26/08/2026
Can a commercial landlord change the locks without notice?
Unlike residential tenancies, the answer here is actually: sometimes yes.
It's called peaceable re-entry — a real legal right, but a narrow one. All 4 conditions below have to be met, or a lawful re-entry becomes an unlawful eviction:
🟡 A forfeiture clause must be in the lease
🟡 Rent arrears past the grace period (often 21 days)
🟡 No force or violence — entry only when the premises are empty
🟡 A notice must be left visibly on site
🔴 Miss any of these — or if the landlord's already waived the breach, or it's a non-rent breach needing a Section 146 notice — and it's unlawful.
The takeaway: peaceable re-entry is powerful, but it's procedural. Get one step wrong and the landlord is the one exposed.
Swipe through for the full breakdown 👉
