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My New Apartment's Most Aggravating Feature

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Re: My New Apartment's Most Aggravating Feature

#41

Post by bennyelv »

mikestew wrote: post #10

Sounds like Latch is just garbage. Our August locks consist of me talking to the watch (or phone, if that's your thing): "hey dingus, unlock the front door". I can do that after a run when I'm still 50 feet away, or whenever is convenient for me to do so. Of course, leaving the house is just the opposite, me shouting at HomePod on the way out the door: "hey dingus, lock the front door". And before I'm out the front g…

I just rented an Airbnb that used "Nuki" door looks and they were absolute garbage as well.

I never appreciated what an excellent solution a physical lock and key is until I experienced: - The paranoia when my phone was low on battery that I'm not going to be able to get back into the house. - The refusal of the stupid app to connect to the lock, requiring 5 attempts, turning things off and on again. Whilst standing in the street with all my stuff. Several times. Which causes... - Paranoia that the thing is just not going to work.

A smart lock needs to match the reliability and convenience of the thing it replaces. The reliability of a physical lock and key is so high that I'd describe it with a 1 rather than 9's.

Re: My New Apartment's Most Aggravating Feature

#42

Post by mariusor »

msmenardi wrote: post #23

The purpose of smart locks such as these is never convenience. It's not even to make money. The purpose is to deprive you of the resource they control should you say something they disagree with. In fact, this applies to all smart devices, and IoT gadgets - to spy on you, and to control you if you step out of line. "Oh I'm sorry your dishwasher won't start, should have thought of how much you valued having clean dish…

> The purpose is to deprive you of the resource they control should you say something they disagree with.

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. I think you're showing yourself a little too eager to go down the cybery slope of dystopia.

Re: My New Apartment's Most Aggravating Feature

#43

Post by NoZebra120vClip »

nucleardog wrote: post #37
NoZebra120vClip wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> But for all intents & purposes, while paying rent you are owner of said apartment, right? Wrong. You don't own that place, the owner owns it. And they have the right of entry in emergency situations, or typically with 48 hours notice. They will bill/sue/evict you for tampering with the entry locks, for sure.

> They will bill/sue/evict you for tampering with the entry locks, for sure. I'd have a hard time believing anything comes of it if they try. Let's say: * You contacted the landlord and let them know the lock was not functional and you'd been unable to access your unit on several occasions. You'd had to sleep at friends' houses several times due to being unable to access your unit. You give them a reasonable timefram…

I mean yeah, the scenario you present is remarkably more cooperative and considerate than the original proposition which I replied to, and I don't see a reasonable landlord rejecting the plan out-of-hand.

Of course, most landlords insist on consistency in maintenance, for example that all the ovens installed are the same make and model, so that they can be repaired or replaced when the time comes. A resident who installs their own equipment of whatever vintage is going to cause trouble for that maintenance flow, so it would seem to be in everyone's best interest to go through proper channels, and allow the landlord to select and install door locks consistent with what their maintenance team can handle, whatever that may be.

Re: My New Apartment's Most Aggravating Feature

#44

Post by JohnFen »

Those smart locks are a clear and obvious Bad Thing for renters all around. I would absolutely not rent any place that uses them, if for no other reason than that they are a strong indication of the attitude of the landlord toward their tenants.

Re: My New Apartment's Most Aggravating Feature

#45

Post by em-bee »

kmoser wrote: post #35
jbburt wrote: post #5

my apartment building in Boston (part of AvalonBay Communities) installed Latch last year, and I can't agree more with this article. sure, one 7 digit code isn't difficult to memorize, and I obviously memorized the code for the door to my unit. but in my building alone, there's one door to the main lobby; a first-floor main entrance; another first-floor entryway that requires opening two distinct doors sequentially;…

Even if you have no trouble remembering a seven digit code, there's nothing to stop a malicious actor who determines that code from entering your apartment. At least with physical keys you have absolute control over who has those keys, and don't have to worry about somebody spying on you as you're punching in the code. The fact that it takes two seven-digit codes to enter your apartment (one for the lobby door, one f…

yup, it didn't take long before my kids friends all knew the code to our home.

Re: My New Apartment's Most Aggravating Feature

#46

Post by em-bee »

NoZebra120vClip wrote: post #16
RetroTechie wrote: post #7

This just sounds unreasonable. How about: 1) Hire locksmith. 2) Have them replace app-supported lock with regular metal key one. 3) Profit (in time & annoyance saved). 4) While you're living there , if landlord threathens legal proceedings: hire lawyer & "see you in court". 5) When you leave: hire locksmith to revert lock to app-supported one. If landlord requests so. Sure there's ownership. But for all intents & pur…

> But for all intents & purposes, while paying rent you are owner of said apartment, right? Wrong. You don't own that place, the owner owns it. And they have the right of entry in emergency situations, or typically with 48 hours notice. They will bill/sue/evict you for tampering with the entry locks, for sure.

in some countries you absolutely have the right to replace the lock at will. at worst you may have to reinstall the original lock when you move out.

the landlord has no right to enter your home without you being present, no matter what. if there is an emergency like a fire or a broken pipe then they may have to break the door if you can't get there fast enough, but that then should be the least of your worries.

Re: My New Apartment's Most Aggravating Feature

#47

Post by JohnFen »

RetroTechie wrote: post #7

This just sounds unreasonable. How about: 1) Hire locksmith. 2) Have them replace app-supported lock with regular metal key one. 3) Profit (in time & annoyance saved). 4) While you're living there , if landlord threathens legal proceedings: hire lawyer & "see you in court". 5) When you leave: hire locksmith to revert lock to app-supported one. If landlord requests so. Sure there's ownership. But for all intents & pur…

> But for all intents & purposes, while paying rent you are owner of said apartment, right?

No, at least not in my US state. I cannot, for example, paint my apartment, install new carpeting, change the locks, or any other modifications to the premises without my landlord's permission. Doing so would violate my lease and I could technically be evicted for it.

You do have some specific rights as a renter, but they aren't even close to the rights you'd have if you owned the place.

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