Direct answer: for most Montreux short-term rentals a keypad smart lock with a unique code per booking is the best entry system: it removes key handovers, survives late arrivals and costs roughly CHF 400–700 installed, repaid after about a dozen stays. It is not automatic, though: a tenant needs the landlord’s written consent before altering a lock 1, a PPE building may control the entrance doors, and the guest register and ID copy still have to be collected before arrival.
Self check-in is now the default expectation of many Airbnb guests, and Airbnb lists it as a searchable amenity 2. For an owner, the real question is not whether to offer it but which method fits your building, your budget and your legal position.
This guide compares the four common methods, shows a simple payback calculation, and covers the Swiss rules that decide whether you can fit a smart lock at all.
In a nutshell: pick the method after checking three things — who owns the lock (you, your landlord or the PPE), how guests will complete registration, and who answers the phone when a code fails. A smart lock is worth it for a unit with frequent turnover; a key box is the cheap fallback; an in-person handover is the premium option.
Photo: Shixart1985, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The four ways to hand over the keys
| Method | Typical cost | Strength | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-person handover | Staff time per stay | Personal welcome, ID check face to face | Tied to the guest’s arrival time; costly for late arrivals |
| Key box (lockbox) | CHF 30–80 | Cheap, no lock change | Code is shared and rarely rotated; a physical key can be lost or copied |
| Smart lock (keypad / app) | CHF 150–450 plus installation | Unique code per booking, access log, no key to lose | Needs consent, power and a backup plan |
| Building access (fob / reception) | Set by the building | Fits serviced buildings | You depend on the PPE or concierge rules |
Prices are typical 2026 retail ranges, not quotes; installer rates vary. Use them as a starting point for your own budget.
What Swiss rules decide the choice
Tenants need written consent to change a lock
If you rent the apartment rather than own it, replacing a lock cylinder is an alteration of the premises. Under art. 260 of the Code of Obligations, a tenant may make renovations or alterations only with the landlord’s written consent 1. Ask before you buy the hardware, and keep the reply with your lease. Subletting itself is a separate question covered in our guide to art. 262 CO.
In a PPE, the entrance may not be yours
In a condominium (PPE) the building entrance, stairwell and common doors belong to the community, so a digital lock on your own apartment door is normally your decision but any change to the shared entry system is not. Check the house rules and the owners’ assembly minutes first; the broader picture is in our guide to short-term rentals in a PPE.
The guest register does not disappear
A contactless arrival does not remove your duty to register guests. In Montreux, the person who lets the apartment keeps a register with a copy of an identity document and the exact arrival and departure dates, and sends a copy to the commune every month 3. With self check-in, collect the ID copy through a secure online form before sending the door code, so the register is complete even if you never meet the guest.
A lock that logs entries processes personal data
An access log tied to a named guest is personal data under the revised Federal Act on Data Protection 4. Collect only what you need, tell guests that entries are logged, restrict who can read the log, and delete it once its purpose is gone. Never combine a smart lock with indoor cameras; the rules on that are in our guide to cameras, noise monitors and guest data.
A simple payback calculation
Take an illustrative case: a smart lock plus installation at CHF 500, and a staff-led key handover that costs CHF 40 per stay when travel and waiting time are counted. The lock pays for itself after 12.5 stays (CHF 500 ÷ CHF 40). A Montreux apartment that turns over twice a month reaches that in about six months — and the figure ignores the guests lost to missed arrivals. Replace both assumptions with your own numbers.
Setting up a lock that works
- Unique code per booking, valid from check-in time to checkout time, generated automatically from the calendar.
- A mechanical backup (key or override) held by a local contact, because batteries and Wi-Fi fail.
- Battery routine: replace batteries on a schedule, not when the lock warns; add the date to your turnover checklist.
- Clear instructions with photos of the door and keypad, sent shortly before arrival, in the guest’s language.
- A named person who answers within minutes at any hour. Self check-in is only as good as the support behind it.
- Code reset between guests, checked by the cleaner at turnover; see our turnover operations guide.
Why it affects revenue
Listing the “self check-in” amenity on Airbnb makes the apartment appear when guests filter for it 2, and it widens the arrival window for travellers coming from late flights or the lake-line trains. Reliable entry also protects reviews: a guest locked out at night is the kind of experience that shows up in a rating. If you want the entry system, registration and support handled together, that is part of full-service management.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need my landlord’s permission to fit a smart lock in a Montreux apartment?
If you rent the apartment, yes. Under art. 260 of the Swiss Code of Obligations a tenant may make alterations only with the landlord’s written consent, so ask before buying the hardware.
Is a key box or a smart lock better for an Airbnb in Montreux?
A smart lock gives a unique code per booking and an access log, so it is better for frequent turnover. A key box is cheaper and needs no lock change, but its code is rarely rotated.
Do I still have to register guests with self check-in?
Yes. In Montreux the person who lets the apartment keeps a guest register with an ID copy and exact arrival and departure dates and sends a copy to the commune every month. Collect the ID through a secure form before sending the door code.
Does a smart lock access log count as personal data?
Yes. A log tied to a named guest is personal data under the revised Federal Act on Data Protection, so collect only what you need, inform guests and delete the log when it is no longer required.
How long does a smart lock take to pay for itself?
In an illustrative case of CHF 500 installed against CHF 40 per staff-led handover, about 12.5 stays. Use your own costs to run the calculation.
Sources
Base yourself in Montreux
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