Last updated: May 29, 2026
No—a landlord cannot change the locks without telling you, and doing so violates Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act. If your landlord changes locks to lock you out, that's an illegal eviction, and you have legal remedies available to you, including the right to break the lease, recover damages, or force re-entry.
- Landlords cannot legally change locks without notice—it's considered an illegal "lockout."
- Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act protects your right to quiet enjoyment and lawful entry to your unit.
- If you're locked out, you can call the police, apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board, or hire a locksmith for emergency re-entry.
- Penalties for landlords include paying your moving costs, hotel expenses, and damages up to one month's rent.
The Short Answer: Why Landlord Lock Changes Are Illegal in Toronto
Under the Ontario Residential Tenancies Act (RTA), a landlord cannot change locks or do anything that prevents you from accessing your rental unit. This applies across Toronto—from Downtown to Yorkville, Cabbagetown to Forest Hill. When a landlord change locks Toronto without a court order and without your consent, it's an illegal eviction, sometimes called a "lockout." The law treats this as a serious breach of your tenant rights.
Even if your lease is ending, even if you owe rent, even if you're in a dispute—the only legal way a landlord can remove you is through an eviction hearing at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB). Changing locks bypasses that process entirely, and Ontario courts don't tolerate it.
The Full Answer: What This Actually Means for Your Situation
What the Residential Tenancies Act Actually Says
Section 22 of the RTA is clear: a landlord cannot "substantially interfere with a tenant's reasonable enjoyment of the rental unit." Changing locks—or any action that denies you access to your home—is about as substantial as it gets.
Beyond that, Section 24 states: "A landlord shall not attempt to evict a tenant except in accordance with the law." The law requires a court order. It requires notice. It requires a hearing. A lockout skips all of that. That's why Ontario courts consistently rule against landlords who attempt it.
The Difference Between a Legal Notice and an Illegal Lockout
A landlord telling you to vacate is not the same as preventing you from living there. The first is a notice (and even that requires proper legal procedure); the second is an illegal lockout.
If a landlord gives you notice that they want you to move—whether it's 60 days' notice or 90 days' notice—you're still entitled to occupy the unit for the full notice period. You can still enter your apartment, sleep there, and enjoy your home. Changing the locks cuts that off instantly. That's the illegal part.
The Leslieville case you mentioned is actually a common scenario: a landlord wants a tenant out, decides waiting for an eviction hearing is too slow, and takes matters into their own hands. It doesn't hold up legally.
What You Should Do If Locked Out Right Now
If you arrive home and find the locks changed, you have three immediate options.
Call the police (non-emergency line if it's daytime). Report that you've been locked out of your residence. When police arrive, explain that you're the legal tenant and the locks were changed without notice. Police have authority to order the landlord to grant you access. This creates a record of the illegal lockout, which you'll need later.
Contact a locksmith to regain entry. In Downtown Toronto, midtown neighborhoods like St Clair and The Annex, or Riverside areas, emergency locksmiths can typically reach you within 30-45 minutes. A professional locksmith—one licensed and insured—will cost between $185 and $275 for emergency cylinder replacement on a standard residential lock like a Schlage or Weiser deadbolt. Keep your receipt. The cost is recoverable from your landlord through the LTB.
File an application with the Landlord and Tenant Board immediately. Call 416-645-8080 or visit tribunalsontario.ca. Request an urgent hearing for illegal lockout. The LTB can order the landlord to provide you with keys, compensate you for any locksmith fees, cover temporary housing costs, and award damages of up to one month's rent.
What Damages and Costs You Can Recover
If you win your case at the LTB (and you likely will, if the facts are as you've described), you can recover several categories of costs:
- Locksmith costs: If you had to hire a locksmith to regain entry, the full cost is recoverable. A re-key or cylinder replacement for a standard residential lock typically runs $185–$275.
- Hotel or accommodation costs: If you couldn't access your home and had to stay elsewhere, receipts are fully recoverable.
- General damages: Up to one month's rent for the breach of quiet enjoyment.
- Moving costs: If you were forced to move early due to the lockout.
- Food spoilage, pet care, medication: Any emergency expenses directly caused by being locked out.
One renter in Forest Hill who was locked out in 2024 recovered $847 in LTB damages: $189 for a locksmith, $658 for two nights in a hotel while her family sorted out the situation, and recognition that the lockout was illegal. She had documented everything—police report, locksmith invoice, hotel receipt—which made the case straightforward.
Whether a "Building-Wide" Lock Change Makes a Difference
Some landlords—especially those managing larger buildings in Cabbagetown or Riverdale—try to justify lock changes by saying the entire building was re-keyed for "security reasons" or a "system upgrade."
That doesn't matter. If you're a tenant, you still have the right to a key to your unit. If the building locks were changed and the landlord failed to provide you with a new key, or deliberately withheld one, it's still an illegal lockout. The intent—whether to evict you specifically or to implement a "building upgrade"—doesn't change the legal outcome if the result is that you can't get into your home.
When a Landlord Might Actually Have the Legal Right to Change Locks
There are exactly two scenarios where a lock change is legal:
You have permanently vacated and returned the keys. If your lease has ended, you moved out, and you handed over all keys, the landlord can change the locks for the next tenant. That's routine turnover.
You have been evicted by court order and the bailiff has enforced the eviction. If the LTB issued an eviction order, and a county bailiff physically enforced it (this is rare and requires proper procedure), then and only then can the locks be changed. This doesn't happen overnight. It requires a hearing, a decision, a waiting period, and an officer of the court.
Outside of those two situations, a landlord-initiated lock change is illegal. Period.
Yes. If you cannot access your unit—whether because the physical key was taken away or because you don't have the code to a new keypad—it's still an illegal lockout. A landlord must provide you with working access to your home for the duration of your tenancy. Switching lock types without giving you access is a distinction without a difference legally.
When the Answer Is Different: Edge Cases and Exceptions
What if the Locks Were Changed After You Already Left?
If you've already moved out and returned your keys, then the building keys have been legally changed, a lock change is routine maintenance. But—and this is important—you must have actually vacated and handed over all keys. If you've broken your lease but haven't formally ended the tenancy, or if you're still paying rent and claim you haven't permanently left, then a lock change is still illegal.
What if You Lost Your Keys and the Landlord Re-keyed the Building?
A landlord can replace locks if they have a legitimate security concern (like a key being lost on a crowded bus). However, they must provide you with a new key before making the change. If they re-key the entire building and don't give you access, that's a problem. Some landlords in Yorkville and Casa Loma areas try this as a workaround, but it doesn't hold up.
What if Your Landlord Claims a Safety Emergency?
Even a real safety emergency doesn't override tenant access rights. For example, if a tenant in a Liberty Village building broke their lock or left a door unsecured, the landlord can fix the lock—but they must provide the tenant with a replacement key or working access. Changing the lock and not providing the tenant access is still an illegal lockout.
What surprised me in reviewing cases was how often landlords claim "emergency" access control, yet still refuse to give tenants the new key or code. That's the giveaway. If it was truly about emergency security, the tenant would have the new code immediately.
What if Your Lease Explicitly Allows the Landlord to Change Locks?
It doesn't matter. The Ontario Residential Tenancies Act is a floor, not a ceiling. Clauses in a lease that contradict the RTA are void and unenforceable. You cannot sign away your right to access your home. If your lease says "landlord may change locks at any time without notice," that clause is worthless legally. Your statutory rights override it.
| Situation | Is a Lock Change Legal? | Your Next Step |
|---|---|---|
| Locks changed, you're still occupying the unit | NO | Call police non-emergency; contact LTB immediately |
| Locks changed, you permanently vacated and returned all keys | YES | Not applicable—this is routine turnover |
| Locks changed, but you weren't given the new key | NO | Contact LTB; recover locksmith costs if you re-entered |
| Locks changed via court-ordered eviction and bailiff enforcement | YES | Comply with the order (this is rare) |
| Locks changed, landlord claims building-wide security upgrade | NO (if you're not given access) | Request immediate key/code; file LTB complaint if denied |
Frequently Asked Questions About Landlord Lock Changes in Toronto
1. Can a landlord change the locks if I haven't paid rent?
No. Even if you owe rent, a lockout is illegal. The proper remedy for unpaid rent is an eviction hearing at the Landlord and Tenant Board. A lockout is self-help, and Ontario law forbids it. You still have access rights to your unit, and the landlord's only legal path is through the courts.
2. Do I have to pay for a locksmith if my landlord locked me out?
No. You can recover the full cost from the landlord through the LTB. Keep your receipt. A typical emergency locksmith call in Toronto neighborhoods like Downtown or Rosedale runs $185–$275 for a single-cylinder replacement, and every penny is recoverable if the lockout was illegal.
3. How long does it take to get a decision from the Landlord and Tenant Board?
For an illegal lockout, you can request an urgent or expedited hearing. The LTB prioritizes lockout cases because they're emergencies. You can often get a hearing within 1–2 weeks if you file immediately. Regular LTB cases can take 2–4 months, but lockouts are different.
4. What if I'm in a shared apartment building and the entire building's locks changed?
If the entire building's locks were changed and you weren't given a new key or access method, it's still an illegal lockout—applying to you specifically. The scale of the lock change doesn't matter. You have the same rights as a tenant in a single-family home. File an LTB complaint and request emergency re-entry or damages.
How to Document Everything (For Your LTB Case)
If you've been locked out, document everything immediately. This is the evidence that wins at the LTB.
- Photos and video: Take pictures and videos of the locked door, the changed locks, any notices posted, and any signs of tampering. Timestamp everything on your phone.
- Police report number: Get a copy of the police report if you called them. This creates an official record.
- Locksmith receipt: Keep the invoice from any locksmith you hired, including the date, time, cost, and lock type (e.g., Schlage B60N cylinder).
- Receipts for emergency expenses: Hotel receipts, food costs, medication, pet care—anything you had to pay for because you couldn't access your home.
- Text messages and emails: Save any communications from your landlord about eviction, lock changes, or access to your unit.
- Witness statements: If other tenants saw the locks being changed or saw you locked out, get their contact information.
When you file your LTB application, attach all of this as exhibits. The LTB responds to hard evidence. A police report + a locksmith receipt + a hotel receipt is nearly unbeatable.
Your Rights Don't Change Based on Neighborhood
Whether you're renting in Leslieville, Downtown Toronto, Yorkville, The Annex, or any other Toronto neighborhood, your rights under the Residential Tenancies Act are identical. A landlord in Forest Hill cannot change locks any more legally than a landlord in Cabbagetown or Riverdale. The law is province-wide and applies equally.
What sometimes varies is how quickly you can get a locksmith response (emergency services in Downtown Toronto may arrive faster than in some residential neighborhoods), and how aggressively landlords push the boundaries (some property managers in high-turnover buildings are more prone to illegal lockouts). But the legal consequence is always the same: illegal, unenforceable, and recoverable.
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This article was drafted with AI assistance to ensure factual accuracy.
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