock or access to the residential property	Provide each tenant with new keys (s.31(1))
Tenant	Lock to their unit	Landlord agrees in writing, or the director has ordered it (s.31(3))
Tenant	Common-area locks	Landlord's consent (s.31(2))

A damaged or defective lock that gives access to a rental unit is an emergency repair under section 33(1)(c), so a broken lock is a separate matter from a lock change. At the start of a new tenancy, the tenant may ask you to rekey or otherwise alter the locks, and you pay (section 25). It is not needed again if you already did it after the previous tenancy.

Section 26(3) bars a landlord from seizing a tenant's personal property or interfering with access to it, whether or not rent is paid, except under a court order or on abandonment under the regulation. Section 28 protects the tenant's right to quiet enjoyment.

The Branch's order of possession page says only the B.C. Supreme Court and authorized court bailiffs can enforce an order of possession, through a Writ of Possession. Form 33 warns you must not physically evict a tenant without a Writ of Possession, change the locks without an arbitrator's order, or seize a tenant's personal property without a court order.

If you believe a tenant has abandoned the unit, you must follow the proper procedure; see our BC guide to belongings left behind. To end a tenancy lawfully, the notices are RTB Form 33 (One Month Notice) and Form 30 (10 Day Notice), described on the Branch landlord notice page. See also our notice to end tenancy guide.

The Branch says locking a tenant out of a rental is illegal, and the tenant can apply for an order of possession and compensation with an expedited hearing (tenant rights page). The order of possession page says a landlord who illegally evicts a tenant may face a penalty of up to $5,000 and may be required to repay costs the tenant incurred.

That $5,000 figure comes from the Branch's page. The page does not name the section that creates the penalty, and the sources reviewed did not trace it further, so treat it as the Branch's stated figure and check the page for the current wording.

The director can also authorize a tenant to change the locks and prohibit you from replacing them or getting keys (section 70(2)). A tenant who has been entered illegally may apply for an order to change the locks under standard term 11(4).

• No charge when you change the locks. You must not charge a fee for replacement keys or access devices if the replacement is required because you changed the locks (Regulation section 5(2)).
• Refundable key deposit. It may be no more than the direct cost of replacing the key or device, and not if the key or device is the tenant's only way into the unit (section 6).
• Lost or additional keys. A non-refundable charge is limited to the direct cost of replacing them (section 7(1)).
• Move-out. The tenant must give you all the keys (section 37(2)).

The Branch's locks page says landlords can't charge any key-related fees if the key or access device, such as a fob, is the only way to enter the unit. The rules are in the Residential Tenancy Regulation.

A tenant must not change a lock without your written agreement or a director's order. If a tenant did so, ask in writing that they change it back. The Branch says that if the tenant ignores the request, you can seek dispute resolution.

Policy Guideline 55 also says a tenant changing locks without the landlord's consent or a director's order may seriously jeopardize a lawful right of the landlord, and cites Momeni v. Percy, 2024 BCCA 77. That can support a One Month Notice under section 47(1)(d)(ii). The tenant can still dispute it, and the tenant has 10 days to do so.

The official sources reviewed do not say whether you may add a second lock, smart lock or camera lock without consent. Ask the Branch before you do. For your own entry rights, see is a landlord allowed to have a key, can a landlord evict you immediately and our tenant-side BC landlord entry guide.

This guide explains the rules in general terms; for a specific case, ask the tribunal or a licensed legal professional.