Skip to content 
HMS Locksmith is an Allston-based locksmith that installs smart locks, electronic locks and keypad entry for owners and property managers across Boston, from Dorchester, Roxbury and Jamaica Plain to East Boston and Brighton, and in nearby cities like Somerville, Cambridge and Everett. More and more of the calls we get about smart locks for landlords come from owners of triple-deckers, the stacked three-unit houses that still line so many Boston-area streets.
A smart lock can save a small landlord a lot of trips and key copies. It can also create new problems if it is installed on the wrong door or managed carelessly. Here is what to think through before you buy smart locks for landlords and start handing out codes.
Why triple-deckers are a special case
Triple-deckers were mostly built in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Boston Preservation Alliance puts the main building period between 1880 and 1930, and the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy describes them as three stacked apartments with matching floor plans and a set of decks or porches at the rear.
That layout matters for locks:
- Shared front entry. Many triple-deckers have one front door that opens to a stair serving all three units, so the building door and each unit door are separate locks with separate jobs.
- Rear porches. Back doors onto porches are common and are often the door tenants actually use day to day.
- Old doors and frames. A century of paint, settling and repairs means doors do not always line up perfectly, which affects how well any lock, smart or not, latches.
Which doors to upgrade first
The shared building door is usually the best place to start. Every tenant, delivery and contractor goes through it, and keys to it spread fastest. A keypad or keyless entry lock here lets you give each unit its own code and change one code without affecting the others.
Unit entry doors come next. A smart deadbolt can make turnovers much simpler, since you change codes rather than cutting new keys. Talk with tenants before you install, and make sure each tenant has their own credentials.
Rear porch doors are often overlooked. If a smart lock goes on the front unit door but the back door still uses a key from 2009, the back door is the weak point.
Codes, turnovers and tenant privacy
The biggest advantage of a smart lock is also the biggest responsibility: you control the codes.
- One code per tenant. Never reuse codes between units or between tenancies.
- Change codes at every turnover. Delete the old tenant’s code on move-out day, before the new tenant moves in.
- Separate codes for contractors. Give each one a temporary code and remove it when the job is done.
- Be careful with remote access and logs. Some systems record entries. Use that for building security, not for tracking your tenants, and follow your lease and state law on entering a unit.
If you are collecting a lock and key fee at move-in, Massachusetts law allows a landlord to require the purchase and installation cost for a key and lock at the start of a tenancy (M.G.L. c. 186, section 15B). A fresh code or rekey for each new tenant is the clean way to back that up.
Massachusetts law also addresses lock changes at move-in: M.G.L. chapter 186, section 15B lets a landlord charge a new tenant for the purchase and installation of a new lock and key.
Keep a mechanical backup
Electronic locks need power, and many run on batteries. Plan for the day the batteries die:
- Choose a model with a keyed override or an external power option.
- Keep the override keys under the same control you would use for any master key.
- Put battery checks on your turnover checklist.
- Know who to call if the electronics fail. Our residential page lists smart lock and electronic lock repair, and our lock change and repair page covers electronic keypad, card and proximity locks.
Smart lock or a master key system?
Smart locks are not the only way to cut down on keys. For owners with several buildings, a keyed master system can be just as practical. Our rekey and master key page explains how one key can open every door you need while tenants hold keys to their own unit only. Some landlords use keypad entry on the building door and a master keyed system on unit doors. Our smart lock and keyless entry installation team can help you weigh both.
The rest of the property needs attention too
Locks are only one part of looking after a triple-decker. Trees close to those rear porches and decks deserve the same regular attention, and anyone working over your tenants’ porches should follow recognized safety standards.
Serving landlords across Boston and nearby cities
We work with owners and property managers in Dorchester, Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, East Boston, Brighton and Charlestown, and in nearby cities like Somerville, Everett, Chelsea and Cambridge. For landlords just north of the city, our Somerville locksmith page has more detail.
Frequently asked questions
Can I install smart locks on an occupied rental unit?
You can, but talk to the tenant first and give them working credentials the same day. Make sure the lock still has a keyed or emergency way in if the electronics fail.
Are smart locks good for the shared front door of a triple-decker?
Often they are a good fit, because you can give each unit and each service provider its own code and change one without rekeying the whole building.
What happens if the smart lock battery dies?
Most models give a low-battery warning and have a keyed override or emergency power option. If yours does not, choose one that does, and check batteries at every turnover.
Trusted Local Network
We like to point readers toward businesses that do careful work in their own trades and markets. Two worth a look:
- A family-owned Long Beach plumber records video pipe inspections so owners can see the cause of a problem before any repair begins, a habit every landlord can appreciate.
- A Waltham crew that provides tree trimming and pruning across Norfolk, Middlesex and Bristol counties says it follows International Society of Arboriculture and OSHA standards, the kind of standard to ask about before anyone works over your tenants’ porches.
Your Greater Boston Smart Lock Specialists
If you own a triple-decker or a small rental building and want to talk through smart locks, keypads or a master key system, reach our team through the contact page or call (617) 249-4949. We will look at every door, front to back, and help you choose.
HMS Locksmith is based in Allston and serves Boston and nearby communities across Suffolk, Middlesex, Norfolk and Essex counties, including Cambridge, Somerville, Brookline, Newton and Quincy. Learn more about our smart lock and keyless knob installation, or see what neighbors say in the HMS Locksmith Google reviews before you book.
