What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Maine. Is it permissible for the tenant ( me ) to leave the keys in the locked apartment when lease is ended and tenant moves out, if the tenant calls the landlord the same day and notifies him that the keys are there and where? This is how I did it. Is this an acceptable way to return the keys if the landlord lives in another building and has a key himself? I lived in an apartment for 12 ys with no problems and no late payments. The apartments got a new landord who hallers and is direspectful to tentants so I moved. Now the landlord says keys weren't there even though another tenant was with me and saw me leave the keys. Landlord just screams at me and won't listen when talked to.