These negative Tech Trends Making Rental Units More Competitive

Technology continues to play a growing role in the value and utility of rental properties, from residential to commercial units. Many people are already familiar with smart thermostats and doorbells that enable control over HVAC and keeping an eye on who’s at the door.

Landlords and residents have also moved on to smart alarm systems to alert over gas or water leaks, fires and other hazards. They can provide a remote alarm or directly call the appropriate emergency or trade service to get the problem addressed, minimizing damage and time that the property is inaccessible, or even keeping the property habitable.

The Rise in Smart Building Features

Other features will migrate from what trade installers and landlords typically consider office technology, as domestic properties become smarter and better connected. 

For multi-tenant properties like condos, flats and apartment buildings, a key card entry system can replace traditional keys, helping provide better information and management for access, to the simple benefits in life like making it easier for people to come and go through main gates and communal entry points with their hands full. Or saving them having to remember a PIN code that changes whenever someone moves out. 

Key cards can be quickly canceled if they are lost or stolen, which is a more efficient solution than having the locks changed. And they help reduce the cost of managing the building over time. Remote management systems can also cancel the cards for tenants that have left or are being evicted.

Modern key card door entry security systems use RFID access (similar to your bank card) or magnetic stripe technology, letting residents or workers tap, swipe or use proximity to the reader to access the building or area. A data check ensures the card is valid, can compare other details of the user or flag an alert if they are entering at an unusual time. 

While rare in individual family properties, they can be used by busy families who need to track the comings and goings of multiple teenagers, regular visitors like cleaners and gardeners or dog-sitters, adding an extra layer of identity security. 

A key card system is better than the usual video doorbell, ensuring busy property owners aren’t interrupted with a string of messages and chat, but get a brief notification summary as people come and go. Allowing them to investigate any unusual times of activity, or cancel cards when someone is no longer needed or welcome on the premises. 

Smart Tech and Cloud Benefits

Smart technology features can also work together to improve security, with CCTV confirming the identity of a keycard holder, noting other people who enter with them and providing evidence of any attempt at forced entry or other damage. 

These systems link together in the cloud, providing easy access to remote management stations for security officers or residents who are off-site. As most people are already used to tapping in and out of offices or transit systems, the use of key cards on domestic properties will increase as a beneficial use case for property managers, and improve the safety and security reputation of the premises. 

For large domestic buildings, the security team can monitor access wherever they are, freeing them from being tied to the front desk, and helping them respond to any unusual activity faster. As a final touch, badge holders and lanyards don’t need to look business-like for a domestic property. There are plenty of cheery editions available from online stores like Etsy to give them more of a personal feel or reflect the name or brand of the building.  

Summary

Smart technology is playing a beneficial role in the transformation of domestic and rental properties by boosting safety, convenience, and improving management efficiency. Beyond familiar devices like smart thermostats, locks and doorbells, landlords can use key card entry systems to offer secure, trackable access and easy updating/cancellation. 

These systems reduce management costs and improve the occupants’ experience. Integrated with CCTV and cloud-based platforms, they enable remote monitoring and swift response to incidents. As smart tech becomes more common, it boosts property value and appeal, especially in larger residential complexes.