Can I install a smart lock as a renter?
Asked by Jess, Surfers Paradise · 2026-06-11
I rent a unit in Surfers and would love keyless entry. Am I allowed to install one, and what are my options if the landlord says no to drilling?
Usually only with your landlord or property manager’s permission, and you should check your tenancy agreement first. The renter-friendly path is to choose reversible options: a lock that fits the existing deadbolt prep without new holes, and keeping the original hardware so you can refit it when you leave. If drilling is off the table entirely, a smart padlock on a gate, or a retrofit that mounts over the existing interior thumbturn, avoids permanent changes. Always get approval in writing.
2 community replies
Get written landlord permission and prefer reversible installs that reuse the existing prep. Keep the original lock to refit on exit. Padlocks/retrofits avoid drilling.
My agent was fine with it once I said I would keep the old lock and reinstall it at the end of the lease. Just ask.