Let's talk locks.

It's a topic that, surprisingly, comes up a lot within the community, especially from developers that don't reside near to their properties.

We've also heard a few stories lately of developers and SA managers in the wider community that have keys kept on-site, and who have to routinely travel to their properties whenever a key goes missing. We're here to tell you to avoid this!

Not only is there major safety concerns involved with not keeping track of a key's handler, it's just not good business practice – plain and simple. The safety of your tenants and guests, ease of accessibility, and control of ownership should all be a priority when designing how a property operates.

Our advice to achieve this harmony would always be to invest in digital and mechanical locks, especially a main lock that can be accessed remotely. Doing so will support you in building a safe and fault-proof infrastructure for your property.

For serviced accommodation properties specifically, we'd recommend installing a Yale keyless digital lock for the main entrance to the property. These particular locks will fit most universal doors, use AA batteries, and connect to WiFi. You can use the locks dedicated App to:

• add or remove pin codes
• unlock a door remotely with a press of a button
• access and control the locks from anywhere in the world
• monitor the battery level, receiving alerts when it's running low
• view the history log to see when the door has been open/closed
• set up automation for different times/conditions
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The digital lock is tamper-proof (with a built in alarm) and has an emergency charge point if the battery has run out. It also comes with an additional key fob and card, which you could always keep secured in a dedicated lockbox for emergencies, if it makes you feel more comfortable.

For HMO's, where a tenants personal safety and security is a top priority, we'd recommend installing basic mechanical punch-code door locks for the inside of all bedrooms. Tenants are required to remember a very simple pin code to gain access to their personal rooms, but having these in place completely eradicates the need for any physical keys on-site, and makes life a little easier if you ever need to update accessibility.

These products will make the world of difference to the management of your property, your tenant/guest experience, your peace of mind, and your valuable time!

Hopefully no more late night call-outs to lost keys for you! ✌🏻