Should I buy a smart lock if I rent?

Yes—but only if you choose a renter-friendly smart lock and get landlord approval first. For most renters, the safest type is a retrofit smart lock that mounts on the inside of your existing deadbolt, so the exterior keyway stays the same and your landlord can still use their key.

Buy one if you want keyless entry, temporary codes for trusted visitors, auto-locking, or a way to avoid lockouts. Skip it if your lease bans lock modifications, your door hardware is incompatible, your landlord won’t approve it, or you don’t want to manage batteries and app access.

Before buying, check: your lease, written landlord permission, whether the lock keeps the original key usable, door/deadbolt compatibility, battery backup/access plan, and whether you must remove it when you move out.