# Is the Landlord Responsible for Broken Locks? (Rental Repairs) | Who Pays the Repair?

> Working locks are a landlord duty. Texas, for example, requires specific latches and deadbolts and rekeying at the landlord's expense within 7 days of each tenant turnover.

**Who pays:** landlord

Landlord, several states legally mandate specific working security hardware and put installation, repair, and rekeying costs on the landlord by default.

**Boundary:** Several states legally mandate specific working security hardware and put installation, repair, and rekeying costs on the landlord by default.

**Exceptions:** Tenant-caused damage to locks/hardware; State-by-state variation in what hardware is mandated

## Sources
- [Texas Property Code § 92.153 (Security Devices Required Without Necessity of Tenant Request)](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PR/htm/PR.92.htm) — "a dwelling must be equipped with: (1) a window latch on each exterior window of the dwelling; (2) a doorknob lock or keyed dead bolt on each exterior door; (3) a sliding door pin lock on each exterior sliding glass door..." (accessed 2026-09-27)
- [Texas Property Code § 92.156 (Rekeying or Change of Security Devices)](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PR/htm/PR.92.htm) — "a security device operated by a key, card, or combination shall be rekeyed by the landlord at the landlord's expense not later than the seventh day after each tenant turnover date." (accessed 2026-09-27)

_Last verified 2026-09-27. Source: Who Pays the Repair? — https://whopaystherepair.com/rules/landlord-responsible-broken-locks/ — every claim checked against a primary source before publication (see /methodology/)._