Guide
Smart Locks for Upper West Side Co-ops: What Your Board Allows
Want a smart lock in your UWS co-op? Here is what boards typically allow, which models work, and how to stay compliant.
Half the smart-lock questions we get start with ‘will my board allow it?’ The good news: most Upper West Side co-op boards permit smart locks that install on the interior side of the door only, leaving the hallway side — and the building's master key — completely untouched. What boards typically reject are exterior keypad handles and anything that alters the corridor appearance.
Before buying anything, read your alteration agreement and ask your managing agent. We advise on board-friendly models daily — interior-side deadbolt retrofits from Yale, Schlage, and Kwikset are the usual answer. They add keypad and phone entry inside while the outside of your door looks exactly as the board expects.
Installation still matters: backset, door thickness, and strike alignment decide which models fit your door, and a misaligned strike will drain batteries and jam the motor. We fit the lock, align everything, configure your codes and app, and show you the physical-key backup — because every smart lock needs one.
Frequently asked questions
Will my co-op board approve a smart lock?
Most boards approve interior-side models that do not change the hallway appearance. Check your alteration agreement first.
Which smart locks work in pre-war apartments?
It depends on your door's backset and thickness. We check compatibility before you buy — call (646) 469-7112.
What happens when the battery dies?
You get weeks of warnings first, and every lock we install keeps a physical key override.
Can the building still use its master key?
Yes — interior-side smart locks leave the existing cylinder and the building's master key untouched.