Frictionless living: Why the smartphone is the only key your SFR residents want

I’ve Got 99 Problems, But My Smart Lock Ain’t One

In the single-family rental market, “the resident experience” is all-important. As a developer, you’ll have spent significant time focusing on the floor plan, the energy ratings and the granite worktops – but you shouldn’t forget about the first thing that the resident interacts with at the property – the front door.

We now live in a digital age, and for many, the physical key is a relic, a hunk of metal that’s something they have to worry about not losing – so much so that it’s commonplace to attach a Bluetooth smart tracker to it so they have a digital way of finding it. With a smart lock, however, you can bring the benefits of true digital access to your residents, and the headache of the key goes away.

Digital Freedom

Smart access means they can use a fob, but it also means that they can use their phone as the sole means of getting into the house. The phone is already something that no one leaves the house without, and it’s supplanting everything else. That old “Check keys, wallet, phone” routine as they leave the house is going away; all they need is their phone with plenty of power, and they’re set.

The Benefits of Key-Share

One of the benefits of a digital platform is that your residents can easily go into the app to share a digital key to give access to their home.

Remote access

Got someone who needs access? No need to stay home for them or meet up with them in advance to hand them a physical key or plastic fob – just go into the app and share the key with them via text message, and it will invite them to download the app to give them access. You can do this from anywhere you can send a text message. Got a PIN Pad? It’s even easier, as you can just create a PIN for them to use.

The Key Share function can be set so that it only works during certain hours, on a daily or weekly basis, and as a one-off, so you don’t have to worry about compromising the ongoing security by giving someone access and then forgetting about it.

Here are some of the examples of how it could be used.

Friends and family: For weekend visits.
Dog Walkers/Cleaners: Access only during specific hours (e.g., 10 AM – 2 PM on Tuesdays).
Gardeners and landscapers: Access to side gates or sheds only on scheduled days.
Maintenance crews: One-time access for boiler repairs or safety checks.
Delivery Couriers: One-time codes to drop parcels in secure vestibules.

Real-time event logs

The key also brings peace of mind as it lets you keep track of when the door was accessed, handy for checking when the kids have got home, or that the cleaner didn’t skive off half an hour early.

Offline functionality

Your residents don’t need to worry about whether the Wi-Fi is down. Some locks communicate directly with the smartphone over Bluetooth Low Energy, so it doesn’t matter if the Wi-Fi is down or if there’s a poor signal; they will never be locked out of their own home.

Third-party app integration

Would you prefer to keep things consistent and use your own branded app? The NSP Key Share functionality can easily be integrated into your existing app for a consistent and professional branded experience.

Frictionless living

We’ve all got a lot to think about these days, and taking away one more concern is going to be something that your residents will appreciate, making them that bit more likely to stay in your SFR property – all important to maintain your NOI.

Getting better all the time

What’s more, smart locks are getting even easier to use. Technologies such as NFC and digital wallets will mean that your residents will just have to tap their phone on the lock for it to open, with no need to even open their app.

Did I lock the door when I left? Did I leave the key in the lock? All these worries fall away when they are on board with the digital experience.

Our research indicates that when a digital smartphone option is available, up to 80% of residents will engage with it – proving that the interest is there.

Want to learn more about how we can get smartphone access working for you and your next SFR project? Get in touch now to talk to our expert team – we can’t wait to talk to you!