if you are in a situation where you are worried this could happen to you, or are in any situation where you’re worried your landlord (or anyone for that matter) will try and break into your home while you’re out, it might be a good idea to invest in one of these:

it’s an electronic keypad lock you can add to basically any door. you can get it for 40 bucks on walmart, which is the cheapest i could find for this type of thing. you can install it yourself (all you need is a screwdriver) and it’s battery-powered. there are lots of way cheaper tools that can prevent people from getting in while you’re INSIDE the apartment, but this is about as good as it gets for an external lock that will prevent people from getting in while no one is home. it’s a good way to secure your amenities, belongings, and pets.

note that adding this lock will not alter or damage the door in any way, but might still be a violation of your lease. if you are already rent striking and your relationship with your landlord is tenuous enough that you think you need this, adding this probably can’t make things worse, but it’s still important to be aware of.