Many Advantages of Landlord Controlled Wi-Fi

General Landlording & Rental Properties
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Many Advantages of Landlord Controlled Wi-Fi

Davido Davido
Rental Property Investor · Olympia, WA · Member since 2012 · 543 posts · 311 votes

Landlord set up and control of the property Wi-Fi can provide many advantages, from becoming a small but steady source of extra revenue, to enhancing security (remote control and recording of gates, entries, exterior building & common area cameras); to saving time (remote entry control & rekeying of door codes); to saving money on maintenance (through instant water leak notification & advance indications of appliance malfunction); to saving both tenant and Landlord money on energy usage through remote timing and/or turn on/off all or some lights, appliances and devices;  to ensuring compliance with lease agreements (real time notice of smoking on property, excess people on property), and so much more.

Did you know that for $300 (plus installation), a landlord can install a device that will record and report in real time the energy consumption of pretty much any electrical device on the property (https://sense.com/ ) ( https://www.schneider-electric.us/en/home/smart-home/wiser/wiser-app/ ). For example with the Sense energy monitor, a landlord can tell when, if ever, and for how long, a vacuum or carpet cleaner is used, when a garbage disposal, water heater, well or septic pump runs. When the home is occupied or when it is vacant. When, if ever, almost any electrical device is used (It does take some training/set up of the software app.)

It takes some time and effort to set up a landlord controlled Single Family or Multi-Family Wi-Fi system, but once properly set up, the system can thereafter save a landlord time and effort in multiple ways. A landlord-controlled Wi-Fi system can also become another source of revenue for the landlord by simply sub-billing tenants for the landlord's cost of the Wi-Fi and adding a small ser-charge.   This sub-billing can be especially beneficial in multi family buildings and in rent by room housing situations.

It is also possible that Landlord controlled Wi-Fi can save money for tenants. A knowledgeable landlord can often find and/or negotiate a better month to month price for unlimited broadband internet service, while saving each new tenant the cost, hassle and interim downtime of acquiring new service.  And tenants can use smart home WiFi systems to inform, monitor and control their use of electricity, water and natural gas.  Monitoring can be done and changes can be made online, or on smartphones.

Landlord control of property Wi-Fi, enables monitoring of smoking, https://www.freshairsensor.com/products/ and
http://www.smokersensor.com/   You can receive automatic notice when an unusual number of people are on the property (https://www.partysquasher.com ). Landlord control of property WiFi also enables the ability to control and record property access via Wi-Fi controlled and Wi-Fi programmable entry locks, gates and driveways monitors. WiFi control permits recording security cameras outside the building (and inside common halls, storage areas etc.). You can set the timing of outside yard, perimeter and building lights, as well as control the timing of lawn and plant watering.  

Control of your Wi-Fi enables the landlord to create a direct audio and/or video intercom from your cell phone to any location on the property (similar to or with a ring doorbell). You can know and record when, for how long, and how much energy is used by the house heating system. You can automatically warn you tenants when their cooking is to smoky and when CO2 levels are rising. You know, receive notice, and automatically record every time a house smoke or CO2 alarm goes off. (https://nest.com/ )

You can also set up a network attached storage device to create tenant accessible files for your property manual, appliance manuals, how to manuals (for septic systems, wood stoves, property photos, tenant lease documents contact numbers, neighbor information, shopping info, utility info etc.) -files that you can update, change, add or delete from anywhere.  Landlord's who control the property Wi-Fi can monitor in real time the power consumption of the entire property for only  $50 to $350 plus install costs ( www.sense.com )(https://www.postscapes.com/Wi-Fi-home-energy-monitor-neurio/ ) (https://www.bluelineinnovations.com/ ). 

Alternatively, it is possible to separately monitor and accurately record in real time each individual circuits on the Property $1400 ( https://shop.dentinstruments.com/products/powerscout-12-multi-circuit-power-submeter?src=sidebar ), and or to monitor the electrical consumption of any individual appliance, outlet or switch $20+ (https://www.topgreener.com/ ).

It is also possible to use Wi-Fi to automatically and remotely turn your rental property water on/off, to monitor your properties for leaks, frozen pipes, to submeter and record water and or gas usage and know if there is a leak even before your tenants know $70 to $300 ( https://www.phyn.com/
https://getpani.com/
https://www.honeywellhome.com/en/products/water-alarms
https://try.flumetech.com/smart-home-water-monitor/
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/azapps/osiris-the-65-smart-water-monitor
https://meetflo.com/
https://www.flumetech.com/

Wi-Fi Gas Meters, https://waviot.com/iot/solutions/smart-metering/smart-gas-metering
https://www.ekmmetering.com/collections/gas-meters
https://www.flonidan.com/products-and-solutions/smart-gas-meters

In my view, there are a lot of advantages to Landlord controlling and sub billing the Wi-Fi system in his/her rental units. Knowing when someone is smoking on the property is just one.

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  • Mitch Messer
    Lender · Playa del Carmen, México · Member since 2014 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    6y

    As a dyed-in-the-wool techie, I truly appreciate the many creative ideas your present here. I just don't know whether landlord control of the network is such a great idea.

    The BIG challenge is going to be tenant privacy and disclosure. Monitoring CO2 levels is great, but the very first time a landlord attempts to evict a tenant for unallowed smoking in the unit, based upon a sensor reading from their Wi-Fi, that landlord can expect a lawsuit claiming invasion of privacy. Same goes for the first time a tenant gets a call from their landlord claiming there are an "unusual number of people" in the house." Or when a video of some tenant at home in the buff shows up on YouTube and they blame it on their landlord's "SPY-Fi" (yes, I just made that up and I will be trademarking it later today, LOL)!

    Perhaps it would be wiser to simple mention these great tech advances to the tenant and perhaps provide incentives for them to get the network (and certain add-on devices) themselves, much like an insurance company might offer lower car insurance rates if you get an alarm system for your vehicle.

    2Reply
  • Jeff Willis
    CA & NV · Member since 2019 · 215 posts · 378 votes
    6y

    I have to agree with @Mitch Messer. 

    You are not "big brother" and you do not want to get into that business.  Your liability exposure is enormous. If you control the WiFi you are responsible for everything that transpires through it. You do not have the protections of 47 U.S.C. § 230, since you are not an ISP.

     I personally know of a case where a person provided free WiFi to their short term rentals. He did not install the necessary digital protections.  The renters began streaming bootleg movies and music. About three months after they moved out, he received a Cease & Desist notice from RIAA (or similar) and a demand for $125,000 in as an offer for settlement for illegally streaming protected content, basically a violation of copyright without payment. He hired an attorney and settled for $10,000 and the attorney cost him $23,000. This was an expensive mistake.

    Yes, you are responsible for what is streamed on a network you own, manage, and control. There are many court cases on this exact issue. Take it a step further - what about child porn?

    How did they locate him? RIAA (or similar) serve a subpoena on the streamer and gets all logs, or the information is obtained via other means. The logs have IP addresses of who streamed what. That IP address will come back to your ISP (say Spectrum for example). The logs at spectrum will say the IP address was assigned to you at that particular time. And Spectrum will provide your name and other information. Naturally, all information will be provided pursuant to proper legal process.  

    If you are going to provide WiFi, then you need the proper protections in place such as a commercial firewall with a content filter. You can set what can and can not be accessed. You also need to enable "guest WiFi" where the tenant must go through a "click-through" and actively agree to your terms and conditions to obtain access.

    If you want to do it properly, I would look at the Ubiquity line of products. They are reasonably priced and will perform what you need. DO NOT use the crap provided by your internet provider.

    3Reply
  • Davido Davido
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · Olympia, WA · Member since 2012 · 543 posts · 311 votes
    6y

    @Mitch Messer, "The BIG challenge is going to be tenant privacy and disclosure."  Yes sir!  You are correct that disclosure is important. And thank you for that reminder.  I should have mentioned it myself. However why would disclosure be a challenge?  Just add a sentence or paragraph to the lease for each device you intend to install and disclose what information, if any, is collected.  Here is an example.

    "To help us monitor your compliance with our house rules, we use a signal detection sensor in our home that will send us reports regarding (fill in what ever is needed here)  the total number of devices in our home at any one time.  We will not receive any personal information in these reports or even any information about any one individual device.  For more information, please refer to the following privacy policy: www.partysquasher.com/privacy/"

    Of course it is possible to be sued for anything.  If being sued is a concern, then add a sentence or two to your rental agreement that the prevailing party's Attorney fees will be paid by the non prevailing party.  It is of course true that landlords should know and follow all the relevant laws.  So landlord's who are unsure of the relevant laws, they may very well want to ask their Attorney for his/her opinion.  I'm comfortable just providing the necessary notice.  Thanks for your reminder that it is necessary.

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  • Davido Davido
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · Olympia, WA · Member since 2012 · 543 posts · 311 votes
    6y

    @Jeff Willis ,   Thanks for the input Jeff, you are absolutely right that I'm not big brother.   But as a landlord, I am operating a business in which I want to, and to a limited degree have a duty to, set reasonable limits on the activity that occurs at my property, to control costs, to provide security, to reduce maintenance, and to reduce energy consumption.  That is what this post is primarily about -reducing costs and increasing revenue.

    The last two paragraphs of your post where spot on.   They bear repeating, and they are worth of careful consideration by anyone considering providing Wi-Fi service.

    "If you are going to provide WiFi, then you need the proper protections in place such as a commercial firewall with a content filter. You can set what can and can not be accessed. You also need to enable "guest WiFi" where the tenant must go through a "click-through" and actively agree to your terms and conditions to obtain access.

    If you want to do it properly, I would look at the Ubiquity line of products. They are reasonably priced and will perform what you need. DO NOT use the crap provided by your internet provider."

    There are indeed some extra responsibilities in supplying WiFi, as you have providently pointed out.  Thank you Jeff!  But you also stated, "Your liability exposure is enormous. If you control the WiFi you are responsible for everything that transpires through it. You do not have the protections of 47 U.S.C. § 230, since you are not an ISP."

    However, why would you phrase the extra liability as enormous?  Virtually every short term rental in the country, every small hotel or motel, every hostel, thousands of coffee shops, thousands of restaurants and tens of thousands of other businesses provide free and/or customer paid internet services.  Are you saying that the liability is enormous for all of them, or just that its different for a landlord?  Further, why do you claim that the Federal Communications Decency Act does not apply to landlords?  The act states,

    "No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider."

      
    Are you saying that a landlord providing Wi-Fi is not a provider, or not a user, or that the landlord's Wi-Fi is not an interactive computer service?  Perhaps you know something about liability that tens of thousands of other Wi-Fi providers haven't yet figured out.  

    In regard to the possibility of a tenant using landlord provided internet to access child porn, there are no cases that impose criminal liability on a landlord for a tenant's access to or storage of internet porn, merely because the landlord provided the equipment or the service.  Criminal prosecution requires that the landlord must either have actual knowledge of what their tenant was doing or that, given the facts available to the landlord, a reasonable person would have known their tenant was accessing child porn.  Of course under such facts a reasonable landlord would both report their tenant and start eviction.  Providing  is no increased landlord liability regarding child porn.

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