Ask Wirecutter: Do We Really Need High-Security Locks on a Rental House?

Ask Wirecutter is an advice column that explores the best approaches to buying, using, and maintaining stuff.

Dear Wirecutter,

My brother and I run a vacation rental home together, and he insists on installing high-security Medeco locks. This feels like overkill for a relatively low-crime area. Help me convince him that our house is not Fort Knox.

Signed, D.C.

Dear D.C.,

This sounds like a case of security theater—the idea that security measures are put in place for the feeling of safety, rather than for actual safety. The fancy locks your brother insists on probably make him feel safer. But do they actually make the house safer?

Medeco locks are sold through certain locksmiths, and the keys can be copied only by those locksmiths (at $20 a pop, as opposed to the dollar-and-change your local kiosk charges). Your brother probably purchased the locksets with good intentions, in that they are stronger and trickier to pick, and you need a special card to go with the key to have it copied. Medeco claims that “this trusted brand provides products that offer maximum security, safety, and control for schools, hospitals, banks, vending machines and parking meters, homes and offices, and much, much more.” We haven’t tested high-security locks because we think they’re overkill. Unless, of course, you live in a bank or a vending machine.

Jon Chase, Wirecutter’s editor of smart-home coverage, learned how to pick locks as part of the testing for our locks guide. And he found that many deadbolts and door locks are so easy to pick, even his 6-year-old could figure it out. But he thinks this is irrelevant because most robbers are more of the smash-and-grab variety, not the Catwoman type. If someone wants to get into your home, they aren’t going to pick your lock. They’re going to kick in a window or door. As such, a solid door frame, door, and strike plate are likely better investments than a fancy lock.

I’m not going to tell you to stop using high-security locks if that’s what makes your brother feel comfortable. But I do think a smart lock may be a better option.

This house is a vacation rental, which means you likely have guests checking in and out multiple times per month. You probably have cleaners who come in when you aren’t there. And if I know anything about Murphy’s Law when it comes to homeownership, you need to give repair people access to the space, as well. A smart lock is probably a better option for this situation.

Why we love smart locks

Smart locks fulfill all of your needs and then some. They make copying keys a nonstarter—you don’t need them anymore. And there are plenty of great models with extra-tough hardware that should withstand even the strongest burglar’s boot. “Deadbolts are rated by their ability to stand up to heavy impact repeatedly. An ANSI Grade 2 lock, installed with heavy-duty door frame hardware, is plenty tough. But if you’re still worried, one of our favorite smart-lock manufacturers, Schlage, makes great smart locks that are Grade 1—tough enough for commercial use,” Jon said.

Smart locks provide a welcome combination of sturdy hardware and smart features that boost both security and convenience. They can tell you when they’ve been opened. They let you turn off someone’s code at any point or restrict it to certain hours and days. And you can control smart locks from anywhere, so you don’t have to dash to the house to open the door for anyone ever again. Think of all the time you’ll save! You can pick up a fun hobby like entering cornhole tournaments or mushroom foraging.

Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro WiFi

The best deadbolt-replacement smart lock

This compact, versatile, and quiet smart lock’s top feature is a fast (though sometimes faulty) fingerprint reader, and its rubber number keys will please most anyone.

Buying Options

$169 from Home Depot

$160 from U-Tec

Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt

A Wi-Fi deadbolt replacement for Apple HomeKit

This easy-to-install, sharp-looking Schlage model works flawlessly and is the first lock to support Apple Home Key.

Buying Options

$319 from Amazon

$286 from Home Depot

Both our top pick, the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro WiFi, and our also-great pick, the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt, have the features you need to keep your rental running smoothly. If you’re still nervous, you may want to consider adding a smart doorbell or home security cameras, as well. However, rental agencies like Airbnb require that security cameras be disclosed and not put in private spaces like bedrooms and bathrooms. If you don’t want to deal with internet connectivity, there’s also the option of adding a keypad door lock. This type of lock can store a dozen or so unique codes that you can designate for guests, house cleaners, or other visitors, and you can change them as needed.

All of the advantages of a smart lock apply to your primary residence, too (and the Ultraloq has a fingerprint reader, which you may find handy). Imagine not having to worry about the dog walker losing their key, or never getting locked out of the house in your bathrobe again. Hey, it’s happened to the best of us. And shimmying through a bathroom window in your skivvies is certainly entertaining for your neighbors, but it’s probably not so fun for you.