Can My Landlord Change the Locks? Illegal Eviction Explained

If your landlord changes the locks to prevent you from entering your home, this is illegal eviction. It is a criminal offence under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977, punishable by an unlimited fine and up to two years in prison.

This applies regardless of:

• Whether you owe rent
• Whether your tenancy has ended
• Whether you have broken tenancy terms
• Whether the landlord owns the property outright
• Whether you have a written tenancy agreement or not

The only lawful way to remove a tenant from a property is through a court order. Even after obtaining a court order, only county court bailiffs (or High Court enforcement officers) can carry out the physical eviction. The landlord cannot do it themselves.

Changing locks while you are out and refusing to give you a new key is just as illegal as physically removing you from the property.

If your landlord has changed the locks and you cannot get into your home:

• Call the police: Dial 101 (non-emergency) or 999 if you feel threatened. Explain that you have been illegally evicted. The police can ask the landlord to give you access.
• Contact your council immediately: Call your local council's housing team or tenancy relations officer. Many councils have an emergency out-of-hours number for illegal evictions. Council officers can visit the property and demand the landlord provides access.
• Do not break in: While you have a legal right to be in the property, breaking in could complicate matters. Let the police or council handle re-entry.
• Get emergency legal advice: Call Shelter (0808 800 4444), the Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service, or a local law centre. In urgent cases, a solicitor can apply for an emergency injunction from the county court, sometimes on the same day.
• Document everything: Take photos of the changed locks, keep copies of texts or messages from the landlord, and note the exact date and time you were locked out.

If you have been illegally evicted, you may be entitled to significant compensation:

- The cost of alternative accommodation (hotel, staying with friends)

- Replacement of personal belongings if you could not access them

- Compensation for distress and inconvenience

- Lost wages if you missed work

• Rent repayment order: If the property required a licence (e.g. HMO licence, selective licence) and the landlord did not have one, you can apply for a rent repayment order of up to 12 months' rent.

• Criminal prosecution: The council can prosecute the landlord. If convicted, the court can award compensation to you as part of the criminal proceedings.

Compensation awards for illegal eviction in the county court typically range from £1,000 to £25,000 depending on the severity and duration of the eviction.

As a tenant, you are generally entitled to change the locks on your rented property, provided you:

• Give a copy of the new key to your landlord
• Restore the original locks when you move out (or hand over all keys to the new locks)

There is no specific law preventing tenants from changing locks. Some tenancy agreements prohibit it, but such clauses may be considered unfair under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, especially if you are changing locks due to safety concerns (e.g. after a break-in or domestic abuse situation).

If your landlord is harassing you or entering without permission, changing the locks is a practical step to protect your safety. You must still provide a key, but this ensures the landlord cannot enter unannounced.

Use our landlord check tool to verify your landlord's compliance with legal requirements.