Can a landlord change the locks without giving new keys to the tenant?

Full question:

My landlord is an old man who rented his property to me for some extra source of income. I study in Texas Tech University and am active member of a local band. Every evening we have jam sessions at my place. My landlord has a problem with my friends entering the rental premises. Last night when I reached home with friends for the jam session, I saw that the door locks to my room were changed. The locks were changed so that I could not enter the premises. Is it lawful for the landlord to change the door lock without providing the tenant new keys?

• Category: Landlord Tenant
• Date: 04/07/2025
• State: Texas

Answer:

In Texas, a landlord cannot change the locks to intentionally prevent a tenant from entering the rental property without following specific legal procedures. According to Texas Property Code § 92.0081, a landlord may only change the locks if:

• The tenant is behind on rent.
• This right is included in the lease agreement.
• The landlord has provided proper notice to the tenant.

If the landlord changes the locks without following these rules, the tenant can:

• Recover possession of the rental premises.
• Terminate the lease and seek damages, including a civil penalty of one month’s rent plus $1,000, court costs, and attorney's fees.

Additionally, if the landlord changes the locks without giving the tenant a key, they may face further penalties. Therefore, it appears that your landlord may have acted unlawfully by changing the locks without providing you with new keys.