At A Glance
- Airbnb and short-term rental properties benefit from extra security, such as a lockable door chain
- These chains are easy to use and provide meaningful boosts to privacy and home security
- Installing a lockable door chain is a DIY task that you can carry out with relative ease
- Upgrade rental property security with a combination of door chains and locks
If you operate an Airbnb rental, upgrading internal security with a lockable door chain is highly recommended. Short-term rentals often need easy-to-use locking mechanisms so guests can quickly get to grips with the security. In a chat with Locks & Hardware staff about the best options for rental properties, we reached a clear consensus: a chain lock for door security made a lot of sense.
This guide will help anyone who owns an Airbnb rental property or a similar short-term rental install a lockable door chain. These chains can be confusing to install at first, but the process remains relatively simple once you have installed one door chain.
Use our insights, backed by experts in UK door security, to ensure your guests can use a door security chain for peace of mind.
Lockable Door Chains: Extra Internal Privacy & Security
As the owner of a rental property, you need your guests to have a good time during their stay. Well, a large part of the rental experience is feeling safe and secure, right? A door chain definitely helps here.
Guests and hosts alike benefit from installing a lockable door chain. For the guest, there is the added sense of security. Simply slot the chain into place, lock the door using the provided key, and relax. It means nobody can waltz into the property. However, you can also install a door chain on internal doors, such as bathroom and bedroom doors, to give guests a little extra privacy.
People want short-term rentals to feel safe and to offer privacy that will not be disturbed. With something as simple as a lockable door chain, a property owner can make their short-term rental space more attractive. Guests get the added peace of mind and a sense of feeling safe. The building’s owner also gets the added certainty that their rental is unlikely to be broken into anytime soon.
Added security today often revolves around features like CCTV or smart locks. However, renters may prefer something a bit less technological.
For one, it’s easier to use and simpler to get to grips with, even for people who are not very tech-savvy. They also know that, with a lockable door chain, there is less worry about previous tenants or the property owner unlocking the door and/or spying on them with cameras.
The Easy Steps To Install A Lockable Door Chain
The benefits of installing a chain lock on your rental property’s doors are clear. Should you handle the installation yourself, though? Let’s take a look at the instructions. Read through these steps and see for yourself whether you feel confident installing it yourself.
Getting Started
To begin, you’ll need to get together some tools. At the very least, you’ll need the door chain you wish to install. You’ll also need a screwdriver, as well as a hammer and chisel if you intend to install a lockable door chain. You’ll also need a pencil to mark your spot and screws to secure the chain to the wall. Most door chain kits include the screws you need, but you may wish to buy your own.
Preparing The Door Chain
Next, you’ll need to decide where on the door you wish to install your new lockable door chain. Most of the time, it should be aimed so that a person of average height can reach the chain. However, you may wish to lower the height a little so that children of non-toddler age can reach the chain, too. That could be useful in emergencies. Generally, though, around half to three-quarters of the door height is a good starting point.
Using a measurement, such as masking tape, create a line for where you wish t the chain to be. Take the slotted plate where the chain will connect, then place it on the door. Make clear markings for the screwholes, so you know where to drill into the door. Now, drill some pilot holes – minor holes that prepare the door for further drilling – so you have a clear guide for installation.
Fitting The Door Chain Plate
Finish drilling these holes, taking your time so you don’t damage the wood. Take the plate and place it into position, using your screwdriver to screw holes into the holes you just created. Now, the plate should be in place. The plate should feel sturdy; make sure it is level and not wobbling.
Attaching The Door Chain
You now need to do the ‘hard part’: fitting the door chain itself. If you have a plain door frame, there is no need to do anything else: just create a drill hole and screw the chain into place as you did above. Remember to start with a pilot hole to avoid damaging the frame.
If you wish to fit a lockable door chain, though, you’ll need to create a gap for the lock mechanism. To do this, you’ll need to create mortices in the door frame (for the lock latch to connect to) and also into the door itself so you can fit the lock mechanism and keyhole. This involves using a hammer and chisel to mortise a part of the door and door frame so you can fit the lock mechanism.
Every lockable door chain is different, so please follow the guidelines that come with your chosen product for this part. This can add to the complexity of the process, so – at least for your first lockable door chain installation – it may be better to contact a professional to fit the lock mechanism. You can then follow their example for future installations.
Testing The Results
Lastly, test out your work. Have someone stand outside the property. Engage the chain and then ask them to try to open the door. A successfully installed lockable door chain should not open at all when the lock is engaged, and the door should only open slightly ajar when the lock is disengaged and the chain is on. If they cannot slip their hand through to disengage the chain, you’ve done the job perfectly!
Lockable Door Chains: A Small Change With Significant Results
When we think about rental property security, it’s easy to get a ‘galaxy brain’ and allow our ideas to go too far. Most of the time, your tenants don’t need smart locks or 4K CCTV systems in place.
No, they need easy-to-use, effective deterrents to break-ins and invasions of their privacy. That’s why a lockable door chain is such a useful asset. They are easy to use, simple to install, and require very little maintenance over time. Give your guests the added privacy and protection they need and also boost your own reputation as a rental property owner by investing in lockable door chains. Everyone benefits, with no real drawbacks.
Of course, if you struggle with the DIY installation process, hire a locksmith. Either way, door chains and locks are a great one-two punch to make your rental property feel safer for all of your guests.
