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A Family Handyman report warns that smart home devices left in a property may still be connected to a former owner’s account or shared users. Security specialists recommend assuming access may remain until each device is checked, reset or transferred, and registered under the new owner’s account.
A Family Handyman report says new homeowners should check smart devices left in a property because cameras, locks, thermostats and other equipment may remain linked to a former owner’s account. The report cites cybersecurity specialists who recommend treating inherited devices as potentially accessible to others until ownership and shared-user settings are checked and reset.
There is no reliable visual sign that a smart device is still linked to someone else, the report says. Kurtis Baron, an offensive security specialist at Echo Secure, advises new owners to assume a previous owner may still have access until the devices have been secured. Nathan Connell, founder and editor of Future Technology, recommends trying to register each device through its manufacturer’s app. If the app indicates that another person owns it, an old account may still be attached. Some manufacturers provide transfer processes; Ring, for example, has an ownership-transfer process for registered cameras and doorbells.
New owners should also inspect each device’s shared-user list for unfamiliar accounts. Connell says previous owners or people they authorized may retain remote access to functions such as viewing camera feeds, unlocking doors or opening a garage. The report recommends following manufacturers’ instructions to remove an old account, perform a factory reset and register the device to a new account. Device types to check include cameras, alarms, locks, thermostats and connected appliances. The Federal Trade Commission warns that some smart products, including light bulbs and security systems, can be difficult to identify as internet-connected devices.
Resetting devices may not remove every risk. Baron recommends replacing equipment that cannot be fully reset or no longer receives security updates. The report also advises changing keypad and alarm-panel codes, removing guest access, and setting up a new Wi-Fi password. Baron recommends using a new router rather than relying on equipment left by the seller; the FTC describes the router as a key part of protecting connected devices. Owners should review the router’s list of connected devices for anything they do not recognize.
Former Accounts Can Reach Into the Home
The concern is not limited to whether a former owner can see a device in an app. If access remains active, a person with the account or a shared permission could potentially interact remotely with certain equipment. The report identifies door locks, garage controls and camera feeds as examples of functions that may be exposed. That makes account cleanup part of moving-in security, alongside steps such as changing physical door locks.
There is no single reset procedure for every brand or product. A device may need an account transfer, a factory reset, a new code or replacement, and the correct action depends on its manufacturer and support status. Until an inherited lock or camera is under the new owner’s control, the report cautions against relying on it for protection. This is practical risk-reduction guidance, not evidence that a particular former homeowner has retained access or that a breach has occurred.
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Device Handover Is Part of Moving
The report frames smart-device security as an often-overlooked part of a property handover. Unlike a conventional key, a smart device can be connected to an online account and may include permissions granted to other people. A seller’s departure does not by itself confirm that those account links or access codes have been removed.
Before closing, Connell recommends asking the seller for a complete list of included connected devices, plus manuals, hub details and account-transfer instructions. The FTC advises sellers to leave manuals explaining smart features that may be hard for buyers to spot. Baron suggests adding a closing-paperwork requirement that the seller remove access to devices included in the sale. Google’s Nest moving guidance notes that some devices require the previous owner to remove them before a new owner can set them up.
“It is much safer to just assume the old owner can still access them.”
— Kurtis Baron, offensive security specialist at Echo Secure, as quoted by Family Handyman
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Access Depends on Each Device
The report does not establish that previous owners generally retain access, or that any specific home or device has been accessed. Whether an account remains linked depends on the product, the seller’s actions and the manufacturer’s transfer or reset process. The source material provides no data on how often these access issues occur.
It may also take manufacturer support or the former owner’s cooperation to transfer a device that remains registered to another account. The report does not list the exact reset steps for every brand or model, nor does it establish how long individual manufacturers provide security updates. Buyers should consult the relevant product instructions and confirm control in the device’s app rather than assume one reset method applies to all equipment.
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Audit, Reset and Confirm Ownership
After moving in, homeowners can make an inventory of connected equipment, identify each manufacturer and check its app for account ownership and shared users. They can then follow the manufacturer’s instructions to transfer or reset each device, create new codes, remove guest permissions and register devices under their own accounts. The router should be set up with a new Wi-Fi password, with connected-device lists reviewed for unfamiliar equipment.
Where a device cannot be reset, lacks current security updates or remains tied to another account, owners can contact the manufacturer about transfer options or consider replacement. Sellers preparing a property for sale can provide manuals and device details, remove their accounts and revoke previously granted access. The source report does not describe a new regulation or formal deadline; its guidance centers on confirming device control during the handover and after move-in.
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Key Questions
How can I tell if a former owner still has access to a smart device?
You may not be able to tell by looking at the device. Check its manufacturer’s app for ownership status and unfamiliar shared users. If registration indicates that another person owns it, contact the manufacturer or follow its transfer process.
Which devices should I check after moving in?
Check cameras, alarms, smart locks, thermostats, connected appliances and other internet-connected equipment. The FTC notes that some items, including light bulbs and security systems, may be difficult to recognize as smart devices.
Should I replace every smart device left by the seller?
No. The report says some manufacturers support account transfers or can help a new owner regain control. Baron recommends replacing devices that cannot be fully reset or no longer receive security updates.
What should I change besides device accounts?
Delete old keypad and alarm codes, create new ones, remove guest access, set a new Wi-Fi password and check the router’s connected-device list. The report also recommends considering a new router instead of reusing the seller’s equipment.
What should buyers request before closing?
Ask for a list of included smart devices, manuals, hub information and account-transfer instructions. The report also recommends having the seller confirm that accounts and access for other users have been removed.
Source: rss
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