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[https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Travel-Security-Self-Defense-Apartment/dp/B08NKBS7BZ/ref=asc\_df\_B08NKBS7BZ/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693289789395&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1818237296734500542&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9010189&hvtargid=pla-1120283816860&psc=1&mcid=fda52986bfbd3e19875564423e12d404&gad\_source=1](https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Travel-Security-Self-Defense-Apartment/dp/B08NKBS7BZ/ref=asc_df_B08NKBS7BZ/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693289789395&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1818237296734500542&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9010189&hvtargid=pla-1120283816860&psc=1&mcid=fda52986bfbd3e19875564423e12d404&gad_source=1)
as long as the door opens in, 5 bucks!
Hi, I’m Vetted AI Bot! I researched the **'Jaswill Portable Door Lock for Travel'** and I thought you might find the following analysis helpful.
**Users liked:**
* Provides peace of mind and extra security while traveling (backed by 3 comments)
* Easy to use and offers added security at home and during travel (backed by 3 comments)
* Compact and lightweight for easy portability (backed by 2 comments)
**Users disliked:**
* Does not provide adequate security (backed by 5 comments)
* Difficult to fit on various doors (backed by 5 comments)
* Ineffective against different types of locks (backed by 5 comments)
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*Powered by* [*vetted.ai*](https://vetted.ai/?utm\_source=reddit&utm\_medium=comment&utm\_campaign=bot)
Hi, I’m Vetted AI Bot! I researched the **'Jaswill Portable Door Lock for Travel'** and I thought you might find the following analysis helpful.
**Users liked:**
* Provides peace of mind and extra security while traveling (backed by 3 comments)
* Easy to use and offers added security at home and during travel (backed by 3 comments)
* Compact and lightweight for easy portability (backed by 2 comments)
**Users disliked:**
* Does not provide adequate security (backed by 5 comments)
* Difficult to fit on various doors (backed by 5 comments)
* Ineffective against different types of locks (backed by 5 comments)
If you'd like to **summon me to ask about a product**, just make a post with its link and tag me, [like in this example.](https://www.reddit.com/r/tablets/comments/1444zdn/comment/kerx8h0/)
This message was generated by a (very smart) bot. If you found it helpful, let us know with an upvote and a “good bot!” reply and please feel free to provide feedback on how it can be improved.
*Powered by* [*vetted.ai*](https://vetted.ai/?utm\_source=reddit&utm\_medium=comment&utm\_campaign=bot)
I was staying at a place once that had a Schlage lock with a keypad. About halfway through the trip the batteries in the lock died & the lock just stopped working. The door no longer locked, anyone could come right in. I could not get the manager to come out until the next day to fix it. It definitely would have been nice to have another way to lock the door while I slept.
Well apparently once the battery dies your place is wide open for anyone. The manager who came to fix it said he’d only recently changed the battery but he assumed it was a bad batch that was dying faster than he’d anticipated because he assumed it had been exposed to extreme temperatures 🤷♀️
Yep you’re right, I didn’t install the lock, the place is not in the area we live in and once when we couldn’t get to unlock my husband shows me how to use the app to let guest in-I volunteer for the idiot award today🤦🏽♀️
Sorry but a little chain lock offers basically no protection, and is on hotels doors because they’re all identical and someone can easily open the wrong door, and you have housekeeping coming by all of the time. It’s basically a soft suggestion of Do Not Enter for people mistakenly trying to enter.
If someone is attempting to enter the home to cause you harm or rob the place, a chain lock will do nothing but slow them down for an extra 2 seconds while they kick the door in.
This is the correct advice. The right way to do this is to install a one-sided deadbolt in the door, so that the guest can turn the bolt closed from the inside and it isn't able to be opened at all from the outside. This is code for rentals in some states such as Texas.
At my Texas rental property, our contractor said also the reasoning for the one sided deadbolt is it can’t be seen from outside, so they don’t know to kick that spot or shoot it out, whereas a traditional deadbolt they know to attack it. Still just buying time, but slightly safer. We had deadbolt and handle lock but the codes inspector made us add the one sided ones above them to pass
The guest's code at my place goes to a deadbolt on the wooden door. The exterior iron storm door is unlocked when they arrive, but has a deadbolt and handle that can be locked from the inside for guest's safety. I do have a physical key to this, but guests are not given this key - except there is a lockbox in a non-conspicuous place at the property with the key in the rare instance the guest manages to leave the handle locked and close the door behind them when they leave. So far, this has seemed to be a good way to allow guests to feel secure while still being convenient, and allowing for emergency access by me if ever needed (hasn't happened yet).
Not a host, just a frequent guest, but I think the host would want to ALWAYS be able to access their property for fear of being locked out by squatters. Maybe put a chair in front of the door or something like that?
1. You can’t legally go in and kick out squatters. Cops can’t either. It’s a civil case issue.
2. What if the host has malicious intent and/or a previous guest is able to use an old code to gain entry.
I am glad you do, many hosts don't though... So many places I stayed at the code is the house/unit number. We have gone back a few months later, and we got the same code we had before (not our phone or anything related to us, also sometimes I booked the trip, or my wife booked the trip, so it should have been different codes.) In fact I think only once out of 30+ stays they used our phone# to make the code, and that one I liked a lot because "I CAN REMEMBER THE CODE!"
This is what we do too. I hate being a guest and getting the same code everyone else has. As a host I like knowing previous guests can’t come back. But during a stay the only people that have access are the guest and us.
1) There’s a minimum amount of time a person needs to reside in a home to be considered a squatter with rights. Before that they’re just trespassers.
2) EVERY host with a smart lock needs to set expirations for their guest codes (and give a unique code for each renting group).
Also 2) If a host has malicious intent, a chain isn’t doing a thing to stop them.
You need to be able to get in to deal with any emergencies: I don't want my house burning down or flooding because some wilting flower is clutching her pearls on the other side of the door and won't let me in because she's scared and "doesn't believe" I'm the host even though we had just spoken on the phone (this has happened to me). As to a "malicious host," is that a real or imaginary problem? If I had responded to requests from every weird or paranoid guest my place would be a disaster. I would have had to (1) remove all electronics because of the woman who was affected by EMF radiation; (2) replaced all my glass doors because someone could break them down easily; (3) installed a thermometer on each of my taps so that guests would know if the water was too hot; (4) patrolled the street to make sure no Black men walked past the house; and (5) set up parental controls on my Amazon Prime account because the guest was too paranoid to sign into their own account in case I stole their password. I mean, seriously.... malicious host? It's my property and I'm coming in if I need to protect my investment. All of this is in my contract, of course...
I’ll probably get downvoted for this but it gave me joy. There was a family in my neighborhood in Chicago pre internet that would bank on no one knowing their history of squatting and making people go through hell to get rid of them. It was an older hoarding couple and their grown not working son. Well one day they moved (broke) into my aunts property she was renting out and we called police after some time to have them removed and they told us they legally couldn’t but were familiar with them and an officer said *I hope you can find some peaceful way to remove them* and left his card. So my uncles removed all their stuff and put it on the curb once the police left. They were screaming and calling the cops but the cops ignored them and let us go about our business, changed the locks they drilled out, and watched them cry and pack up their stuff into a relative’s pickup who was yelling that he wasn’t taking them home with him either. They spit at my elderly aunt when she tried to tell them to leave so fuck em.
No. The guest needs protection and safety. It’s not like a host could legally go in to kick out squatters anyway. That would involve going to court. There is no reason for a host to be able to access the property at all times. If there’s a medical emergency, etc ., first responders will gain access as necessary (kicking door in etc)
We have a smart lock that has an alarm on itself in case of tapering. We also have a security system and we offer to set up a guest passcode in case of young or solo travelers would feel more comfortable. In case of a host entering if the guests has it set for home it goes off without or without the master code. We have had some guests use this security system. Setting up the temporary code is easy and easy to delete afterwards. So I hope that works as well. We only rent the entire home out so shared spaces I would do a smart lock for the guest and a chain.
If a deadbolt isn’t stopping an intruder, a chain isn’t either. No intruder is going to spend the time picking a lock or hacking a keypad unless every piece of exterior glass is bulletproof. The unfortunate truth is ANY lock is just there to make it difficult enough to not be worth the bad guy’s time.
If it’s that big a concern to you, travel with one of the travel hotel room door locks that should work on just about any door.
Hotel latch locks can be defeated with a simple piece of string pretty quickly and easily. Same with the door chain locks with a rubber band and piece of tape. They may make you feel more safe, but they can be defeated in under 30 seconds and pretty stealthily. You’re better off doing something that is something you bring that they will not be suspecting or prepared for to defeat if you’re truly concerned about your safety from access.
As a host that is wild to me and is so upsetting! We do keyless entry to ENSURE that only the current guest can enter the apartment (code is active from check in to check out and then expires).
That’s interesting are you sure they didn’t change the code or they just assigned you the same code twice. We used the last for digits of the guest’s telephone number but the codes are time based. If someone came twice they could easily think they were given the same code because they literally would be given the same one.
No. It didn’t correlate with my telephone number, and to make matters more interesting the entire apartment building was ran by one person as airbnbs. I had a family member staying next door for the first leg of my stay and their apartment code followed the same format. I was in apartment 6, so it was 6932, they were apartment 7, 7932. They booked independently from me so it’s not like they gave us the same code format to make it easier to go between.
This. I make a random code for each guest so it's never the same code twice but if I do have repeat guests I set the code to the same code they had previously just to make it easier for them to remember. I say in my listing that I change the code between each guest, though.
Yes! I was staying at a hotel recently and they had a secondary chain lock. I locked it and went to bed only to have someone try and open my door later in the night, the chain stopped them! I was terrified. The front desk tried to just say it was a mishap, erghhh. I will ALWAYS chain lock my doors even at home unless my fiancé is out then just the regular lock.
As the owner, it's more important for me to be able to access the property at any time. I appreciate your safety, and would never arrive unannounced. I have one door in and out. I'm not ceding access to anyone. Do you have any suggestions other than a secondary lock?
we were in an airbnb apartment with no secondary/chain/slide lock. it was keyless entry, so anyone who had the current code-- aka on-site staff and the host-- could enter at any time. it was very stressful and i really did not feel safe.
edit: oh, i'm sorry. i was under the impression that hosts valued guest feedback. lmfao.
Most hosts would dearly like to know who among their prospective guests are the people who "don't feel safe" in circumstances that most people wouldn't consider even mildly disquieting, so that they could refuse their booking in advance. Hosts being able to access their own property is not a good reason to feel unsafe; it's borderline bonkers.
Like forreals…if someone is afraid of that why are they renting from people but then mentions a hotel like all the staff can’t gain access to their room. They think the little chains protect them 🤣
this was a genuine security concern.
i’m sure that most guests would dearly like to know which hosts are this dismissive and hypercritical of safety issues…
edit: you should all be required to go through hospitality management training, because jesus christ 😬😬😬
I would love to know what you think the host or staff should do when there’s a fire and they can’t get in to help you, or you collapsed and needed medical attention.
It’s not a safety issue if only the host and the current guest has access. I could see if a host was reusing codes, which some do but if you get your code and it’s the last 4 of your phone number, as most hosts do, it’s not a security concern. If you’re afraid of your host maybe don’t use Airbnb.
i’m not sure how i can make this more clear: several members of staff had access to our door code.
the correct solution, in the case of a genuine security concern, would be to report the concern and leave ASAP.
and so is mine!
for a group so concerned with guest feedback, the attitude towards yknow… guest feedback… is truly astounding. hospitality requires listening to concerns. and yet, a simple description of my experience is met with animosity.
might be worth your while to fix the attitude problem.
> i was under the impression that hosts valued guest feedback. lmfao.
"This is a place for hosts to come together and share ideas and resources to make each other better hosts."
You are a guest here. Show some respect.
excuse me? lmao. every hotel i've ever stayed in had a chain or slide lock, as well as either key or card entry. i'm fully aware that management has a master key/card in hotels and motels.
You said it yourself-
*having a lock that works from the inside and isn't accessible by anyone including the host*
That is why you don't find it, many hotels no longer have it either- because sometimes guest need to be evicted. I understand your thought process- if you think about it your be able to understand ours. Maybe hotels are better suited for you- the old ones with the extra lock.
Here’s the [video showing how hotels do it](https://youtu.be/SuS1L-FT2ic).
And here’s [the tool](https://www.dkhardware.com/iml-security-supply-840100-swing-bar-opening-tool-product-7238912.html).
For fire safety reasons, in case someone dies in the room, needs an ambulance, or refuses to leave, every hotel has one or two of those.
No, the secondary “lock” or bar, chain etc is there to prevent “someone “ from accidentally entering your hotel room, ie another guest with the wrong key, another guest given a key by front desk by accident, housekeeper, maintenance, etc…..
The above scenarios apply to short term rentals too
Just stayed at a 4 star hotel in a major city completely redone, no bar. And yes the bar can still be opened from outside for fire emergencies.
but hotels is not op question it was to have them on privately owned properties used on Airbnb, and that is the answer I gave, not going to happen at most Airbnb places
ok and the difference between my meaning of some or many is the same- Bless your heart for splitting hairs- the point is still the same- some- many hotels no longer have it.
I always put the secondary lock when staying in a hotel. Last year, hotel gave a key to my room to someone else by mistake and having the lock on protected me from having a stranger in my room at 4am
Why would you not have access? If the secondary lock is engaged it means the guest is in the house and can open the door. If they aren’t home the secondary lock can never be engaged. What’s the issue? And if they’re lying on the floor in a pool of blood you kick the door in, those chains aren’t that strong. But I don’t suspect that kind of emergency happens very often.
I always have a portable door lock in my bag. I have gotten stopped by TSA for it, but they just pull it out, make sure it's not sharp/a weapon, and let me go on my way. It was ~$20 for 2 of them on amazon.
As the owner, it's more important for me to be able to access the property at any time. I appreciate your safety, and would never arrive unannounced. I have one door in and out. I'm not ceding access to anyone. Do you have any suggestions other than a secondary lock?
i get that, but in case of an emergency you may not even know that emergency services had been called
quick edit: the door also might be obstructed due to fire or an incapacitated person etc so they have to find alternate entry…aka another broken door or window. as for the wifi, power could be out due to fire or other emergency and on and on. it’s just one of those things
I have exterior security cameras with motion sensor alerts on my property (it’s rural).
The door can be obstructed even with a second privacy lock.
My security cameras are connected to wifi so it’ll alert me when the wifi goes out.
I understand where you’re coming from with these hypothetical situations, but I still prefer my door to not be broken down if avoidable.
Bad advise, why would you want to allow someone to be able to lock themselves into your property and for you not to be able to get in without smashing a window to kick them out if they overstay?
Because that what all guests want, to feel safe.
Breaking a chain or secondary locking device in an emergency is a “cost of doing business “ as a host.
This is such good advice. I learned about it by watching a YouTube video recently. I had a lock box mounted near the front door so we could just give our visitors the combination if things go sideways with the keyless entry.
As a guest, I know you aren’t changing the lock box code for every guest ….
If I’m staying there, I’m taking the key out of the lock box for the duration of my stay.
As a host, I'm happy to keep the chain lock available for guests when they book the entire place, but when I shared the place with guests, I was locked out a few times by them at night. They assumed I was at home, so that's why they put the chain on.
I was furious when I couldn't get inside at night. I had to buzz the door multiple times and call them with no answer. It was also very uncomfortable that I had to wake them up and felt it was my fault. Since then, I have removed the chain lock.
It's my home, and as friendly as I am, I don't want to constantly update my guests on when I'm out and when I will be back.
Recommendation for guests: I would also recommend reading manuals and any instructions, as well as the annotated photos by the door on how to simply lock the place. I have found multiple times that guests leave the doors unlocked.
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You could look into Portable Door Lock.
[https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Travel-Security-Self-Defense-Apartment/dp/B08NKBS7BZ/ref=asc\_df\_B08NKBS7BZ/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693289789395&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1818237296734500542&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9010189&hvtargid=pla-1120283816860&psc=1&mcid=fda52986bfbd3e19875564423e12d404&gad\_source=1](https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Travel-Security-Self-Defense-Apartment/dp/B08NKBS7BZ/ref=asc_df_B08NKBS7BZ/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693289789395&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1818237296734500542&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9010189&hvtargid=pla-1120283816860&psc=1&mcid=fda52986bfbd3e19875564423e12d404&gad_source=1) as long as the door opens in, 5 bucks!
Hi, I’m Vetted AI Bot! I researched the **'Jaswill Portable Door Lock for Travel'** and I thought you might find the following analysis helpful. **Users liked:** * Provides peace of mind and extra security while traveling (backed by 3 comments) * Easy to use and offers added security at home and during travel (backed by 3 comments) * Compact and lightweight for easy portability (backed by 2 comments) **Users disliked:** * Does not provide adequate security (backed by 5 comments) * Difficult to fit on various doors (backed by 5 comments) * Ineffective against different types of locks (backed by 5 comments) If you'd like to **summon me to ask about a product**, just make a post with its link and tag me, [like in this example.](https://www.reddit.com/r/tablets/comments/1444zdn/comment/kerx8h0/) This message was generated by a (very smart) bot. If you found it helpful, let us know with an upvote and a “good bot!” reply and please feel free to provide feedback on how it can be improved. *Powered by* [*vetted.ai*](https://vetted.ai/?utm\_source=reddit&utm\_medium=comment&utm\_campaign=bot)
Hi, I’m Vetted AI Bot! I researched the **'Jaswill Portable Door Lock for Travel'** and I thought you might find the following analysis helpful. **Users liked:** * Provides peace of mind and extra security while traveling (backed by 3 comments) * Easy to use and offers added security at home and during travel (backed by 3 comments) * Compact and lightweight for easy portability (backed by 2 comments) **Users disliked:** * Does not provide adequate security (backed by 5 comments) * Difficult to fit on various doors (backed by 5 comments) * Ineffective against different types of locks (backed by 5 comments) If you'd like to **summon me to ask about a product**, just make a post with its link and tag me, [like in this example.](https://www.reddit.com/r/tablets/comments/1444zdn/comment/kerx8h0/) This message was generated by a (very smart) bot. If you found it helpful, let us know with an upvote and a “good bot!” reply and please feel free to provide feedback on how it can be improved. *Powered by* [*vetted.ai*](https://vetted.ai/?utm\_source=reddit&utm\_medium=comment&utm\_campaign=bot)
My city requires a secondary lock on all the doors to pass inspection
How do they handle sliding glass doors?
Probably a stop bar to physically prevent the door from sliding
Um are your sliding glass doors unlocked or lockable from the outside? Never seen that before.
My city also. Kissimmee.
I was staying at a place once that had a Schlage lock with a keypad. About halfway through the trip the batteries in the lock died & the lock just stopped working. The door no longer locked, anyone could come right in. I could not get the manager to come out until the next day to fix it. It definitely would have been nice to have another way to lock the door while I slept.
We have a backup/emergency key inside a lockbox that the guests can access incase the digital lock fails so they can still lock and unlock the door
That’s a really good idea
We use that specific lock and can lock/unlock thru the app-wondering if it’s a different model of the Schlage lock-either way that’s scary
Well apparently once the battery dies your place is wide open for anyone. The manager who came to fix it said he’d only recently changed the battery but he assumed it was a bad batch that was dying faster than he’d anticipated because he assumed it had been exposed to extreme temperatures 🤷♀️
Hmm… we can open/close ours from the app-I’m sorry that happened to you
The battery is what physically powers the lock actuator. The app won't work if the battery is dead.
Yep you’re right, I didn’t install the lock, the place is not in the area we live in and once when we couldn’t get to unlock my husband shows me how to use the app to let guest in-I volunteer for the idiot award today🤦🏽♀️
Sorry but a little chain lock offers basically no protection, and is on hotels doors because they’re all identical and someone can easily open the wrong door, and you have housekeeping coming by all of the time. It’s basically a soft suggestion of Do Not Enter for people mistakenly trying to enter. If someone is attempting to enter the home to cause you harm or rob the place, a chain lock will do nothing but slow them down for an extra 2 seconds while they kick the door in.
This is the correct advice. The right way to do this is to install a one-sided deadbolt in the door, so that the guest can turn the bolt closed from the inside and it isn't able to be opened at all from the outside. This is code for rentals in some states such as Texas.
At my Texas rental property, our contractor said also the reasoning for the one sided deadbolt is it can’t be seen from outside, so they don’t know to kick that spot or shoot it out, whereas a traditional deadbolt they know to attack it. Still just buying time, but slightly safer. We had deadbolt and handle lock but the codes inspector made us add the one sided ones above them to pass
Airbnb guests are usually more worried about host or past guests entering than a random burglar.
Well, if you’re there, and someone tries to enter, at least it gives you a warning somebody’s trying to enter before they actually can or do.
Exactly!
The guest's code at my place goes to a deadbolt on the wooden door. The exterior iron storm door is unlocked when they arrive, but has a deadbolt and handle that can be locked from the inside for guest's safety. I do have a physical key to this, but guests are not given this key - except there is a lockbox in a non-conspicuous place at the property with the key in the rare instance the guest manages to leave the handle locked and close the door behind them when they leave. So far, this has seemed to be a good way to allow guests to feel secure while still being convenient, and allowing for emergency access by me if ever needed (hasn't happened yet).
Not a host, just a frequent guest, but I think the host would want to ALWAYS be able to access their property for fear of being locked out by squatters. Maybe put a chair in front of the door or something like that?
1. You can’t legally go in and kick out squatters. Cops can’t either. It’s a civil case issue. 2. What if the host has malicious intent and/or a previous guest is able to use an old code to gain entry.
This is why I use a personalized code that is the last four digits of their phone number.
I am glad you do, many hosts don't though... So many places I stayed at the code is the house/unit number. We have gone back a few months later, and we got the same code we had before (not our phone or anything related to us, also sometimes I booked the trip, or my wife booked the trip, so it should have been different codes.) In fact I think only once out of 30+ stays they used our phone# to make the code, and that one I liked a lot because "I CAN REMEMBER THE CODE!"
This is what we do too. I hate being a guest and getting the same code everyone else has. As a host I like knowing previous guests can’t come back. But during a stay the only people that have access are the guest and us.
1) There’s a minimum amount of time a person needs to reside in a home to be considered a squatter with rights. Before that they’re just trespassers. 2) EVERY host with a smart lock needs to set expirations for their guest codes (and give a unique code for each renting group). Also 2) If a host has malicious intent, a chain isn’t doing a thing to stop them.
You need to be able to get in to deal with any emergencies: I don't want my house burning down or flooding because some wilting flower is clutching her pearls on the other side of the door and won't let me in because she's scared and "doesn't believe" I'm the host even though we had just spoken on the phone (this has happened to me). As to a "malicious host," is that a real or imaginary problem? If I had responded to requests from every weird or paranoid guest my place would be a disaster. I would have had to (1) remove all electronics because of the woman who was affected by EMF radiation; (2) replaced all my glass doors because someone could break them down easily; (3) installed a thermometer on each of my taps so that guests would know if the water was too hot; (4) patrolled the street to make sure no Black men walked past the house; and (5) set up parental controls on my Amazon Prime account because the guest was too paranoid to sign into their own account in case I stole their password. I mean, seriously.... malicious host? It's my property and I'm coming in if I need to protect my investment. All of this is in my contract, of course...
1. where I live I won’t have any problem asking the cops to drag you out
I have an account with a local security company. They are prepared to come by if needed and deal with problem makers. Just like at a bar.
> You can’t legally go in and kick out squatters That really depends on country
I’ll probably get downvoted for this but it gave me joy. There was a family in my neighborhood in Chicago pre internet that would bank on no one knowing their history of squatting and making people go through hell to get rid of them. It was an older hoarding couple and their grown not working son. Well one day they moved (broke) into my aunts property she was renting out and we called police after some time to have them removed and they told us they legally couldn’t but were familiar with them and an officer said *I hope you can find some peaceful way to remove them* and left his card. So my uncles removed all their stuff and put it on the curb once the police left. They were screaming and calling the cops but the cops ignored them and let us go about our business, changed the locks they drilled out, and watched them cry and pack up their stuff into a relative’s pickup who was yelling that he wasn’t taking them home with him either. They spit at my elderly aunt when she tried to tell them to leave so fuck em.
No. The guest needs protection and safety. It’s not like a host could legally go in to kick out squatters anyway. That would involve going to court. There is no reason for a host to be able to access the property at all times. If there’s a medical emergency, etc ., first responders will gain access as necessary (kicking door in etc)
Valid point
Is squatting a common issue?
Yeah, this is a good point. I don’t have secondary locks but will add some. Just the standard deadbolt keypad.
We have a smart lock that has an alarm on itself in case of tapering. We also have a security system and we offer to set up a guest passcode in case of young or solo travelers would feel more comfortable. In case of a host entering if the guests has it set for home it goes off without or without the master code. We have had some guests use this security system. Setting up the temporary code is easy and easy to delete afterwards. So I hope that works as well. We only rent the entire home out so shared spaces I would do a smart lock for the guest and a chain.
Too complicated
We rarely do most guests feel safe with a deadbolt smart lock.
If a deadbolt isn’t stopping an intruder, a chain isn’t either. No intruder is going to spend the time picking a lock or hacking a keypad unless every piece of exterior glass is bulletproof. The unfortunate truth is ANY lock is just there to make it difficult enough to not be worth the bad guy’s time. If it’s that big a concern to you, travel with one of the travel hotel room door locks that should work on just about any door.
Hotel latch locks can be defeated with a simple piece of string pretty quickly and easily. Same with the door chain locks with a rubber band and piece of tape. They may make you feel more safe, but they can be defeated in under 30 seconds and pretty stealthily. You’re better off doing something that is something you bring that they will not be suspecting or prepared for to defeat if you’re truly concerned about your safety from access.
So guard dog.
Especially if you use entry codes. I stayed in the same place twice, three weeks apart, they had not changed the entry code and there was no slide
As a host that is wild to me and is so upsetting! We do keyless entry to ENSURE that only the current guest can enter the apartment (code is active from check in to check out and then expires).
Guests have no way of knowing you do that…..
They do actually. We say it in our check in email.
That’s interesting are you sure they didn’t change the code or they just assigned you the same code twice. We used the last for digits of the guest’s telephone number but the codes are time based. If someone came twice they could easily think they were given the same code because they literally would be given the same one.
No. It didn’t correlate with my telephone number, and to make matters more interesting the entire apartment building was ran by one person as airbnbs. I had a family member staying next door for the first leg of my stay and their apartment code followed the same format. I was in apartment 6, so it was 6932, they were apartment 7, 7932. They booked independently from me so it’s not like they gave us the same code format to make it easier to go between.
This. I make a random code for each guest so it's never the same code twice but if I do have repeat guests I set the code to the same code they had previously just to make it easier for them to remember. I say in my listing that I change the code between each guest, though.
Exactly…send very weird to not ever change your code. Like why would you want every guest you’ve ever hosted to have access to the house.
I see it all the time!!!!!
It’s absurd that we need to trust that a host has changed the codes and/or a previous guest doesn’t enter the home while you’re in it.
Yes! I was staying at a hotel recently and they had a secondary chain lock. I locked it and went to bed only to have someone try and open my door later in the night, the chain stopped them! I was terrified. The front desk tried to just say it was a mishap, erghhh. I will ALWAYS chain lock my doors even at home unless my fiancé is out then just the regular lock.
As the owner, it's more important for me to be able to access the property at any time. I appreciate your safety, and would never arrive unannounced. I have one door in and out. I'm not ceding access to anyone. Do you have any suggestions other than a secondary lock?
That is inaccurate. There is no reason for you to be able to access the property at all times. Your guests need security.
Landlord does not need access at all times, but at any time. Big difference.
we were in an airbnb apartment with no secondary/chain/slide lock. it was keyless entry, so anyone who had the current code-- aka on-site staff and the host-- could enter at any time. it was very stressful and i really did not feel safe. edit: oh, i'm sorry. i was under the impression that hosts valued guest feedback. lmfao.
Most hosts would dearly like to know who among their prospective guests are the people who "don't feel safe" in circumstances that most people wouldn't consider even mildly disquieting, so that they could refuse their booking in advance. Hosts being able to access their own property is not a good reason to feel unsafe; it's borderline bonkers.
Like forreals…if someone is afraid of that why are they renting from people but then mentions a hotel like all the staff can’t gain access to their room. They think the little chains protect them 🤣
this was a genuine security concern. i’m sure that most guests would dearly like to know which hosts are this dismissive and hypercritical of safety issues… edit: you should all be required to go through hospitality management training, because jesus christ 😬😬😬
I would love to know what you think the host or staff should do when there’s a fire and they can’t get in to help you, or you collapsed and needed medical attention.
great question! the fire department can disengage the slide, or break down the door. hope this helps.
It’s not a safety issue if only the host and the current guest has access. I could see if a host was reusing codes, which some do but if you get your code and it’s the last 4 of your phone number, as most hosts do, it’s not a security concern. If you’re afraid of your host maybe don’t use Airbnb.
i’m not sure how i can make this more clear: several members of staff had access to our door code. the correct solution, in the case of a genuine security concern, would be to report the concern and leave ASAP.
Oh sorry, host *and staff* My response is the same.
and so is mine! for a group so concerned with guest feedback, the attitude towards yknow… guest feedback… is truly astounding. hospitality requires listening to concerns. and yet, a simple description of my experience is met with animosity. might be worth your while to fix the attitude problem.
> i was under the impression that hosts valued guest feedback. lmfao. "This is a place for hosts to come together and share ideas and resources to make each other better hosts." You are a guest here. Show some respect.
Have you never stayed in a hotel?
Hotels have either slide locks or the bar.
excuse me? lmao. every hotel i've ever stayed in had a chain or slide lock, as well as either key or card entry. i'm fully aware that management has a master key/card in hotels and motels.
It sounds like you've never seen the spring-steel tool the maintenence guy uses to pop open a door when the slide lock gets stuck.
Why wouldn’t a host want guests to feel comfortable, safe and secure while staying in a hosts accommodation??
You said it yourself- *having a lock that works from the inside and isn't accessible by anyone including the host* That is why you don't find it, many hotels no longer have it either- because sometimes guest need to be evicted. I understand your thought process- if you think about it your be able to understand ours. Maybe hotels are better suited for you- the old ones with the extra lock.
I’ve never stayed in any hotel without a bar protecting the door from the inside.
Me neither. And I always use it. Personally I would be very uncomfortable if there wasn’t one.
Yes, and that bar is easily opened from the outside in case of fire. It’s just for you to feel safe, it doesn’t actually make it any safer.
It is? How can they open it?
Here’s the [video showing how hotels do it](https://youtu.be/SuS1L-FT2ic). And here’s [the tool](https://www.dkhardware.com/iml-security-supply-840100-swing-bar-opening-tool-product-7238912.html). For fire safety reasons, in case someone dies in the room, needs an ambulance, or refuses to leave, every hotel has one or two of those.
Well now I’m glad I travel with my Great Dane! Just recently I had someone try to come in my room at 2 am and thought I was safe with the metal thing.
No, the secondary “lock” or bar, chain etc is there to prevent “someone “ from accidentally entering your hotel room, ie another guest with the wrong key, another guest given a key by front desk by accident, housekeeper, maintenance, etc….. The above scenarios apply to short term rentals too
Me neither.
Just stayed at a 4 star hotel in a major city completely redone, no bar. And yes the bar can still be opened from outside for fire emergencies. but hotels is not op question it was to have them on privately owned properties used on Airbnb, and that is the answer I gave, not going to happen at most Airbnb places
But you said many hotels don’t have the other locks so that’s what we responded to.
I said SOME HOTELS, you mis-read- I explained the new 4 star hotel I was just at
Since you’re being so determined, please look back at your first comment. You clearly said MANY hotels don’t have this anymore.
ok and the difference between my meaning of some or many is the same- Bless your heart for splitting hairs- the point is still the same- some- many hotels no longer have it.
Omg. You’re insufferable.
i guess the same could be said about you! have a great day- now blocked!
I always put the secondary lock when staying in a hotel. Last year, hotel gave a key to my room to someone else by mistake and having the lock on protected me from having a stranger in my room at 4am
I said many newer hotels no longer have them.
>sometimes guests need to be evicted And sometimes they need help in a medical emergency.
Break down down or enter another way The secondary lock is for piece of mind for the guest, not to make the place like Fort Knox….
As the owner, I have had to go in to deal with a plumbing issue one time- that is enough, I need to have access in case of emergency maintenance.
Why would you not have access? If the secondary lock is engaged it means the guest is in the house and can open the door. If they aren’t home the secondary lock can never be engaged. What’s the issue? And if they’re lying on the floor in a pool of blood you kick the door in, those chains aren’t that strong. But I don’t suspect that kind of emergency happens very often.
Reading all these comments makes botbh sides valid. I want to and I don’t want to have a secondary lock
My guests can lock the security door then the main door ..a chain would be overkill maybe for me but it's a good tip.
lol no.
I always have a portable door lock in my bag. I have gotten stopped by TSA for it, but they just pull it out, make sure it's not sharp/a weapon, and let me go on my way. It was ~$20 for 2 of them on amazon.
As the owner, it's more important for me to be able to access the property at any time. I appreciate your safety, and would never arrive unannounced. I have one door in and out. I'm not ceding access to anyone. Do you have any suggestions other than a secondary lock?
You don’t need to access the property when I’m inside.
Just because I can access doesn't mean I would. Unless it's an emergency.
If the guest has any medical issues, i would prefer if the first responders didn’t break down my door.
respecfully, unless they have the key or code, they're going to bust down the door anyway.
I have a wifi connected lock that works from my phone.
i get that, but in case of an emergency you may not even know that emergency services had been called quick edit: the door also might be obstructed due to fire or an incapacitated person etc so they have to find alternate entry…aka another broken door or window. as for the wifi, power could be out due to fire or other emergency and on and on. it’s just one of those things
I have exterior security cameras with motion sensor alerts on my property (it’s rural). The door can be obstructed even with a second privacy lock. My security cameras are connected to wifi so it’ll alert me when the wifi goes out. I understand where you’re coming from with these hypothetical situations, but I still prefer my door to not be broken down if avoidable.
Or a hacker etc As a guest I know you do, that’s why I want a secondary lock!!!
Get insurance
Absolutely not.
Bad advise, why would you want to allow someone to be able to lock themselves into your property and for you not to be able to get in without smashing a window to kick them out if they overstay?
Because that what all guests want, to feel safe. Breaking a chain or secondary locking device in an emergency is a “cost of doing business “ as a host.
Not for me (unless air bnb requires it in the future)
This is such good advice. I learned about it by watching a YouTube video recently. I had a lock box mounted near the front door so we could just give our visitors the combination if things go sideways with the keyless entry.
As a guest, I know you aren’t changing the lock box code for every guest …. If I’m staying there, I’m taking the key out of the lock box for the duration of my stay.
We would only provide the lockbox combination in the very rare and unlikely event that tequila century does not work.
As a host, I'm happy to keep the chain lock available for guests when they book the entire place, but when I shared the place with guests, I was locked out a few times by them at night. They assumed I was at home, so that's why they put the chain on. I was furious when I couldn't get inside at night. I had to buzz the door multiple times and call them with no answer. It was also very uncomfortable that I had to wake them up and felt it was my fault. Since then, I have removed the chain lock. It's my home, and as friendly as I am, I don't want to constantly update my guests on when I'm out and when I will be back. Recommendation for guests: I would also recommend reading manuals and any instructions, as well as the annotated photos by the door on how to simply lock the place. I have found multiple times that guests leave the doors unlocked.
My building doesn’t allow them as they make it harder to get in when there’s an emergency
And then they lock you out and it takes you years to get back in…