Tenant, owner, social landlord: who has to change the lock, and who pays? In the 19th, the question comes up a lot. We change cylinders and locks 24/7, with the price known in advance and an invoice stating exactly what work was carried out.
The general rule comes from the 1987 decree on tenant repairs: the tenant pays for lost or damaged keys and small lock parts; the landlord, for replacing a lock that is worn out with age or faulty. Your lease may specify these points.
In social housing, the landlord often has a maintenance contract: let them know, or tell the caretaker, before calling anyone out, unless it’s an emergency. If the work is yours to pay for, we carry it out and give you a detailed invoice. If you own your home, or for any other situation, see the lock change in Paris page.
| Model | For | Price incl. VAT |
|---|---|---|
| High-security 30 × 30 cylinderEuro profile cylinder, for a single-point lock | Single-point lock | from €90 |
| Vachette V136-compatible round cylinderAlso fits Iseo City | Round cylinder | from €165 |
| Pollux-compatible cylinder setFor a Pollux three-point lock | Pollux lock | from €325 |
| Single-point lockLock with one locking point | Complete replacement | €210 |
Send a photo of the lock and the key: we’ll tell you whether changing the cylinder is enough, and at what price.
Hello, I’m on avenue de Flandre and the key hasn’t been turning properly for weeks. I’m a tenant, is it up to me to change it?
Good evening! If the lock is simply worn, it’s normally down to the owner: let your landlord know. If you’d rather we came out anyway, a cylinder starts at €90 incl. VAT.
Thanks, I’ll call the landlord tomorrow and get back to you.
Every lease has its own particularities: if in doubt, your landlord is still the person to ask.
Changing the cylinder doesn’t alter the property: it is generally accepted, provided you keep the old one and can put it back when you move out. For anything involving the door itself, ask for the landlord’s written consent.
Most often, your home insurance, if your policy covers theft or attempted theft: report the claim promptly and attach the locksmith’s invoice. A police report is generally required.
Yes: all the keys you were given when you moved in, and the old cylinder if you replaced it. The check-out inventory verifies this.
Yes, it’s a small fitting, but it is screwed into the door and the frame: ask for the landlord’s consent. It lets you open the door to a stranger without letting them in.
Large housing estates, private residential blocks, town houses: each type of home has its own locks.
In the towers and slab blocks of the 1970s, most front doors close with the lock the landlord originally fitted: changing the cylinder is the rule, replacing the whole lock the exception.
Residential towers and apartment buildings around the square: a lot of social housing, with standard front doors. In a flat you have bought, an A2P-certified lock can replace the original one.
Individual houses whose front door opens straight onto the villa, the cobbled lane: a multipoint lock is a worthwhile upgrade on the original lock.
Stone and brick buildings on the streets bordering the park: flats in co-owned buildings, where owners and tenants share the floors. Security cylinders and three-point locks are common here.
For an emergency or a security door in the 19th, see the locksmith Paris 19 page.
