Who Pays the Locksmith: Landlord or Tenant?
The lease is the ruling document, but the customary split is simple. A tenant who locks themselves out pays for that visit. The landlord pays for failing hardware, lock repairs after a break-in, and the rekey between tenants, which Texas law places on the property owner. Apex Locksmith Pros works both sides of that line across North Dallas, lockouts at $89 flat and rekeying at $25 per cylinder, with an itemized receipt naming whoever paid.
What normally lands on the tenant
Lost keys, lockouts, and any lock the tenant installed without permission. Most leases also bill the tenant for key copies beyond the set handed over at move-in. One caution before you change a lock yourself: nearly every lease requires landlord consent and a copy of the new key, and skipping that step can turn a $25 rekey into a lease violation.
What normally lands on the landlord
Texas requires rekeying between tenants at the owner's expense; it is not a courtesy, it is the statute. Worn-out locks, seized cylinders, and damage from a burglary also sit on the property side, the same as a failing water heater would. Tenants who want a security upgrade mid-lease should ask in writing: landlords often say yes, and sometimes split the cost, because better locks survive the tenancy.
Related Questions
The tenant is locked out and the landlord is unreachable. Who calls?
Either can book the job. We verify the caller belongs at the address, open the door, and the receipt names who paid; the lease sorts out reimbursement between the two of you.
Is the between-tenants rekey really mandatory in Texas?
For most residential rentals, yes, within days of turnover. It protects the landlord as much as the new tenant, since it retires every key the old tenant ever copied.
Can a tenant be charged for a broken lock they did not break?
Normal wear belongs to the landlord, damage belongs to whoever caused it. Photos at move-in and a dated receipt are what settle the argument later.
More Quick Answers
Need it handled? Rekeying Locks: pricing per cylinder, or call (469) 712-5422, open daily 8 AM–8 PM.