I've recently moved into a rental where the door has a lock that you twist from the inside to secure. The tricky part is that when it's locked, I can't get in from the outside with the key. I've accidentally locked my roommate out a few times, and even fell asleep with the door locked once!
I asked my landlord if we could change the lock, and he initially agreed but then said it would require drilling into the door to replace it. I'm not very knowledgeable about locks—does it really need drilling to change it? Can I switch to a lock that allows the door to be opened from the outside with the key? I just want to figure out if this is a problem with the lock design itself or if it's something else. Any guidance would really help!
3 Answers
It’s tough to say without seeing the lock and door, but typically if you can unlock it some way, you should be able to remove and replace it without drilling. It might just be an internal issue.
Honestly, don’t try to fix lock issues on your own in a rental. It’s on the landlord to sort this out. Whether he opts for a new knob or decides to drill, it should be his call to make, not yours.
The only reason drilling might be necessary is if your current lock is an older model that’s 1-3/4 inches thick. That would need to be drilled out to fit a modern 2-1/8 inch standard. It’s really the landlord’s responsibility to maintain the lock, though!
I’d like to convince him to change it, but I’m not sure I have the right info. Should I bring in a locksmith for a second opinion?