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When Convenience Becomes a Security Risk: The Festive-Season Estate Loophole No One Talks About

A close-up of a hand holding a smartphone displaying a digital invitation with a QR code from 'ATG DIGITAL' for secure estate access. The phone is held in front of a modern, luxurious, brightly lit house with a swimming pool at dusk.

Every December, residential estates across South Africa transform into holiday hubs - families travelling, homes standing empty, and short-term rentals booming. But behind the festive buzz lies a growing security loophole that many estate managers and homeowners don’t realise exists… until something goes wrong.


And it all starts with one innocent decision during festive season:


“Let’s just leave our phone for the Airbnb guests to use at the gate.”


The Festive-Season Problem That’s Hiding in Plain Sight


In many residential estates, access control is strict for a reason - safety, order, traceability, and accountability. Residents often rely on biometric access, such as facial recognition, to enter without hassle. But during peak holiday season, a shocking trend has surfaced: Homeowners are leaving their personal phones, and therefore their digital facial profiles, for guests to use as access tokens.


On the surface, it sounds convenient. In reality, it’s the perfect storm for:


  • Unauthorised access

  • Multi-guest “piggybacking”

  • Complete loss of traceability

  • Zero accountability in case of incidents


We heard this exact story from a company at a recent security event and it wasn’t an isolated incident. Estates across the country are facing this quiet, growing security threat.


Smarter Ways to Manage Access


1. Face-based access


  • You can’t borrow a face, that’s the power of biometrics. It’s personal, secure, and not something you can pass around. Only one verified person can use it, so there’s no adding multiple people or sharing credentials.


2. PIN codes with time limits and visit restrictions


  • Perfect for short-term access. Create a PIN that works only for a specific timeframe or for a set number of entries. It’s convenient, controlled, and easy to manage remotely.


3. Pre-registered licence plates


How This Happens (And Why It Increases During the Festive Season)


During the festive period, several factors combine to increase access-control risks in residential estates:


  • Higher overall activity: Estates experience increased visitor movement, deliveries, and contractor access, placing additional pressure on security teams.

  • A rise in short-term rentals: Airbnb and similar platforms see significant seasonal spikes, resulting in more frequent guest turnover within estates.

  • Unoccupied properties: Many homeowners travel during December, leaving homes vacant for extended periods while allowing short-term tenants to occupy the property.

  • Expectations for quick entry: Short-term guests typically anticipate streamlined access with minimal delays or registration requirements.

  • Homeowner behaviour: In an effort to simplify the guest experience and maintain positive ratings, some homeowners provide shortcuts that unintentionally compromise access-control protocols.


And with December’s surge in parties, gatherings, and unfamiliar faces, estates become vulnerable in ways most access systems can’t catch.


Where ATG Digital Fits Into This Story


We always say: Security fails where convenience tries to take shortcuts. But the solution isn’t to punish homeowners, it’s to design systems that remove the loopholes altogether.


With ATG Digital:


Every person is accounted for: Guests can be pre-registered as guests, properly logged and tracked, without using the homeowner’s identity.


Temporary access can be issued safely


Valid for the duration of the stay, with:

  • Limited timeframes

  • Maximum number of entries

  • Restricted access to certain gates/zones

  • Instant revocation

  • Full traceability


Identity is no longer “borrowed”


We remove the need for homeowners to hand over phones, profiles, or credentials. Estates maintain compliance, visibility, and control while offering the convenience guests expect This is how you protect people and their peace of mind, especially during the chaotic festive rush.


The Big Why Behind This Article


Because this isn’t just a funny story shared at a tech event. It’s a real problem happening right now, silently, across the country. We believe estates, residents, and property managers deserve to know about these risks,  before they become headlines. Security isn’t only about gates and biometrics. It’s about behaviour, and awareness. Designing systems that are resilient, intuitive, and difficult to misuse, no matter the industry.


And that’s where we step in.

For all Access Control related information, contact ATG Digital:



Contact Number | 010 500 8611


Whatsapp Messenger | +(27) 072 055 1187


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