[quote=CDMA ENG]Legally they have to re-key the home so I do not see how this is revelant.

I think this is the landlord testing your resolve over his BS.

Take him to court!

CE[/quote]

I am not aware of a statute requiring a landlord to change the locks.

I could be wrong (as a property manager, I DO change the locks) so tell me if you can point to the law on that.

The overall cost is not way out of line with market costs but the house is no less secure than if you had returned the key.

You could have made 20 copies and handed them out to the local homeless (as one of my neighbors did during foreclosure) but just not having one of the copies does not equate to needing to change the locks.

You have a right to see the bill for the lock change.

In summary:

-The charge as required for losing a key copy is not reasonable.
-The $200 cost is about right for re-key depending on the situation (even if the charge is bs).
-You have a right to see the actual invoice for the lock smith.
-You owe it to yourself to small claim this crappy landlord. If you start with a $7500 claim, that may make her ready to abandon the charge. Just a thought.