I certainly don't change the locks and I'm surprised that people have such adversarial relations with their landlords.
My landlady has the keys, organizes the cleaning lady to come (and gives her the keys), I'm pretty sure she even once dusted and washed the dishes in the sink herself when she was watching over some crew cleaning the ducts.
The whole benefit of renting is not being burdened with owner's problems. Hard to achieve when they can't access the apartment.
> Why tenants don't change the locks on the main doors as they move in? Is it also because of the contracts?
In some countries it's not allowed to change it without permission from the landlord, and in others it is allowed but you need to immediately give them a copy of the key anyway.
But I believe that in most countries it is the case that the landlord cannot invade your privacy, even if they have a key (I know this is the case in Australia). So them having a key is mostly irrelevant (since lockpicking is a skill you can pick up in a weekend -- and picking the lock of a tenant's door is about as legal as using a key that the tenant was forced to give you).
I can't speak for the UK, but my leases have definitely stipulated that you can't change the locks without notifying the landlord and providing them with a key.
That's really allowed? In my country it is your right to change the locks, If the landlord keeps a key and you have proof of that, then he even has to pay for the new lock.
In Australia (with a standard rental agreement in NSW) you can change the locks (though I think you need to ask the landlord for permission if it's not an emergency) and you have to provide a copy of new keys to your landlord within 7 days. Landlords aren't allowed to enter your home unless its an emergency or they are planning on selling the home and have given you ample warning (and you've agreed). I believe this is just one of those things that is significantly different between different countries.
All of that being said, I don't understand why changing the locks makes a difference. It's very easy to ask a locksmith to open the door for you, especially if your name is on the title (not to mention that most house locks are trivial to pick anyway). Whether or not the landlord has a key is mostly immaterial, what matters is whether it is legal for them to use it (because picking the lock would arguably have similar legality).
What? That's so...weird. Why tenants don't change the locks on the main doors as they move in? Is it also because of the contracts?