Seen from inside an apartment lobby, a resident holding a grocery bag knocks on the locked glass door in the snow, next to a smart lock keypad with a red light.

IdeaRadar

Phone battery dies?
You're stuck outside until someone comes along.

Smart Lock Lockout Backup For Renters

When an app-only smart lock fails, the renter gets a backup way in and the building manager gets a record of every lockout.

Score 5.4/10 · Not yet

Property and renting

29 October 2026

Proof at a glance

5.4 out of 10. Score 5.4/10 · Not yet

6 real complaints found and checked

4 apps. ButterflyMX, igloohome, Google Play and 1 more

2 Oct. newest complaint · 4 of 6 in the last 6 months

The problem

Renters in buildings with app-only smart locks get locked out when the phone battery dies, the internet drops or the lock battery runs flat. Reviews of SmartRent, Latch and similar apps describe hubs that fail to connect, auto unlock that never works and an app that will not get past loading. One SmartRent tenant was locked out twice by a dead lock. There is often no key backup, so the renter waits until someone else comes along.

Who it's for

Renters and small property managers in buildings with app-only smart locks (SmartRent, Latch and similar)

What people are saying

com.smartrent.residentKevin Murphy Google Play · 2026-08-29
Abysmal performance - the app regularly fails to get past the loading screen.
+ 3 more complaints

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