The Access Problem
If you've been hosting for more than a few months, you've hit at least one of these scenarios. Your cleaner needs a key, but you can't always meet them at the property. So you give them a copy — but now there's an uncontrolled key out there, permanently. If you part ways with that cleaner, you either trust them to return the key or change the locks.
With key boxes, you face the same shared-code problem as with guests. Your cleaner knows the same code as every guest. If they share it with a substitute cleaner — even with good intentions — your security model collapses.
Then there's the accountability gap. You hire a cleaner to come between 11 AM and 2 PM on turnover days. But you have no way to verify they actually came at 11 AM rather than 4 PM. If a guest checks in at 3 PM and the place isn't ready, the cleaner says they were there — you say the place was dirty — and there's no record to settle it. This kind of dispute damages relationships and costs you money in guest complaints.
Time-Restricted Codes
The Nuki Smart Lock lets you create access permissions with precise time restrictions. For your cleaning crew, this means you can set a code that works only on specific days during specific hours.
For example: your cleaner comes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday between 11 AM and 3 PM. You create a recurring access permission with exactly those parameters. The code activates at 11 AM on those days and deactivates at 3 PM. Outside those windows, the code doesn't work.
This is fundamentally different from giving someone a permanent key. The cleaner can access the property exactly when they're supposed to — no more, no less. If their schedule changes, you update the time window from your phone. No physical key exchange needed.
For one-off visits (a deep cleaning before a holiday weekend, for instance), you can create a single-use code that works for a specific window and then expires permanently. This is ideal for temporary or substitute cleaners.
Activity Log Benefits
The activity log is where a smart lock pays for itself in property management. Every time the door is operated — opened, closed, locked, unlocked — the Nuki logs the timestamp and the method used (which code, which user, auto-lock, etc.).
For cleaning coordination, this means you know exactly when your cleaner arrived and when they left. No more guessing, no more 'I was there at 11' when the log shows 2:47 PM. This transparency actually improves the relationship — good cleaners appreciate that their punctuality is documented, and it eliminates the awkwardness of disputed timing.
For insurance documentation, the activity log provides evidence of who accessed the property and when. If damage occurs and you need to determine the timeline, the log gives you objective data. Several hosts have reported that this documentation helped resolve insurance claims that would otherwise have been denied for lack of evidence.
For guest transitions, the log confirms the gap between checkout and check-in. You can see that the guest checked out at 10:45 AM, the cleaner arrived at 11:15 AM, left at 1:30 PM, and the next guest arrived at 3:20 PM. This entire chain is documented without you being present.
Setup Guide
Setting up recurring access for your cleaner in the Nuki app takes about 3 minutes.
1. Open the Nuki app and go to your lock's settings. 2. Tap 'Manage Access' and then 'Create Access.' 3. Choose 'Keypad PIN' as the access type. 4. Enter a 6-digit code (or let Nuki generate one). 5. Under 'Time Restriction,' select the days of the week your cleaner comes. 6. Set the start and end time for each day (e.g., 11:00–15:00). 7. Name the access (e.g., 'Maria — Cleaning') so it's identifiable in the activity log. 8. Save.
Your cleaner now has a permanent code that only works during the scheduled windows. They don't need the Nuki app, a smartphone, or any technical knowledge. They just enter the code on the Keypad when they arrive.
If you need to pause their access temporarily (during a vacancy or renovation), you can deactivate the code from the app and reactivate it later — the code stays the same, so the cleaner doesn't need to learn a new one.
Managing Multiple Service Providers
Most Airbnb properties involve more than just a cleaner. You might also have a property manager, a maintenance person, a laundry service, or a co-host. Each one needs access, but not the same access.
With Nuki, each service provider gets their own code with their own time restrictions. Your cleaner gets Monday/Wednesday/Friday 11:00–15:00. Your property manager gets 24/7 access. Your maintenance person gets access only when you manually activate a one-time code for a specific repair visit.
Because each code is named and logged separately, the activity log shows exactly who came and when. 'Maria — Cleaning opened at 11:12' is very different from 'Maintenance — Tom opened at 14:30.' This granularity is impossible with a single key or key box code.
The Nuki Keypad 2 NFC supports up to 200 codes simultaneously, so you have more than enough capacity. You can also use the fingerprint reader for people who come very frequently — like a co-host who visits daily. Up to 20 fingerprints can be stored alongside the 200 PIN codes.