---
title: "Can the landlord charge you for a new key if you lose yours?"
author: "William Wiklund"
authorUrl: "https://bofrid.se/en/articles/authors/william-wiklund"
datePublished: "2026-08-11T07:22:01.791Z"
dateModified: "2026-08-11T07:22:48.827Z"
description: "Lost the key to your rental flat? See how the duty of care in Chapter 12, Section 24 of the Land Code decides who pays for a new key and lock change – with table and tips."
keywords: ["lost key rental flat Sweden cost", "who pays lock change rental flat", "landlord invoice lost key Sweden", "duty of care Land Code Chapter 12 Section 24", "key receipt subletting Sweden"]
categories: ["Guider", "Hyresvärd"]
canonical: "https://bofrid.se/en/articles/can-the-landlord-charge-you-for-a-new-key-if-you-lose-yours"
language: "en"
image: "https://bofrid.media/cms/66394585c6e3212f152ad0ef0a02acc4661fdad3.webp"
---

# Can the landlord charge you for a new key if you lose yours?

If you lose the key to your hyresrätt (rental flat), it is normally you as the hyresgäst (tenant) who has to pay for a new key – and for any lock change that may be needed if the key cannot simply be blocked. The hyresvärd (landlord), however, may only charge for the actual cost of restoring the same level of security as before, not for an upgrade of the lock. The legal basis is the vårdplikt (duty of care) in Chapter 12, Section 24 of the jordabalken (the Land Code).

## The duty of care decides who picks up the bill

Under Chapter 12, Section 24 of the jordabalken (the Land Code), you must take proper care of the flat and everything belonging to it. You are liable to compensate damage caused by your own fault, or through the carelessness or negligence of someone in your household, a guest, an inneboende (lodger) or an andrahandshyresgäst (subtenant).

The keys belong to the flat. Losing a key is admittedly not physical damage to walls or floors, but in practice the cost of restoring protection against unauthorised entry is attributed to the tenant. The assessment is always made case by case: if you have been careless, the starting point is that you pay.

The same logic applies in the other direction. Slitage (wear and tear) and matters falling under the landlord's ongoing maintenance obligation in Chapter 12, Section 15 of the jordabalken (the Land Code) are not for you to pay. If an old lock breaks down by itself, or the cylinder starts to stick after many years, that is a maintenance matter – not a damage matter. The dividing line between maintenance and damage is the same as when something breaks in the kitchen, which we go through in [Does the landlord have to pay for repairing white goods?](https://bofrid.com/en/articles/does-the-landlord-have-to-pay-for-repairing-white-goods).

### The landlord must not profit from the change

A landlord who replaces an old lock case with a new certified lock has ended up with something better than what was there before. Under general principles of damages law, compensation should correspond to the financial loss, not provide an improvement. You can therefore object to an invoice covering a security upgrade that you did not create the need for. Always ask for an itemised invoice from the locksmith showing labour, materials and the number of cylinders.

## Lost key in a rental flat: the cost of a lock change – who pays?

What has to be paid depends on the type of key involved and on whether the key can be linked to the address. A key with no address details lost on holiday in another country carries a completely different risk from a key that disappeared in the stairwell together with the post.

| Situation | Who normally pays | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You lose a key and the lock does not need changing | The tenant pays for the copy | Cost caused by the tenant, Chapter 12, Section 24 of the Land Code |
| The key disappears together with address details | The tenant pays for the cylinder change and new keys | Security has to be restored |
| Key to an electronic system (tag or coded key) | The tenant pays for blocking and a new tag | Blocking replaces a mechanical change, often at lower cost |
| Key stolen in a burglary or robbery, reported to the police | Assessed case by case | Fault may be absent when the key was taken by force or through theft |
| The lock breaks through age and wear and tear | The landlord | Maintenance responsibility under Chapter 12, Section 15 of the Land Code |
| The landlord changes the lock on the whole entrance door for its own reasons | The landlord | The measure was not caused by the tenant |

There is no statutory price list. The cost is driven by the locking system: a simple cylinder with a few keys costs far less than a change within a restricted key system, where every key in the system may need replacing. So ask the landlord what system the property uses before you order anything on your own.

### Check your home insurance before you pay

Many home insurance policies cover a lock change when a key to the home has been lost, sometimes on condition that the key was stolen and that the theft was reported to the police. Terms differ sharply between insurers and there is almost always an excess. Call the insurance company before you approve an invoice – it can be harder to obtain compensation after the fact.

## Lost key in a rental flat, cost of a lock change: who pays in a subletting situation?

If you have sublet the flat, you as the holder of the förstahandskontrakt (first-hand or primary contract) are liable to the landlord even for what your andrahandshyresgäst (subtenant) causes, under the same provision in Chapter 12, Section 24 of the jordabalken (the Land Code). You can then claim the money from the subtenant, but that is a separate matter between the two of you.

This is why a key receipt is essential. Write down the number of keys, tags and entrance-door keys when someone moves in, and have both parties sign. Ready-made templates can be found in [3 documents you need for a secure letting](UGC7).

For anyone letting out their own home there is the Privatuthyrningslag (2026:772) (the Private Rental Act), which by its own provisions governs, among other things, the scope of the act, the requirement of a written agreement if either party asks for one, the rental period and the requirement that the rent be set as a fixed amount. The act contains no special rules on keys or lock changes – that question has to be resolved in the agreement between the parties.

## Can the landlord deduct the cost from the deposit?

A deposition (deposit) is not a free-for-all fund for the landlord. A deduction requires an actual claim for which you are responsible and an amount that can be substantiated. If you disagree about who should pay for the lock change, the landlord cannot decide the matter unilaterally by keeping the money. We go through the rules in [What can the landlord deduct from the deposit?](https://bofrid.com/en/articles/rental-deposit-sweden-rules-amount-2026).

## What to do straight away when the key is gone

1. Notify the landlord or property manager in writing the same day, preferably by email so that the time is documented.
2. Report the matter to the police if the key was stolen. A report is often required for the insurance and supports the argument that you were not careless.
3. Contact your insurance company and ask what is covered and what excess applies.
4. Do not order a lock change on your own without the landlord's approval – the lock is the landlord's property.
5. Ask for an itemised invoice and keep all correspondence.

When the locksmith needs to enter the flat, the ordinary rules on access apply. The landlord has the right to enter in order to carry out the work under Chapter 12, Section 26 of the jordabalken (the Land Code), but the time must be notified in advance. More on this in [Can the landlord enter your flat without asking?](https://bofrid.com/en/articles/can-the-landlord-enter-your-flat-without-asking).

## If you cannot reach agreement

If you do not pay an invoice you consider incorrect, the landlord can apply for a betalningsföreläggande (order to pay) with Kronofogden (the Swedish Enforcement Authority). If you contest the claim in writing, the matter may proceed to the tingsrätt (district court), which rules on pure compensation and damages claims. Hyresnämnden (the Rent Tribunal) has a different role and decides the tenancy-law questions set out in legislation, such as besittningsskydd (security of tenure) and permission for andrahandsuthyrning (subletting). We describe how a case is started in [In a dispute with your landlord? How to apply to the Rent Tribunal](https://bofrid.com/en/articles/dispute-with-your-landlord-how-to-report-to-the-swedish-rent-tribunal).

A lost key is not in itself grounds for termination of the tenancy. If, on the other hand, you refuse to pay an established claim over a long period, it may become a question of breach of contract – but that is a long way off, and most cases are resolved through a shared or reduced cost.

## Frequently asked questions

**Do I have to pay for a lock change if I have only lost one key out of three?**
If the key cannot be linked to your address, a new copy is usually enough. If the landlord still demands a full cylinder change, the landlord should be able to explain what risk justifies the measure.

**Can the landlord require me to hand back all keys when I move out?**
Yes. The keys belong to the flat and must be returned under the vårdplikt (duty of care) in Chapter 12, Section 24 of the jordabalken (the Land Code). If a key is missing at the move-out inspection, the landlord can claim compensation for restoring security.

**Can I change the lock myself because I feel unsafe?**
Not without the landlord's consent, since the lock is the landlord's property. Instead, ask in writing for a change and state the reason. In cases of threats or violence, many landlords and housing companies deal with the matter quickly.

**Who pays if my lodger loses the key?**
You as the tenant are liable to the landlord for an inneboende (lodger)'s carelessness too, under Chapter 12, Section 24 of the jordabalken (the Land Code). You can then claim compensation from the lodger, preferably supported by a written agreement and a key receipt.

*This text is general information and does not constitute legal advice in an individual case.*