Smart Locks for Airbnb & Holiday Lets: A UK Host's Guide
The short answer: for an Airbnb or holiday let, choose a smart lock that gives each guest their own code for exactly their stay dates and switches it off at check-out. Add a Wi-Fi gateway so you can manage the lock from home. Make sure the lock has a backup key and emergency USB power so nobody is ever locked out.
This guide covers which lock fits which door, how guest check-in works day to day, and what to set up before your first booking.
Why hosts switch from keys and key safes
- No key handovers. Guests arrive at any hour and let themselves in. You don't need to meet them or rely on a neighbour.
- No code that never changes. A standard key safe uses one code for every guest, cleaner and contractor, and it's rarely changed. With a smart lock, each person gets their own code, and it stops working when their time is up.
- No lost keys or lock changes. If a guest leaves with a key, you no longer need a locksmith. There's nothing to copy, and any code can be cancelled.
- You know who came and went. The unlock history shows when the guest, the cleaner or a contractor opened the door.
Which lock for which door
Most UK holiday lets fit one of these four setups. Find yours below.
| Your door | Best choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Wooden or composite front door with a mortise lock | TA-DL04 or TA-DL22 | A full smart lock with fingerprint, keypad, card, app and backup key. The DL04 adds a tamper alarm and doorbell button. The DL22 is IP65 weather-sealed for exposed doors. |
| Exposed front door or a flat entrance, where you want a slim look | TA-DL26 | An IP66 slim design. It works with Alexa and Google Home and can create recurring codes, which suit a regular cleaner. |
| uPVC door with a multipoint lock | TA-CY32 smart cylinder | Replaces only the cylinder and keeps your existing multipoint lock, so there are no new holes. It has a fingerprint reader and keypad, so guests can use a code. |
| You can't change the lock (a leased building, listed property or shared entrance) | TA-KB10 smart key box | Keep your normal key inside a weatherproof smart key safe. Each guest still gets their own time-limited code. |
Not sure what your door has? See How to choose your mortise size or the Smart Lock Buying Guide. You can also send us a photo of your door and we'll tell you what fits.
TA-DL04 Smart Door Lock
Fingerprint, code, card, app and key. Tamper alarm, doorbell button, up to 300 users.
View lock
TA-CY32 Smart Cylinder
For uPVC doors. Swap only the cylinder. Fingerprint, keypad, card, app and key.
View lock
TA-KB10 Smart Key Box
When you can't change the lock. Each guest gets their own code for the key safe.
View key boxHow guest check-in works
- A booking comes in. In the TTLock app, create a passcode that starts at check-in time and ends at check-out time. You can do this from anywhere. Time-limited codes work even if the lock has no Wi-Fi connection.
- Send the code to the guest with your check-in instructions.
- The guest arrives, types the code, and the door opens. Before the start time the code doesn't work.
- At check-out the code stops working automatically. You don't need to do anything.
- Cleaners and maintenance get their own codes. Use a recurring code for a regular cleaner, or a one-time code for a contractor.
Do you need the Gateway G2? For a holiday let, yes. Without it, you can still create time-limited codes remotely. With the TTLock Gateway G2 plugged in near the door, you can also unlock remotely for a guest who's stuck, see the unlock history live, and cancel a code early if a booking changes. It plugs into a socket and connects to the property's Wi-Fi.
Managing several properties? Use dryn
The TTLock app works well for one or two doors. Once you run several listings, creating codes by hand for every booking gets slow, and mistakes creep in.
Manage your locks with dryn instead. Give each guest, tenant or contractor their own access for exactly the dates they need, and it switches off automatically when their time is up. Add or remove someone once, and every lock across your properties follows.
All locks on this page are dryn-ready. Join dryn early access
Before your first booking: setup checklist
- Test every code type yourself: fingerprint, a time-limited code and the card. Do this before a guest relies on them.
- Keep the backup key safe and off-site, or in a second key box. Don't leave it inside the property.
- Use good batteries and check the level between bookings in the app. If they ever run flat, every lock on this page can be powered from outside with a USB power bank, so you can still get in.
- Check the Wi-Fi reaches the gateway. Place the Gateway G2 within a few metres of the door, on the same Wi-Fi as the property.
- Add check-in instructions to your listing: where the keypad is, how to wake it (touch the screen), and what to do if a code doesn't work.
- Set up your cleaner's code as a recurring code, so you don't have to send a new one each week.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need Wi-Fi at the property?
Not for the lock itself. It works by Bluetooth and stores codes on the lock. Time-limited codes created in the app work without Wi-Fi. You need Wi-Fi plus the Gateway G2 to unlock remotely, see live history or cancel codes from home.
What happens if the batteries die?
Batteries typically last many months, and the app shows the battery level, so you can change them between bookings. If they do run out, connect a USB power bank to the emergency port on the outside of the lock and use your code or fingerprint as normal. There's also the mechanical backup key.
Can I change or cancel a guest's code remotely?
Yes, with the Gateway G2 installed. Without the gateway, codes still expire at the end time you set. To delete a code early, you need to be within Bluetooth range.
Will a smart lock fit my uPVC door?
Yes, a smart cylinder such as the TA-CY32 replaces only the cylinder in your existing multipoint lock. Measure your current cylinder first, or send us a photo.
Can guests lock themselves out?
Not in the usual way. There's no key to leave inside. As long as their code is valid, they can get back in at any time during their stay.
Does it work with Airbnb, Booking.com or my channel manager?
The locks use the TTLock platform. Several channel managers, including Guesty and Cloudbeds, have TTLock integrations that create codes automatically from bookings. For hosts who want this without a full channel manager, dryn handles guest access across all your properties.
Need help choosing?
Send us a photo of your door and tell us how many properties you run. We'll suggest the locks most likely to fit. Email info@traceableaccess.com or call/WhatsApp +44 (0)333 772 3028, Mon–Fri, 9am–6pm (UK time). Every order comes with free worldwide delivery. See our refund policy for returns.
Other customers: see who our smart locks are for.
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