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With the rise in Short Term Rental (STR) properties in the UK with the likes of AirBNB and Bookings.com, and with the Summer holiday season approaching, it seems like a good time to put together some lock tips for holiday let owners or hosts in terms of how to manage the lock security of these STR properties.
According to ‘Key Data’ – a leading player in analysing market intelligence for the STR industry, the UK has seen a 12% year-on-year rise in guest nights booked and a consequent rise of 11% in the supply of STR properties.
Based on Q4 2023, Key Data claims that AirBNB has a market share of 43% whereas Bookings.com has a share of 40%. However you look at it, the trend is rising.
It should be highlighted that locksmiths can provide a vital service related to this increase in business from STR’s. STR owners want to provide their customers with a satisfying experience and they need to ensure easy guest access for multiple different customers whilst maintaining robust security. The verification for the guests themselves is often not particularly robust, so security is a vital consideration as a guest could be negligent or abuse the access at a later date.
This article will explore the important role of a locksmith in providing secure guest access and offering handy tips to enhance the owner’s role as a safe and efficient host.
First things first, as with any property, the locks should be of a suitable quality and standard and be well fitted. Contact your local locksmith for advice if you are not sure.
The basic starting point is that the locks and locking mechanisms should all function easily and be well maintained. It is especially important that your locks are reliable so guests have a trouble-free stay when entering and exiting the property.
A poorly maintained badly functioning lock can jeopardise security and can also leave a negative experience and possible negative reviews.
A once-a-year visit from your locksmith would be a sensible idea and should not cost much.
In addition to providing convenient access, hosts should also prioritise the security of their properties in order to prevent unauthorised access.
Opt for high security locks with features that make locks difficult to pick, bypass or snap. A good lock will deter a potential burglar and make unauthorised entry much more difficult.
Again, ask your local trusted local locksmith for advice.
Managing keys for an STR property can be a daunting task, especially if you have multiple guests coming and going. An efficient key management system is the solution to this challenge. It ensures that you can provide secure access to your guests while maintaining control over your property’s security. Typically, this might include being able to generate short-term codes or ‘digital keys’, offering you the ability to allow entry during set periods (rather like a hotel does).
If you do have a physical key, it is also important to have keys that are ‘controlled’. Meaning that a guest (or anybody else) is not able to take a sneaky copy without your knowledge. Owners need to know how many keys there are and where they are. If they are not ‘controlled’ there could be multiple additional copies in existence that could be used to gain access and, for example, steal possessions.
With many owners/hosts managing properties remotely, it is useful to be able to check that the property is secure. For example, the guests may forget to lock the door after them.
A good Smart lock provides remote control access and gives you visibility as to the comings and goings in a property. Through the Smart lock app, you can grant temporary access/passwords to other users which is another way to manage access without having a key.
I recommend the Ultion Nuki product for STR owners.
A common way to make the key available to guests is through a key safe.
Whilst this offers convenience, please be aware that not all key safes are secure.
Please read the previous Lock Guy article on Key Safes for advice.
Whilst convenient, a key safe does not allow for control. That guest that stayed in an STR property and was given the key safe code legitimately could pass it on to any number of people.
It is recommended to change the code periodically to reset the amount of people that can access your property.
If physical keys are used to gain access, then it needs to be accepted that guests will lose keys and some (admittedly a small minority) may take copies for dishonest purposes. In these instances, the only way to protect a property is to change the locks.
The cost to change the lock will be much less than a potential burglary. Often insurers will not pay out if access was gained with a key as they will blame the owner for a lack of security control (see my article on burglaries without a key.)
In conclusion, use the services of a trusted locksmith for short-term rentals to ensure efficient guest access and security.
Making sure that the locks are robust and effective, prioritising security and managing keys properly can make a guest’s stay secure and enjoyable. Paying attention to these details will help earn great reviews and build trust with guests.
I hope this article on lock tips for holiday let owners has been useful to you. If you have any questions, any locksmith requirements in Essex or would like to discuss any of my services, please get in contact.
Got a question about a lock issue you may have? Why not have a look at the FAQ page or one of the helpful advice videos on the Media page.