In SmartRent’s documented hub-based setup, installed codes continue opening the door during an outage while staff cannot change codes remotely. For a rental smart lock, that distinction separates offline access from control over who can enter. SmartRent’s outage guidance explains which functions depend on connectivity.

For small rental operators and multifamily managers, the purchase decision has three parts: resident entry, staff control over credentials, and recovery afterward. This checklist draws on public manufacturer instructions, without hands-on product testing.

1. Document the exact offline-access configuration

Obtain the lock model, hub or bridge model, firmware version, credential types and connection diagram. Ask the supplier to identify which functions survive loss of internet, loss of hub power, and loss of the radio connection between hub and lock.

Two documented configurations show why those distinctions matter:

These examples apply to the configurations shown. Require equivalent documentation for the equipment quoted.

For guest entry, check first-use requirements as well. Igloohome’s Duration PIN guidance specifies a 24-hour activation window for remotely generated algoPINs and distinguishes them from custom PINs created nearby over Bluetooth. Include the applicable first-use deadline in arrival instructions.

2. Verify how staff can revoke a code while the lock is offline

SmartRent’s offline move-out instructions say an offline hub prevents remote removal of resident codes. The documented fallback involves contacting support and attending the unit with the specified CradlePoint equipment. Obtain the procedure and required equipment before turnover day.

For igloohome’s documented app workflow, PIN deletion requires Bluetooth proximity. Confirm whether the selected model supports deleting an individual PIN or requires deleting all PINs.

Scheduled expiration and early cancellation solve different problems. In a hypothetical maintenance visit, a code valid until 6 p.m. does not meet a requirement to cancel access at 2 p.m. Ask the vendor to demonstrate that early cancellation with the lock disconnected.

3. Plan separately for dead lock batteries

A keypad working through an internet outage tells you nothing about entry after its batteries die. For the Deadbolt 2S Metal Grey, igloohome’s battery-failure instructions document a physical key or a 9V battery jumpstart. Jumpstarting supplies enough power to enter a valid PIN; it does not replace the credential.

Give residents model-specific instructions they can keep offline: normal keypad use, low-battery signals, emergency access and an after-hours contact. Assign responsibility for battery replacement and backup-key custody. Check the route through the lobby or gate as well as the apartment door.

4. Verify when changes and access logs synchronize

SmartRent calls failed code additions or removals “stuck codes.” Its September 23, 2024 guidance says Manager retries them at least once per 24-hour period and provides a manual retry after connectivity returns. That describes retry behavior; it does not establish successful deletion at reconnection. Require staff to distinguish a submitted change from a confirmed change at the lock.

Igloohome’s activity-log instructions, updated July 15, 2026, require a nearby Bluetooth connection and a Sync action to retrieve lock activity. They say PIN use does not provide real-time notifications in that workflow. A lack of notifications therefore cannot establish that nobody entered.

Obtain written answers on log capacity, retention, clock synchronization and recovery after a prolonged outage. The cited SmartRent outage guide does not specify an access-log replay timetable.

5. Price the fallback and assign responsibility

Include subscriptions, connectivity, batteries, spare-key control and on-site visits in the operating budget. Require the contract to identify who handles failed removals, who provides after-hours access and what response time applies. These commitments connect the technology purchase to everyday rental management.

Before acceptance, arrange a supervised demonstration on a vacant unit or test door. Have the supplier show existing-code entry, attempted code removal, confirmed removal after recovery, battery-failure access and retrieval of recorded events.

Approve the system only when its documented fallback fits your staffing and turnover schedule. Where urgent revocation requires a visit, your property operations technology requirements should identify who can arrive with the right equipment within the required time.