NT Rental Locks and Security Requirements for Landlords

Locks Fall Under the Implied Warranty Framework

The Residential Tenancies Act 1999 requires landlords to provide and maintain working locks and security devices that make the premises reasonably secure. This is one of the implied statutory warranties under Sections 47–49, which means it is not optional and cannot be contracted out of in a lease agreement.

"Reasonably secure" is a practical standard. The property needs functional locks on every external door, working window locks or security screens, and any other security features that were in place at the start of the tenancy.

What Counts as Adequate Security

The Act does not prescribe a specific brand, type or grade of lock. Instead, the test is whether the locks and security devices, taken together, make the premises reasonably secure. In practice, this means:

• External doors should have working deadlocks or equivalent locking mechanisms
• Accessible windows should have functioning window locks or security screens — particularly ground-floor and easily reached windows
• Sliding doors should have a lock or security bar that prevents the door from being forced open
• Screen doors and security screens, where installed at the start of the tenancy, must be maintained in working order

If the property had security screens on every window when the tenant moved in, the landlord must keep them functional for the duration of the tenancy. You cannot remove a security feature mid-lease.

Changing Locks During a Tenancy

Both parties have restrictions on lock changes under the Act.

A landlord who alters or adds a locking device without the tenant's consent commits an offence carrying a maximum penalty of 20 penalty units ($3,880 in 2026/27). A tenant who changes locks without the landlord's consent faces the same penalty.

In practice, lock changes happen most often between tenancies. When a tenant vacates, the landlord should rekey or replace external locks before the next tenant moves in. This is not a statutory requirement, but it is a basic security measure that protects both the incoming tenant and the landlord.

If a lock needs to be changed during a tenancy — because it is broken, a key has been lost, or there is a safety concern — both parties should agree in writing before the work is done, and the other party must receive a copy of the new key.

Key Handover Records

When handing over keys at the start or end of a tenancy, a written record protects both parties. Note which keys were issued (front door, back door, garage, mailbox, security gate), how many copies, and the date. The tenant should sign to confirm receipt. At the end of the tenancy, the same record helps resolve disputes about whether all keys were returned.

The NT Rental Minimum Standards guide includes a key handover log template and covers the full security checklist alongside the other implied warranty obligations.

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