HomeKit HomeKit access for renters

[feistyhall]

Hi, I'm managing a home for a friend. The owner turned off the wifi and moved out of town. She would like to let the renters use the Schlage lock and garage door opener without letting them override her access or giving me or them her account password. Is there any way she can remotely give them access once the tenants activate their own wifi account in the house or does it need to be done via bluetooth and a trip back to town is the only way for the owner to add access to devices while maintaining her own access codes? Thank you for any help you can provide.

Dawn

 

[iStorm]

Well, she could share the home with the renters so that they only have remote access and cannot add or edit any HomeKit devices.

But since the home doesn't have wifi/internet, things aren't as easy... She would still need to go over to connect the hub (HomePod or Apple TV) to their wifi. She did leave the hub there, right? If not, it'd be best if she provided the hub. Ideally, it should be her setting it up...otherwise you or the renters would need to temporarily log into their iPhone with the account containing the home to set it up. (I know I wouldn't want to mess up my phone by logging into an account that's not mine, and I'm sure you wouldn't either. It'll be even extra tricky with 2FA.)

Btw, since it's HomeKit, these will only work if the renters have an iPhone. If they have an Android, they're out of luck (unless the devices allow other alternative ways to share them through their dedicated apps if they have one).

Finally, just a suggestion for the HomeKit route... It'd be ideal to set up the rental home with its own Apple ID. She can then share the home to her main account with admin access, and share to renters with remote access. The reason for this is just to add some separation between the accounts. Wouldn't want her main account on the Apple TV and accidentally show her pictures, or on a HomePod and interrupt music playback or using her Apple Music library.