Lockboxes and key access for rental showings
To show a vacant rental when you cannot be there, use a lockbox or smart lock that gives each visitor a code that works only for the appointment, confirm who is coming first, and change the code after every showing day and when the unit is rented. A shared code that never changes is the most common way a vacant unit gets entered by people you never met.
Your options for access
| Option | How it works | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Combination lockbox | A box on the door holds a key. One code opens it. | The code is shared, so change it often. |
| Keypad lockbox with one-time codes | Some boxes accept a code that expires. | Check the model supports it and that batteries are good. |
| Smart lock | A door lock with codes that can be set per person and per time. | Needs power or batteries and a good connection. |
| Key handover | You or a helper meets each visitor. | Takes time but you see who comes. |
| Local helper | Someone you trust shows the unit. | Agree on pay, notes and a code. |
A smart lock with a code per appointment is the strongest option, since you can see when the door opened and switch the code off. A lockbox is cheaper but shares one code among everyone who uses it.
Rules that keep a vacant unit safe
- Confirm the visitor first. Get a name, an email and a phone number, and ask for a photo ID on arrival if you are meeting them.
- Give the code only for the appointment, and send it close to the time, not days before.
- Change the code after each showing day, and when the unit is rented.
- Take valuables, mail and tools out of the unit.
- Turn on lights and unlock interior doors so the visitor does not need to ask for anything.
- Ask the visitor to lock up and return the key to the box.
- Check the unit after showings for damage, open windows and left lights.
See the longer vacant unit safety checklist and smart lock code privacy.
Notice and the tenant who is still there
A lockbox with a tenant in the home is a different thing: you may not let visitors in unannounced. Where the unit is occupied, follow your state's notice rule for entry and give the tenant the time window. See showing an occupied unit. For example, Florida requires at least 24 hours' notice for entry for repairs and bars unreasonable refusal of entry to show the unit (see section 83.53).
Give every visitor the same access
Do not offer self-access to some inquirers and an in-person visit to others based on who they seem to be. Set a rule, such as "everyone who gives a name, phone and email and passes a short pre-check gets a code", and apply it to all. Choices based on a protected class break the Fair Housing Act (see 42 U.S.C. 3604). See self-guided tours.
After the unit is rented
Remove the lockbox, delete any codes and rekey or change the lock before move-in, since many people have seen the key or the box. See rekeying between tenants.
Common mistakes
The usual errors are leaving the same code in place for months, writing the code on the listing, giving it to anyone who asks by text, forgetting to collect the lockbox after the unit is rented, and leaving appliances, tools or paint in the unit. Another is skipping the pre-check because the inquiry came from a listing site. A short call or message to confirm a name and a time costs a minute and cuts the number of strangers who enter the home.
How DoorKeeping handles it
DoorKeeping does not control locks or lockboxes. Showing requests from your listing page, each with the visitor's name, email, optional phone and good times, come to you by email and are saved on your Listings screen, so you can vet the person before sending a code. You write and send the confirmation. Ask Claude or ChatGPT, connected to DoorKeeping, which requests are still unanswered. See the connect page.
Sources
- Florida Statutes section 83.53, Landlord's access to dwelling unit, read Oct 31, 2026
- Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. 3604 (Cornell Legal Information Institute), read Oct 31, 2026
- DoorKeeping: Connect Claude or ChatGPT (steps and tools list), read Oct 31, 2026
Questions
- Is a lockbox safe for rental showings?
- It can be, if the code is given only to people you have vetted, changed after showing days, and the unit has nothing valuable in it.
- How often should I change the lockbox code?
- After each showing day at least, and always when the unit is rented.
- Can I use a lockbox when a tenant lives there?
- Not without notice. Follow your state's entry rule and the tenant's lease.