Apartment complexes forcing residents to use "Smart" locks

[GreatLakes]

She mentions being assigned a hub which she seems quite offended by, lol. Skimming through the tweets it appears it’s a professional company installing them. All smart locks do is turn the original bolt for you. As a PP mentioned the feature can be easily disabled so that it requires a key. Or she can choose not to set up the hub/lock. The apartment complex can insist on installing them but I don’t think they can enforce using the features.

I didn't read it that closely, thanks. If the Hub is anything that can listen to you, like an Echo, I wouldn't install it either. The privacy problems with any of those devices is ridiculous but if it is just a WiFi hub I wouldn't care. I wouldn't attach any of my own devices to a hub I don't control but for my locks I would have to just trust the landlord is doing it right. I would probably try to speak with the installer thought just to see what they are doing from a curiosity standpoint.

 

[wenrob]

I didn't read it that closely, thanks. If the Hub is anything that can listen to you, like an Echo, I wouldn't install it either. The privacy problems with any of those devices is ridiculous but if it is just a WiFi hub I wouldn't care. I wouldn't attach any of my own devices to a hub I don't control but for my locks I would have to just trust the landlord is doing it right. I would probably try to speak with the installer thought just to see what they are doing from a curiosity standpoint.

Nah, it sounds like a basic wireless hub and she actually says repeatedly that she’s been invited to speak to the installer. Basically she’s freaking out because she lacks understanding. Rather than trying to understand she’s decided to be outraged and take to Twitter.

 

[GreatLakes]

Nah, it sounds like a basic wireless hub and she actually says repeatedly that she’s been invited to speak to the installer. Basically she’s freaking out because she lacks understanding. Rather than trying to understand she’s decided to be outraged and take to Twitter.

Sounds about right.

 

[LYSE]

Unless the door frame is reinforced a swift kick is getting passed any lock anyway.

I have zwave locks on all my doors...but then again I don't rely on the lock to be the end all of home security. And hacking my home automation system is alot more work than smashing a window.

 

[bcla]

Do you re key the locks when the tenant vacates? I have always wondered whether the locks are in fact re keyed. I certainly would hope so! When we close on a home, first order of business is a locksmith changing the locks!

Legally there's no obligation to do so. My rental agreements say that upon leaving a tenant must turn over all copies of the keys. I guess it's not that different than an old hotel key, where theoretically someone could make a copy and then use it to access the same room later. I haven't seen a tradition mechanical door key at a hotel in ages. I do remember staying in national park cabins that still had keys as far as 2006 to 2007, but I wouldn't be surprised if they've switched to electronic ones by now. I believe most vacation homes use some electronic setup now. Not sure if it would be internet connected or whatnot, but I think a lot are so there might not need to be a vacation rental service involved.

However, it's good business practice to change the keys for each tenant. I used to live in my house and had people renting rooms. We all had our own door locks on our bedrooms for privacy. It was kind of odd when someone moved out. Don't remember the exact sequence, but often it was easier to just buy a new entry lockset with a new key than to rekey. I've done things like switch my bedroom doorknob for the main entrance and rekey the deadbolt, since nobody else had access to the key and I'm the landlord. I bought a new entry lock/deadbolt at least once. Later on I've just rekeyed the set.

Rekeying would at least show good faith if a previous tenant might consider using a copy of a key to try and steal something.

 

[LSUmiss]

Several Police Departments here routinely put out reminders that "It's 9 pm are your doors locked" because an amazing number of people forget to lock their doors.

That’s crazy. My doors & windows stay locked all day. But, I live in an urban area AND have worked in a prison & can’t tell you how many criminals have told me that they just go door-to-door looking for unlocked doors when trying to commit a crime...that includes all kinds of crimes including serial killers & rapists & in all kinds of areas.

 

[Snowflakey]

Here is something I just heard about a week ago. You know the new doorknobs you can get at let's say Home Depot? Just the standard ones. Apparently the keys are the SAME for all the doorknobs. You are supposed to have a locksmith change the lock in them. My husband works construction and they had to buy several and the key worked in every single one. I did not know that

 

[wenrob]

That’s crazy. My doors & windows stay locked all day. But, I live in an urban area AND have worked in a prison & can’t tell you how many criminals have told me that they just go door-to-door looking for unlocked doors when trying to commit a crime...that includes all kinds of crimes including serial killers & rapists & in all kinds of areas.

I’m a born and bred city girl and my DH was raised mostly in rural areas. It would drive me crazy that I could not get him to lock a door. He would leave for work at 3-4am and leave me inside alone sleeping with the door unlocked. We went back and forth on it and I just couldn’t make him understand how vulnerable it made me feel. Finally in frustration I said “it’s just this *made a turning motion with my thumb and finger* on your way out the door, it takes no time out of your day.” For some reason *that* got through to him.

 

[LSUmiss]

I’m a born and bred city girl and my DH was raised mostly in rural areas. It would drive me crazy that I could not get him to lock a door. He would leave for work at 3-4am and leave me inside alone sleeping with the door unlocked. We went back and forth on it and I just couldn’t make him understand how vulnerable it made me feel. Finally in frustration I said “it’s just this *made a turning motion with my thumb and finger* on your way out the door, it takes no time out of your day.” For some reason *that* got through to him.

And, like I said, I worked in a prison & a lot of the worst crimes I saw had been committed in rural areas. It’s not b/c the area was rural, but most likely b/c ppl felt safe so they left themselves more vulnerable.

 

[bcla]

Here is something I just heard about a week ago. You know the new doorknobs you can get at let's say Home Depot? Just the standard ones. Apparently the keys are the SAME for all the doorknobs. You are supposed to have a locksmith change the lock in them. My husband works construction and they had to buy several and the key worked in every single one. I did not know that

Not necessarily. I've bought locks at Home Depot or Lowe's, and typically it's the sets in the same box (of 6 or 8) that are keyed alike - supposedly for the convenience of buying them together and having the same key if you're going to be using the same for a back door or perhaps a door to the garage. However, it's not a single key cut that's being used. Look in a different box and there will be a different key. At least on Schlage original keys in the same package with the lock, there's a 5 digit number indicating the key combination. It's possible to order a new key with this number. Here's a picture of Kwikset entry sets that are keyed the same.

When I've bought new keys I've kind of been paranoid and bought them at a place far away from the home. I believe home builders working on new homes can order in bulk in where the keys shouldn't be identical in the same box.

I also read that in construction of big sub developments, they might have them keyed the same so that the crews can have easy access while they're working on them. Then they'll have them rekeyed individually (or maybe new cylinders installed) before move in. This is from Australia, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's a common practice around the world.

http://www.altonalocksmiths.com.au/...this-necessary-in-commercial-construction.php
Construction (refurbishment) keying provides a convenient and inexpensive way of converting lock barrels into a new key to access the building. Locks are keyed alike for the builder / contractor as well as for the owner(s). When construction is completed, the construction cylinders are removed and final cylinders installed by a locksmith. The builder’s key ceases to be useful to gain access after the construction cores are changed to the new, desired keying system. There are advantages of using this method:

• It simplifies the handover process;
• It costs less because there is no need to replace keying and keys at the handover stage.
• It provides additional security during all stages of construction and post-construction handover and occupancy.

 

[wenrob]

And, like I said, I worked in a prison & a lot of the worst crimes I saw had been committed in rural areas. It’s not b/c the area was rural, but most likely b/c ppl felt safe so they left themselves more vulnerable.

You know I just remembered a visit with DH’s family in Oregon. His Aunt’s house faced his cousins and there was a deck and pool between. They would leave their doors unlocked as the kids would go back and forth between them even in the middle of the night. My DD was five or six at the time and wanted to sleep on the couch by the front door. I asked if we could lock the door and was told firmly (but kindly) no. I ended up sleeping on the couch with her. Shortly after that a girl was abducted from her home in Oregon not far from where they lived. For the life of me I can’t remember her name but it was a big case that got national coverage.