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SmartRent Debuts First Smart Lock With Apple Home Key Integration Designed for Rental Properties
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I think it's just the overall convenience of of smart locks & not having to worry about issuing physical keys to vendors & guest. There was the mention of self guided tours. (So no worries about lock boxes or if someone kept or failed to return a physical key)
For newer or higher profile management companies & properties, there are benefits.
Only in America! This is called spying in Australia. If you have a sensor installed, then the tenant should be the ONLY one with access to the app and NOT you.
Of course if the tenant prefers to not have the sensor, it is their absolute right to have it removed. What makes you different to any stranger entering her home? Just because you own the property, doesn't make you any more trustworthy.
Also, if your sensor goes off, you can't just break and enter into her home if you can't contact her.
I do think there is a difference between any stranger entering a home without permission vs. someone who has been given permission by the tenant (including a landlord, vendor, plumber, pet walker, delivery person, etc.).
Different individuals have different criteria in terms of how they value privacy. There are certain homes where the tenants have firewalls, security cameras...and others where tenants give utility companies access to smart thermostats / devices , give in home access to delivery personnel and more.
In terms of the sensors, there are people who would absolutely request access to the app, or have them removed...while others would be 100% happy with having them & having that be the landlords / management responsibility.
With sort of thing, there's always going to be variations based on the individuals comfort level. Some people have a more friendly relationship with the landlords, while others draw a clear line and any entrance to the home, by anyone.
Would it be more secure if they got ahold of your key, which is far easier to lose and you’re far less likely to notice is missing?
My home is where I live. You don’t have to be a property owner to have a home.
But aren’t there a lot of smart locks that support Apple home key that aren’t specifically designed for rental properties? I don’t quite understand what about this product makes it designed for rentals. The article mentioned fire code, but if that’s it, then otherwise the feature set is the same as all other home key smart locks that aren’t designed specifically for rentals? Also seems like all smart locks should just go ahead follow whatever is the strictest fire code.
Some smart locks allow a manual override physical key, so your sister could get one of those and carry a just-in-case key in her wallet or something. She’d get the convenience of a smart lock with the safety net of a physical key.
A renter doesn’t own “their” home, they’re basically borrowing it under a contract. But there is a contract so the landlord/owner can’t just do anything they want at any time. It’s an agreement and they both have to follow it.
I'm going to reply to this and I'm done. It's an audible sensor, and she had access to it and I did/do and wanted it there as water comes in the basement when it rains hard. She was fully aware of it, and chose to let me monitor it as the reason she is renting, instead of owning, is that she doesn't like to manage a house and property, and prefers that my wife and I handle the maintenance and problems as they come up. She is a busy professional and travels a lot for work, but if she wanted the sensors removed, then that would be fine.
Talk about assumptions! This wasn't spying. Have a good day.
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The apartment I'm renting uses the current version of this brand's lock and app. Here's what it gets them and gets me.
They get software to manage all the units each with their own lock. It integrates with the keypads on the exterior entrances to the complex as well as the gate for the garage and the doors to the Resident Lounge, Parcel Pick-up Room, and Fitness Center. When I first came by to tour the unit I now rent, they were able to give me access to tour the apartment on my own. No one had to step away from a desk to let me into the unit.
When one of the maintenance guys comes by, he doesn't need a key. He uses his code on my door and is able to come in without me being there. I don't have to be home for a maintenance appointment. (This happens everywhere, so this isn't some new or different level of security. If anything, this is increased security. Hard to imagine there is not a log of which codes were used on which doors, and codes can be removed from the system if someone from maintenance leaves the job.)
If my roommate leaves and forgets to lock the door, I can do that from the app.
It gets me not needing to have a key, which I like. I don't always carry my keys. I always carry my phone. If I don't want to carry my phone, I can use a numeric code displayed in the app. The app also controls the HVAC system thermostat.
I haven't had to use it this way, but if someone came by my apartment and I wanted to let them in, but I wasn't home, I could unlock the door remotely and then lock it behind them when they leave.
Corporate-owned apartment complexes like them because they're "install once and manage" rather than "key, re-key, re-key."
From my perspective, it's not really that different from the app I use as a key to my car.
One thing I don't get is the ability to generate temporary codes on my own. That has not been an issue.
I've only had this for about two months, but I don't have any complaints about it. I don't miss a physical key for my apartment any more than I miss one for my car.
They get software to manage all the units each with their own lock. It integrates with the keypads on the exterior entrances to the complex as well as the gate for the garage and the doors to the Resident Lounge, Parcel Pick-up Room, and Fitness Center. When I first came by to tour the unit I now rent, they were able to give me access to tour the apartment on my own. No one had to step away from a desk to let me into the unit.
When one of the maintenance guys comes by, he doesn't need a key. He uses his code on my door and is able to come in without me being there. I don't have to be home for a maintenance appointment. (This happens everywhere, so this isn't some new or different level of security. If anything, this is increased security. Hard to imagine there is not a log of which codes were used on which doors, and codes can be removed from the system if someone from maintenance leaves the job.)
If my roommate leaves and forgets to lock the door, I can do that from the app.
It gets me not needing to have a key, which I like. I don't always carry my keys. I always carry my phone. If I don't want to carry my phone, I can use a numeric code displayed in the app. The app also controls the HVAC system thermostat.
I haven't had to use it this way, but if someone came by my apartment and I wanted to let them in, but I wasn't home, I could unlock the door remotely and then lock it behind them when they leave.
Corporate-owned apartment complexes like them because they're "install once and manage" rather than "key, re-key, re-key."
From my perspective, it's not really that different from the app I use as a key to my car.
One thing I don't get is the ability to generate temporary codes on my own. That has not been an issue.
I've only had this for about two months, but I don't have any complaints about it. I don't miss a physical key for my apartment any more than I miss one for my car.
- Smart locks allow for remote control of lock/unlock on a time restricted basis. Maybe you want to let in a guest before you get home, or a trusted repairman -- but you want to be sure their access is removed after they complete their job. These are things you can do with keys, but you need a way to make the physical hand off, and once somebody has access to your key they can easily make a copy of it.
- Good smart locks unlock quicker than you can get your key out of your pocket, possibly even while your hands are full
- Most renters do not have the option to add their own locks to their doors, so if they want a smart lock, they'll need their landlord to provide one
- And let's not forget -- easier evictions!
There are also metrics -- you can tell who accessed the lock and when.
Of course, I have many of these features with my Emtek keypad deadbolt. We programmed a few extra 6 digit key sequences and if we need to provide temporary access to the house, we just provide the number and delete it when we get home. We have physical keys for the other doors, but frankly I don't carry them.
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I always thought it is straight up insane that in the US it is considered completely normal that your landlord can just hop into your apartment whenever they feel like it. I never understood that as a concept. Why wouldn't people insist on strict, absolute privacy in their own home? Just beyond me.
You can't do that, it's not "normal" or even legal, and I never did; I let the tenet know, and she lets us know when anything is wrong. I do all maintenance, change furnace filters, house water filter/RO, smoke detector batteries, change light bulbs in hard to get to places (above stairs), and yard care. This isn't an apartment. It's a two-story home with a basement and detached garage, on land.
How many times do I have to post this. I let her know, she gave me permission, and I entered.
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But they can't, there are laws against that. The poster who mentioned going into their tenants apartment, notified the tenant of an emergency in the home, received permission to enter, and did so after speaking with the renter.
I think there's this perception that landlords can just enter a tenants residence all willy-nilly, anytime they want. That is untrue and also illegal.
We told our Landlord we wanted a smart lock on our front door and we'd pay for it so I could integrate it into my smart home. He was happy to let us do what we want as long as we could keep him access - which we can right from the phone. We also duplicated a physical key for him. Regarding Proximity, unfortunately on the Apple eco system, you need to hold up your phone or watch - for security reasons.
- I'm quite good host, I'm always at home to welcome my guests. I would NEVER let a repair person do anything at home without me present.
- I can afford losing 2-3 seconds of my time while unlocking my door. And even 5 seconds if I need to drop something for a moment. Hopefully my life is not as hectic yet.
- I really know who enters my house, as set of keys are limited. If you need metrics to check access to the house, then is quite scary.
- That's tricky, If I rent my flat I won't feel too confident having my property protected by random locks (can be hacked)
But over all, there is software/connectivity inside this things, hence potential bugs and attacks. I would never put my house under the security of a software (and I'm a software engineer
)I mean, it's technology and it's cool, but I don't think that there is a problem to solve here.
I would see it for short stay apartments, hotels, I would never use this for permanent home usage.
- I'm quite good host, I'm always at home to welcome my guests. I would NEVER let a repair person do anything at home without me present.
- I can afford losing 2-3 seconds of my time while unlocking my door. And even 5 seconds if I need to drop something for a moment. Hopefully my life is not as hectic yet.
- I really know who enters my house, as set of keys are limited. If you need metrics to check access to the house, then is quite scary.
- That's tricky, If I rent my flat I won't feel too confident having my property protected by random locks (can be hacked)
But over all, there is software/connectivity inside this things, hence potential bugs and attacks. I would never put my house under the security of a software (and I'm a software engineer
I mean, it's technology and it's cool, but I don't think that there is a problem to solve here.
I think there's still value in smart locks. Many of them still allow the use of a physical key, it just gives you more options (much like keyless car entry)
It's great to be a good host, but I've had family & close friends staying at my place before & the smart lock came in handy when they arrived earlier than expected.
I have a friend who issues digital temp keys for her separate rental property that's in a different area, and its worked out great. Before, she's had a couple of guest who lost the keys, and it was a bit of a hassle. With the smart locks, she revokes entry when their stay is over & issues temp keys to the maid service.
Android users can still use this smart lock. Something like the Apple Home Key integration won't be used with android devices and based on the product description, there's even a keypad is no smartphone was being used.
The HomeKey is just integrated in this lock, but I'm having IOS or an iPhone is going to be a requirement when renting from any community that offers this.