Lost a key: do you have to pay for the whole locking system?
A key to the apartment is gone, and the landlord wants to charge you for a complete new locking system, often several thousand euros? That is not automatically justified. It depends on a genuine risk of misuse and on the system actually being replaced.
Reach your next steps and the matching ready-made texts in just a few minutes, free of charge:
Check the claim →Your chances of getting your money back
What you should do now
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1. Assess the situation
Can the lost key be traced to your apartment or address? Without a concrete risk of misuse, an expensive claim is questionable.
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2. Demand an actual replacement
Ask whether the locking system is really being replaced. Only then does a genuine loss arise that you would have to compensate.
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3. Demand proof
Request documentation (locksmith's invoice, proof of replacement). You can reject flat-rate amounts without proof.
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4. Protect your deposit
If the landlord withholds the deposit for this, object and demand it back to the extent it is unjustified.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay for the entire locking system if I lose one key?
Not automatically. Under the case law of the Federal Court of Justice (BGH), you are liable only if there is a concrete risk of misuse and the locking system is actually replaced. If it is not replaced, no compensable loss arises, and you do not have to pay a flat-rate claim.
What can I do about an excessive claim?
Demand proof that the system was actually renewed, including the invoice. If the replacement or the risk of misuse is missing, reject the claim in writing. If the landlord withholds part of the deposit, demand the unjustified portion back.
Take action now
We put together the ready-made texts and the right places to contact for you.
General information for self-help, not legal advice (RDG). In case of a high loss or uncertainty: contact a consumer advice center or a lawyer.