Will my landlord know I installed a smart lock?

With a retrofit lock like August, no — the exterior looks identical and the landlord's key still works. Full deadbolt replacements change the exterior appearance. Always choose a retrofit if stealth is important.

What happens if the battery dies?

Most smart locks have a physical key backup or emergency power port. August keeps the existing key functional. Always carry a backup entry method — smart locks should augment, not replace, physical key access.

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