Cal. Civ. Code § 32-31-9-11
Reimbursement for lock changes; key requirements
Operative Text
Sec. 11. (a) A tenant who provides notice or a copy of a court order under section 9 or 10 of this chapter shall reimburse the landlord for the actual expense incurred by the landlord in changing the locks. (b) If a landlord fails to change the locks within the time set forth in section 9(b) or 10(b) of this chapter, the tenant may change the locks without the landlord's permission, and the landlord shall reimburse the tenant for the actual expense incurred by the tenant in changing the locks. (c) If a tenant changes the locks of the tenant's dwelling unit under subsection (b), the tenant shall give a key to the new locks to the landlord not later than twenty-four (24) hours after the locks are changed.
Under Indiana Code § 32-31-9-11, when a tenant provides qualifying notice or a court order to trigger a lock change, the tenant is responsible for reimbursing the landlord for the actual cost of that work. However, if the landlord fails to change the locks within the legally required timeframe, the tenant is permitted to change the locks without the landlord's consent, and the landlord then becomes responsible for reimbursing the tenant's actual costs. In that scenario, the tenant must provide the landlord with a key to the new locks within 24 hours of completing the change.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Ind. Code § 32-31-9-11, compliant operators generally act promptly to change locks once a qualifying notice or court order is received, ensuring the work is completed within the statutory timeframe. Doing so preserves the landlord's right to reimbursement for actual lock-change expenses from the tenant. Operators who miss the required deadline lose that reimbursement right and instead become obligated to cover the tenant's lock-change costs, while still being entitled to receive a key to the new locks within 24 hours.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ind. Code § 32-31-9-11 establishes that tenants who trigger a lock change through proper notice or a court order are generally responsible for covering the landlord's actual lock-change expenses. If the landlord does not act within the required window, tenants have the right to change the locks themselves and seek reimbursement for those actual costs from the landlord. Tenants who exercise this self-help remedy are required to provide the landlord with a key within 24 hours; tenant-rights organizations or legal aid offices can help clarify what documentation and steps are typically involved in asserting these rights.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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