Airbnb and short-term rentals need keyless entry that survives constant turnover — a keypad or smart lock you control remotely, plus a plan for the guest who locks themselves out at midnight. We fit and program the hardware, and we can talk through code rotation between bookings before you buy anything.
The lockout call at 11pm on a Saturday is the one every host dreads. Not because you cannot help — you can be there in twenty minutes — but because you cannot always be the one who shows up, and a guest waiting outside with a suitcase does not care whose problem that is.
Get the entry system right once and most of that goes away.
What actually works for a rental
| Option | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Keypad deadbolt | Guest gets a code, you change it between bookings | Single property, hands-on hosts |
| Smart lock with app | Remote lock/unlock, codes set from your phone | Multiple properties, hosts who travel |
| Lockbox for a physical key | Guest gets a combination to a box | Backup option, not a main system |
| Standard key handoff | In-person or hidden key | Not recommended — see below |
Why a standard key does not work here
A physical key means you are either meeting every guest in person or hiding a key somewhere findable, and hidden keys get found more often than hosts think. It also means a lost or copied key stays a risk until you physically rekey the door — which on turnover-heavy properties can be every week or two.
A code costs nothing to change and takes thirty seconds between guests.
Setting up code rotation
The pattern that works for most hosts: one code per booking, generated fresh, active only for the guest’s stay dates if the lock supports scheduling, and deleted the day they leave. Cleaners and maintenance get their own permanent code, separate from guest codes, so you are never handing out the same one twice.
If you run more than one property, look for a lock that lets you manage several codes from one app rather than standing in front of each door.
Guest lockouts
Even with a code, guests lock themselves out — phone dies, code forgotten, the app will not load on hotel wifi. Two ways to handle it:
- Give the guest a fallback — a lockbox with a physical key as backup, or a second code that never changes and lives in your welcome message.
- Have a locksmith on call — for the times the fallback fails too. Non-destructive entry, and we can bill it to you directly rather than the guest standing there working out how to pay.
Either way, put the number in your welcome guide before the emergency, not during it.
What we can set up for you
- Keypad or smart lock supply and fitting
- Programming codes and walking you through changing them yourself
- Guest lockout response, non-destructive entry
- Rekeying if you are converting a property from key to code
- Multi-property setup for hosts running several listings
The Kenner and MSY angle
A lot of short-term rentals here are close enough to the lakefront or MSY that guests arrive tired, jet-lagged, or on a red-eye layover. Weather-sealed hardware matters more on exposed doors near the lake, and a code that works at 2am after a delayed flight matters more than almost anything else in the listing.
If the property floods or takes storm damage, see the seasonal calendar for when to check hardware afterwards.
Setting up a new listing?
Tell us how many doors need codes, whether you want app control or a simple keypad, and how many properties you are running. We will tell you what fits without trying to sell you the most expensive option in the range. Ranges are on the prices page, and there is more on the hardware itself in smart lock installation and smart lock vs deadbolt.