What Is Home and Away?
Home and Away Location lets your SmartRent app detect when you leave or arrive home, then prompt you to run an automation(a set of device actions) — like locking the door, adjusting the thermostat, or turning off lights. You always confirm before anything runs.
HOW IT WORKS | Geofencing detects your location crossing the boundary → push notification fires → you tap 'Run Automation' to confirm or ignore to skip → if confirmed, success banner shows what ran. Nothing happens until you decide |
Before You Begin
SmartRent Resident App v4.10 or later
Location permission set to 'Always Allow' for SmartRent
At least one smart device configured in your unit (thermostat, lock, or lights)
NOTE | 'Always Allow' location access is required so the app can detect boundary crossings when running in the background. Your location never leaves your phone. The geofence is a virtual boundary processed entirely on your device. SmartRent does not track, store, or have access to your location data — ever. |
Setup: Step-by-Step
Step 1 — Open the Setup Flow
Open the SmartRent Resident App
From your dashboard screen, tap 'Set Up Home and Away' in the banner on first launch, or go to Account Settings → Geofencing settings.
Review the 'Home and Away Automations' explainer and tap 'Set Up Home Location'
Step 2 — Enable Location Access
SmartRent will explain why 'Always Allow' location access is needed
Tap 'Go to Settings' — your device Settings will open
Set Location to 'Always' — then tap the arrow in the top left of the screen to return to the SmartRent app
Step 3 — Configure Your Home Location
A map will appear centered on your unit address
Adjust the geofence radius using the slider (100m – 500m)
Set a time delay (0–60 min) — how long you must be inside or outside the zone before the notification fires
Tap 'Save Home Location'
PRO TIP | Recommended radius: 100–500m. Time delay: 0 min is most responsive. Set 5–15 min if you want to avoid false triggers on short trips (e.g., taking out the trash, checking the mail). |
Step 4 — Create Your First Automation
After saving, tap 'Create an automation' on the banner at the bottom of the Dashboard.
Set Automation name.
Choose ‘Location’ from the list of triggers.
Choose 'Leaving Home' or 'Arriving Home' as the trigger
Add device actions (lock, thermostat, lights)
Name your automation and save — repeat for the other trigger direction
What Happens When It Triggers
When your phone crosses the boundary and the time delay has elapsed, you receive a notification:
"It looks like you've left home. Tap to run Leaving Home now, or ignore to skip."
"It looks like you've arrived at home. Tap to run Arriving Home now, or ignore to skip."
Tap 'Run Automation' to execute. A success banner confirms what ran. If you 'Ignore' the automation will skip — no device changes will occur.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this drain my battery?
Geofencing primarily uses low-power cell towers and Wi-Fi positioning — not continuous GPS. Active GPS is used briefly only when you're approaching home to improve arrival accuracy. Typical battery impact is less than 2% per hour while near home, and negligible when away.
What if I ignore the notification — will the automation ever run automatically?
No. Automations only run when you tap 'Run Automation.' Ignoring means nothing changes. The system will prompt again the next time a boundary crossing is detected.
What about roommates?
Each resident configures their own automations independently. Discuss settings with roommates — especially departure triggers that lock doors or adjust shared thermostats.
What if my phone dies?
No notification fires and no automation runs. Your home stays in its current state until your phone reconnects and you cross the geofence again or manually trigger an automation.