Smart Locks for Renters: Retrofit Models That Keep Your Key

What makes a smart lock renter friendly?

A standard smart deadbolt replaces the whole lock: the exterior keyed cylinder, the bolt and the interior side. That usually means new keys, and many leases restrict changing or adding locks without the landlord's consent. A retrofit lock avoids most of that. It mounts on the inside of the door over the deadbolt you already have, turns the existing tailpiece with a motor, and leaves the exterior cylinder alone.

August describes its locks this way on its renters page: the lock fits over the existing deadbolt on the inside of the door, the outside does not change, and you and your landlord keep access with the original keys. SimpliSafe says the same of its Smart Lock: it works with your current lock and key and installs over almost any single-cylinder deadbolt with a screwdriver and no drilling.

Three things decide whether a retrofit lock fits your door:

1. A single-cylinder deadbolt. That means a keyhole outside and a thumb turn inside. SimpliSafe, August and Yale all list this as a requirement; Level says the Level Bolt works with most American Standard deadbolts and ships with three tailpiece adapters. Double-cylinder deadbolts (a key on both sides) and locks built into the handle are out.
2. A deadbolt that turns smoothly. A motor will not force a bolt that sticks against the strike plate. Level's battery guide says friction between bolt and strike plate makes the motor work harder and shortens battery life.
3. Your lease. A retrofit lock is easy to remove, but it still touches the landlord's hardware. Read the lock clause, and keep the original thumb turn and screws in a labeled bag so you can put the door back the way you found it when you move out.

For the rest of a rental's door security (strike plates, door viewers, secondary locks), see the apartment door security checklist.

Which retrofit smart locks keep your existing key?

As of October 2026, these are the retrofit options covered here, with prices from each maker's own site:

Two of these behave differently from the rest.

The SimpliSafe Smart Lock is not a standalone product. SimpliSafe lists its latest Gen 3 system as a requirement, so it only makes sense if you already rent with SimpliSafe or plan to. In return it ties into the alarm: arming the system locks the door, and unlocking with a valid PIN disarms the system. If you are choosing a system for a rental, our home security for renters guide compares the no-drill options.

The Level Bolt is the least visible option, but it is the most invasive install of the five. Level's own instructions have you remove the deadbolt housings and the bolt from the door, insert the Level Bolt, and reinstall the housings. Your keys and exterior hardware stay, and Level says the activity log lets you see if building maintenance or your landlord unlocked the door. Because the bolt itself comes out, treat it as a lock change for lease purposes and ask first.

The others sit on the inside of the door only. Of the options covered here, the SimpliSafe lock is the cheapest at $119.99 but needs a SimpliSafe system. The Abode Lock at $134.99 is the cheapest one that works without a security system (Abode says it can be used with or without an Abode system), followed by the Yale Approach at $139.99.

What renters give up with a retrofit lock

A retrofit lock changes how you open the door. It does not change how strong the door is. The bolt, the strike plate and the frame are the same ones the landlord installed, so a retrofit lock gives you exactly the physical security of the existing deadbolt. If the strike plate is held by short screws into soft trim, that is still the weak point.

Battery life is the other trade. Wi-Fi costs power: August quotes up to 3 months on its Wi-Fi Smart Lock with Wi-Fi enabled, while August quotes a 12-month battery life for the Yale Approach (which reaches Wi-Fi through a separate bridge), Level quotes up to a year on one CR2 cell for the Level Bolt and Abode quotes up to 12 months per charge. Every model here keeps the physical key path working, so a dead battery is an inconvenience rather than a lockout, as long as you carry or hide a key. Our guide to what happens when a smart lock battery dies covers the brand-by-brand fallbacks.

If you also want to see who is at the door, pair the lock with a no-wiring doorbell camera; video doorbells for apartments covers peephole cameras and building rules. For how these locks link to alarm systems, see smart locks for security systems.