HARDWARE
Home-rental landlords embrace
contact-free access to help
the fight against COVID-19
» WHEN IT COMES TO THE FIGHT
against COVID-19, we’re all in this together.
To limit the spread of the virus, we all need
to do what we can to minimise social contact.
For home-rental landlords this means reducing
physical interaction with tenants – as well
as helping tenants reduce interaction with
tradespeople and delivery drivers. For owners
of short-term holiday lets, the need to reduce
contact with guests is even more urgent, as to
stay open they are required to conform with
the government’s new hospitality guidelines.
OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Providing contactless access is an immediate
concern for short-term property lets.
Government guidelines for holiday rentals
stipulate that owners must minimise contact
with guests – and providing keyless access to
properties is a good place to start. Mechanical
or electronic keyless locks would, of course,
remove the need to hand over keys, but a smart
access solution brings further benefits, too.
When Lifestyle Serviced Apartments
(LSA), wanted to provide remote access to its
serviced apartments in Southend-on-Sea, it
fitted Codelocks Smart Locks on each of the
apartment doors. When a customer makes
a booking, they are remotely issued a time
sensitive code for the relevant apartment.
The code can be set for any desired period
of time and is disposable, expiring once the
customer checks out of the property. As well
as removing the need to physically meet and
greet guests, this technology also reduces the
time spent on the check in procedure, allowing
staff to focus on other tasks – including more
regular cleaning.
SMART ACCESS FOR
HOME RENTALS
One highly effective way that landlords can
cut down on physically interacting with tenants
is to provide contact-free access. By installing
digital locks, landlords can avoid the exchange
of keys. Instead, they can simply share a code
by text or email. By going a step further and
installing smart locks, socially conscious property
owners can empower tenants to lessen their own
contact with others as well.
Combining smart technology with traditional
keypad and card access, Codelocks Smart Locks
allow homeowners, tenants and landlords to
generate time-sensitive and temporary codes
that expire after a set duration. These codes can
be sent by text or email, remotely providing
cleaners, builders and delivery drivers with
temporary access to the property. With complete
control and flexibility, homeowners, tenants,
estate agents and landlords don’t need to worry
about being available and in the property in
order for cleaning, deliveries or maintenance to
take place – offering complete convenience for
all parties.
A smart lock can also offer comfort to
older tenants by adding an extra layer of
reassurance. In the event of an emergency,
it can provide the emergency services with
immediate access, unlike the traditional lock
and key.
ENSURING SAFER
DELIVERIES FOR ALL
As social distancing continues, so does
online shopping and home deliveries. Fitting
properties with secure, outdoor storage for
packages is another effective way of reducing
physical contact and making properties more
attractive to prospective customers.
CITIBIN originally designed its
PARCELBIN boxes to provide safe places
for couriers to leave domestic deliveries and
protect homeowners from ‘porch pirates’.
Since lockdown, the PARCELBIN has
found a new use, enabling couriers to leave
deliveries without needing to interact with
the recipient. For security, the CITIBIN is
fitted with a KL1200 KitLock by Codelocks
– a digital lock that is specially designed
for lockers and cabinets. The owner simply
programs a 4-digit code into the lock and the
PARCELBIN will then remain locked until
that specific code is entered – either by the
user or by a delivery person.
OUT-SMARTING COVID-19
AND DELIVERING A BETTER
SERVICE TO TENANTS
If we’re going to succeed in the fight
against Coronavirus, we’ll all need to play
our part. For owners of holiday rentals,
providing contactless access can help to meet
government guidelines – but for all landlords,
providing keyless access to rental properties is
a smart move. As well as helping to minimise
unnecessary physical contact between all
parties, contactless access solutions reduce
time spent on meeting and greeting guests
and make properties more attractive to
prospective tenants.
www.codelocks.co.uk
62 » SEP 2020 » CLEARVIEW-UK.COM