Tenant changed locks without permission

[Joe C.]

Current tenant changed the front door lock without permission. This was discovered today by property manager,. Tenant said that the front door handle broke so she took it upon herself to change the lock but made no mention of it.  The likelihood is that the door did not break and she is lying. She has a history of lying .  Tenant stated that she would make keys by the end of the week and give to manager.
Can we call a locksmith to remove the lock she put out?  Should we wait until the end of the week and see if she returns the keys.
Rental is a high end rental. Tenant has paid 20 out of 21 rents timely.

Her lease ends on 8/31/23. Place is advertised but tenant said that it cannot be shown after 8/14. We lost 1 prospective tenant with a 750+ credit score because she could not wait until 8/14 to see it. She added that her contract maybe extended but she will not know until end of August and that she wants to continue staying at the house where she has been the last 21 months. She has other glaring defects. We do not want to extend a lease to her based on all of the undermining things she has done which is not limited to this example.
How should be proceed?

[Greg Scott]

Based on the tone of your post, I would caution against getting too emotional.

First and foremost, read your lease and understand her obligations and your obligations.

If the tenant has promised to give you keys, wait.  Assuming you have a well-written lease requiring you be provided a key, if she does not deliver, take action allowed within the lease.  Typically you could notify her that if she does not give you the keys, you can drill out the locks, give her a new lock, and charge her for the convenience.  

With some leases, you have the right to show the unit with certain notice, although you run the risk of showing a dirty / ugly unit.