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Smart locks for renters
Updated
Most smart deadbolts replace the whole lock, keys and all. In a rental that is a problem. Your landlord's key stops working, and many leases do not allow it. A retrofit lock is the safer path. It swaps only the inside thumb turn, so the outside of the door and every existing key stay the same. You still need permission first.
Ask your landlord first
- Get a yes in writing, even for a retrofit lock. An email is fine.
- Say plainly that the outside lock and the keys will not change, if that is true for the lock you pick.
- Rules about locks in rentals differ by state and by lease. This page is general information, not legal advice.
The retrofit option
The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is the retrofit pick on our list. The listing says it fits on the inside of the door over most single cylinder deadbolts and that you keep your keys. There is no keypad unless you buy the maker's keypad, so plan on using your phone or your key.
Know the tradeoffs. Owners report short battery life and WiFi drops. And because it turns the deadbolt you already have, an old sticky deadbolt will give it trouble. Do the free throw check before you order.
If your landlord agrees to a full swap
- Pick a lock with a physical key, and give the landlord a copy if the lease calls for it.
- Measure the door. Older apartments often have odd doors. Use the fit checker.
- Do not drill or widen any hole without written permission.
Keep these for move-out day
- The old thumb turn or the whole old lock, with every screw, in a labeled bag.
- A photo of the door before you changed anything.
- The smart lock's box, so you can take the lock with you.
Before you hand back the keys, remove the lock from your app account and reset it if you are leaving it behind.