Who Pays the Locksmith: Landlord or Tenant?
The landlord pays for the locksmith when a lock fails, after a break-in, and for the rekey between tenants, which Texas law puts on the owner; the tenant pays for their own lockouts and lost keys. The lease can adjust the details. Apex Locksmith Pros serves both sides in McKinney and nearby cities, with house lockouts at $110+ and rekeying at $35+ per cylinder.
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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 $35+ rekey into a lease violation. Our House Lockout page covers the $110+ service for tenants who are locked out.
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. The Rekeying Locks page lists per-cylinder pricing for turnovers.
Rather hear it from a locksmith? Call or text and get a flat quote for your job.
What Else Do People Ask About This?
These are the follow-up questions callers in McKinney and nearby cities ask most often on this topic, each answered in a few plain sentences by our locksmith team.
Should the landlord pay for a locksmith when the tenant is locked out?
Usually not. A lockout caused by the tenant is normally the tenant's cost, unless the lease says otherwise. The landlord pays when the lock itself failed or after a break-in.
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.