Smart locks and cameras: who controls the home after handover?

The buyer receives keys but the previous owner's phone still controls a lock or camera account. That possibility is a reason to plan a digital handover alongside the physical one. It is not an accusation that a seller intends to retain access.

Agents should not collect the buyer's passwords or experiment with security systems. Their useful role is to identify the equipment, agree responsibility and make sure a competent person follows the manufacturer's instructions with the owner's authorisation.

List devices and services

Ask which locks, cameras, alarms, sensors, hubs and other connected systems are included. Record the manufacturer and model where available. Identify whether a management company operates any shared system and whether the buyer is entitled to control it.

Separate a device in the property from a subscription or cloud service. Ask whether continued operation depends on an account, paid plan, installer or network connection. Do not promise that every feature transfers with the hardware.

Avoid including access codes, passwords or live camera views in a general sales file. The inventory can identify the system without publishing the information that controls it.

Establish a legitimate transfer procedure

Ask the manufacturer or authorised installer how an ownership change should be handled for the specific model. Some tasks may involve removing a device from an account, resetting it or adding a new administrator. Follow the supported process rather than improvising from a generic video.

Do not reset equipment before the authorised parties have agreed the timing and consequences. A reset can interrupt operation or remove settings and records. The buyer and seller may also need to preserve material for legitimate reasons, which should be handled through the appropriate advice and agreement.

The UK National Cyber Security Centre's smart-device guidance provides a public security reference. Device-specific instructions and the actual ownership arrangement still matter.

Review people as well as devices

Ask the authorised person to review administrators, household users, temporary guests and linked services. Confirm who should retain access after handover. A manager or maintenance provider may need a limited role, but that should be deliberate rather than inherited silently.

Where supported, the owner should choose appropriate account security and recovery arrangements. Do not set a shared password that several agents retain for convenience. The owner should enter credentials themselves through the official process.

Test ordinary use before leaving

Have the authorised owner or installer demonstrate the tasks the buyer needs: opening the door, changing an authorised setting and recovering access through the supported method. Test only with permission and within the agreed scope.

Ask what happens if the internet or power is unavailable. Do not make assumptions about emergency operation. The responsible specialist should explain safe fallback arrangements and any physical access the buyer needs to retain.

For a rental property, separately agree the process for guest access and revocation. A one-time ownership handover does not establish a complete operating procedure for future occupants.

Keep a completion record without keeping secrets

Record the date, person responsible, devices covered and unresolved tasks. Do not store the new password or access codes in the agent's ordinary CRM. The record should show that the transfer was checked, not provide another route into the home.

Ask the IBG local team what handover support is actually arranged and whether an installer needs a separate appointment. Account creation in a partner programme does not authorise an agent to access a buyer's devices.

Sources and scope

Security reference: NCSC smart devices in the home. The workflow is an editorial recommendation, not manufacturer instructions or a security certification. Use the official instructions for each device.