Landlord smart stuff set up for a rental property?

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Blurtie

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#320104 7-Jul-2025 11:24

Hey all,

Just a follow on my post from last year, I thought it would be better to start a new thread rather than continue that as it's a different question/topic.. Apologies if this is in the wrong forum! Mods please feel free to move to another forum if appropriate.

Our new build is coming along and unfortunately due to a change in circumstances it looks like we're going to be renting it out for the foreseeable future. I'm a bit gutted as I really wanted to live there - we designed the house to have the things I wanted - ducted heating, solar, smart locks etc.

Anyhow - as it's now going to be a rental, keen to hear from tenants/landlords on how their properties have been structured in terms of accounts/settings for smart devices? Appreciate there are privacy issues here and my intention is not to spy on our tenants at all - but just wanting to understand the best approach. e.g. for the smart lock - is having a 'master' account to assign access practical or would tenants not like this? Obviously as a landlord, would need ability to block/remove access for previous tenants and the like - but would this work? Similar question for solar set up as well, tenant would probably want access to change/modify settings to suit their preference, but again, is a 'master' account here practical? There are other smart enable devices/appliances too..

Happy to hear any suggestions. Easiest option is not to install/activate the smart stuff.. but keen to avoid that as it's all be priced/specced into the build.

TIA

Dynamic

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#3391430 7-Jul-2025 11:35

A landlord always has a set of keys for a rental property. You having the master code and assigning a separate code to them (for auditability) sounds reasonable to me. Potentially let the tenants know in advance that on move-in day you'll meet them and let them type in their own code so you'll never know it. Potentially let them add several codes so they can use one day to day and have another available for contractors. Depending on the capability of the electronic lock, you may be able to give them access to add/remove codes but not touch yours.

Next time I install a digital lock, it will likely have Bluetooth as pulling the covers off my last lock to change codes (primarily for visitors and contractors) was a pest.

Again with the solar, depending on the gear you may be able to give them read-only rights to be able to view the system performance, or 'read and make minor changes' rights without giving them the keys to the kingdom where they can potentially break stuff. I have no personal experience with solar.

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Jase2985

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#3391503 7-Jul-2025 13:29

with solar, what changes do you expect them needing to do?

The only thing i would expect would be needing to do is check the portal. even then i dont think that would be mandatory, more a nice to have.

Blurtie

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#3391717 7-Jul-2025 15:09

Dynamic:

A landlord always has a set of keys for a rental property. You having the master code and assigning a separate code to them (for auditability) sounds reasonable to me. Potentially let the tenants know in advance that on move-in day you'll meet them and let them type in their own code so you'll never know it. Potentially let them add several codes so they can use one day to day and have another available for contractors. Depending on the capability of the electronic lock, you may be able to give them access to add/remove codes but not touch yours.

Next time I install a digital lock, it will likely have Bluetooth as pulling the covers off my last lock to change codes (primarily for visitors and contractors) was a pest.

Again with the solar, depending on the gear you may be able to give them read-only rights to be able to view the system performance, or 'read and make minor changes' rights without giving them the keys to the kingdom where they can potentially break stuff. I have no personal experience with solar.

Thanks - yes point re having a set of physical keys! It did just occur to me that all these 'smart' devices all need to be connected in the first place to work/access - so it might not even be an issue at all in terms of privacy as there wouldn't be any remote access available as I doubt the tenants will allow access to their connection!

Blurtie

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#3391719 7-Jul-2025 15:16

Jase2985:

with solar, what changes do you expect them needing to do?

The only thing i would expect would be needing to do is check the portal. even then i dont think that would be mandatory, more a nice to have.

Yea, not sure - have never had solar - but I guess I was just thinking along the lines of what I would be doing/using it for if i was living there. But just checking the portal would be enough for the tenant I guess.

Guess I don't know how configurable/tweakable a solar system is. But anyway, I assume that solar (and other devices) will need to be connected to the internet to allow remote access? But would be good to know how it would work if i had a 'master' account that didn't have internet access to the system.. I would only look into the system if request or to check intermittently to see how the system itself was performing and attend to faults/issues if they arise.

gbwelly

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#3391761 7-Jul-2025 20:20

Potentially half the stuff will be flogged out by the time you get into the property, not necessarily because the tenant is being rough, they're just going to be using it and you aren't. Honestly there is enough stuff to do as a landlord than applying critical security updates to smart locks. The last thing you want is the tenant to "change and modify" the solar settings. Why would you want to spend your capital to subsidise their power expenditure? Unless this is going to be rented to a family member I suggest you have a rethink.

Handle9

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#3391765 7-Jul-2025 20:52

As much as possible I'd be reverting the property to "dumb" status.

You have to maintain anything that's been provided to the tenant. Dumb is easy, smart is more complicated. If you don't make it available it's not your problem if it fails.

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Blurtie

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#3391772 7-Jul-2025 21:26

Ah that's a shame. Possibly I'm being a naive first time land lord here, but I just thought putting in those things would make living there a bit nicer and also perhaps attract some decent tenents too. Would've thought that being such a new house, if any were to go wrong (apart from willful damage), then it would be covered by warranties and the like.

Perhaps it's also me thinking that I will move back there at some point - so might as well have it in there from the start rather than retrofitting...

mattwnz

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#3391773 7-Jul-2025 21:41

I would suggest finding some really good tenants. I have seen first hand the damage caused by a family living in a new house resulting in a lot of wear and tear and minor damage. I spent a month repainting much of the interior of a 1 year old house. Many people don’t look after things and ended up with scratches and chips on new fittings and appliances. It is one reason some people prefer to leave them empty than having to deal with that and the costs.

Handle9

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#3391782 8-Jul-2025 01:26

Blurtie:

Ah that's a shame. Possibly I'm being a naive first time land lord here, but I just thought putting in those things would make living there a bit nicer and also perhaps attract some decent tenents too. Would've thought that being such a new house, if any were to go wrong (apart from willful damage), then it would be covered by warranties and the like.

Perhaps it's also me thinking that I will move back there at some point - so might as well have it in there from the start rather than retrofitting...

If it's a new house in a nice area you'll get decent tenants. The difference is it's not their house so they probably don't want to spend their time monkeying around with completely optimising it.

The "smarter" you make the house the more opportunity for things to go wrong and the more time you'll spend fault finding and supporting the tenants. Can you really be bothered fixing a fault when you are away on holiday?

Keep it nice and keep it simple. If you are renting it out it's an investment not a home you live in. That can change in the furture.

johno1234

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#3391790 8-Jul-2025 08:27

Handle9:

As much as possible I'd be reverting the property to "dumb" status.

You have to maintain anything that's been provided to the tenant. Dumb is easy, smart is more complicated. If you don't make it available it's not your problem if it fails.

Absolutely. You don’t want to be unpaid on call technical support.

johno1234

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#3391791 8-Jul-2025 08:29

mattwnz:

I would suggest finding some really good tenants. I have seen first hand the damage caused by a family living in a new house resulting in a lot of wear and tear and minor damage. I spent a month repainting much of the interior of a 1 year old house. Many people don’t look after things and ended up with scratches and chips on new fittings and appliances. It is one reason some people prefer to leave them empty than having to deal with that and the costs.

Assume that this will happen and budget accordingly. It if doesn’t then that’s a bonus.

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Blurtie

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#3391853 8-Jul-2025 12:23

Thanks all,

Seems like the consensus is just to do the bare minimum if possible. Or roll the dice and hope for a decent tenant! Another decision to add to the long list for building.

trig42

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#3391855 8-Jul-2025 12:36

I wouldn't be putting anything in that needs to connect to Wifi. Smart bulbs/switches, door locks/cameras etc. That would then require you to provide the WiFi and give them access to the apps. Just not worth it.

Jase2985

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#3392149 8-Jul-2025 21:04

Blurtie:

Thanks all,

Seems like the consensus is just to do the bare minimum if possible. Or roll the dice and hope for a decent tenant! Another decision to add to the long list for building.

if its not built yet and you plan on living in it in the future and you can afford it run cables to where you want things and you can always install it later with minimal disruption