Smart Locks for Landlords & HMOs: A UK Guide
The short answer: fit a smart lock on the front door, and on bedroom doors in an HMO. Give each tenant their own fingerprint, card, code or phone key, and delete it the day they move out. You never cut keys or change locks between tenancies again. Add a Wi-Fi gateway to manage every door from home.
This guide covers which lock fits which door, how access works across a tenancy, and what to check before you fit one.
Why landlords switch from keys
- No lock changes between tenants. When a tenant leaves, delete their access in the app. Nobody keeps a copied key from a previous tenancy.
- Contractors and agents without key handovers. Give the plumber a code for Tuesday morning only, or give your letting agent their own access. You don't have to drive over with keys.
- No lost-key callouts. If a tenant loses a card, delete that card and issue a new one. You don't need a locksmith or new keys for everyone.
- A record of who came and went. The unlock history shows which tenant, card or contractor opened the door, and when.
Which lock for which door
| Your door | Best choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Wooden or composite front door with a mortise lock | TA-DL26 or TA-DL07 | The DL26 is a slim IP66 lock with fingerprint, code, card, app and key. The DL07 is solid stainless steel for up to 300 users, which suits a busy shared front door. |
| uPVC front door with a multipoint lock | TA-CY32 smart cylinder | Replaces only the cylinder and keeps your multipoint lock. Fingerprint, keypad, card, app and key, for up to 1,300 users. |
| Shared entrance where you want card access only | TA-CY33 smart cylinder | Tenants tap a card, and you cancel any card in the app. Anti-drill, anti-snap and anti-rotation protection, in a euro-profile size from 35mm to 100mm doors. |
| HMO bedroom doors | TA-HL14 or TA-HL06 smart handle | Fits a standard internal door with a 50mm or 60–70mm latch. Each tenant opens their own room with a fingerprint or code. The HL06 also takes cards. Replacing a UK sashlock? See fitting over a sashlock. On a fire door, check with your fire risk assessor first. |
| You can't change the lock (a block of flats or a leased building) | TA-KB10 smart key box | Keep the key in a weatherproof smart key safe, and give contractors their own time-limited code. |
Not sure what your door has? See How to choose your mortise size or the Smart Lock Buying Guide, or send us a photo and we'll tell you what fits.
TA-DL26 Slim Smart Lock
For front doors and flats. IP66, fingerprint, code, card, app and key.
View lock
How access works across a tenancy
- Move-in. Add the tenant's fingerprint, card or a permanent code, or send an eKey to their phone in the TTLock app. Each tenant gets their own access, so nobody shares a code.
- During the tenancy. Give contractors a one-time or time-limited code for the day of the job. Give your letting agent or property manager their own access. You can make them an administrator so they can manage the door too.
- Repairs and inspections. The unlock history shows when a contractor arrived and left. You still need to give tenants proper notice before you or a contractor enter. A smart lock doesn't change that.
- Move-out. Delete the tenant's fingerprint, card, code and eKey in the app. Do this at the door by Bluetooth, or from anywhere with the Gateway G2. Their access stops straight away, and the next tenant starts fresh.
Do you need the Gateway G2? If you don't live near the property, yes. Without it, you can still send time-limited codes from anywhere. But deleting a tenant's access, adding a new card or seeing the history live needs you to be at the door. With the TTLock Gateway G2 plugged in near the door, you can do all of that from home. In an HMO, one gateway placed centrally can usually reach the front door and nearby rooms.
Managing several properties? Use dryn
The TTLock app works door by door. Once you run several properties or a busy HMO, keeping track of who has access to which door gets hard.
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 you fit a smart lock: checklist
- Check your landlord insurance. Some policies require a specific lock standard on final exit doors, such as BS 3621. Read your policy before replacing a lock.
- HMO bedroom doors must always open from the inside with the handle, without a key or code.
- Check whether room doors are fire doors. HMO bedroom doors are often fire doors (FD30), and anything fitted to them must keep the door's fire rating. Check with your fire risk assessor or local council before changing the lock.
- Keep yourself as the main administrator. Add your agent or property manager as a second administrator rather than sharing your login.
- Write down which card belongs to which tenant when you issue it, so you know exactly what to delete at move-out.
- Keep the backup key somewhere safe off-site.
- Check the battery level in the app at each inspection, and change batteries before a new tenancy starts.
Frequently asked questions
How do I remove a tenant's access when they move out?
In the TTLock app, delete their fingerprint, card, passcode and eKey. You need to be within Bluetooth range of the lock, or have the Gateway G2 installed to do it remotely. It takes a minute, and you don't need a locksmith.
Can tenants use their phone to open the door?
Yes. Send them an eKey in the TTLock app, valid for the length of the tenancy. They open the door from their phone by Bluetooth, and you can cancel the eKey at any time.
Can I let a contractor in without being there?
Yes. Create a one-time or time-limited code for the day of the job and send it to them. It stops working after the time you set. The history shows when they arrived.
What happens if the batteries run flat?
The app shows the battery level, and batteries typically last many months. Most of the locks on this page also have a USB emergency port on the outside, so a power bank gets you in. There's also the mechanical backup key on locks that have one.
Will a smart lock affect my landlord insurance?
It can. Some insurers require a specific lock standard, such as BS 3621, on final exit doors. Check your policy before you replace a lock, or ask your insurer.
Which lock is best for a shared HMO front door?
For a wooden or composite door, use the TA-DL07, built for up to 300 users. For a uPVC door, use the TA-CY32. If you prefer cards only, use the TA-CY33.
Need help choosing?
Send us a photo of your doors and tell us how many properties or rooms you manage. 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.
Also see: smart locks for Airbnb and holiday lets · who our smart locks are for
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