This is obviously a more advanced system that requires (expensive) hardware and comes with a learning curve for property managers, landlords, tenants, and employees. But that added cost and effort do provide better security. This setup requires each tenant and employee to upload their credentials to the system. Other biometrics include palm prints, retina scans, voice recognition, and more. That’s also why it’s a good security practice to change the code on a regular basis–this reduces the risk of the right code falling into the wrong hands.Īnother keyless approach is biometrics. Just like unlocking your smartphone with a face or fingerprint scan, biometrics systems use a unique feature on each person’s body to confirm their identity and grant access. They use it to unlock the door. Passcodes are a popular choice because they’re affordable, simple to use, and easy to share or change. As the property manager, you create a passcode–typically 4-6 digits–and provide it to everyone living or working in the building. In addition to being impractical, there’s the cost and waste that comes from having to replace everyone’s keys or fobs and dispose of the old ones.Ī basic keypad is one option. It’s too easy for something to happen to the device. Lost, stolen, broken, misplaced.Īre you going to change the locks on the main entrance every time a tenant moves out or can’t find their key? Probably not. ![]() But any time you have to give a physical item to someone to open a locked door, it creates a security liability. Metals keys and NFC keys are simple and effective. NFC keys cost more than traditional ones. And unlike traditional keys, contactless keys are not easy to copy.īut they’re not without their shortcomings. Give one to each tenant and employee, and they have a convenient way into the building. It uses near-field communication (NFC) to send a wireless message from the key or tag to the receiver, provided they’re a few inches apart. The message, in this case, is to unlock the door. Ever try to unlock a door with an armful of groceries?Ī contactless key, on the other hand, just needs to be held near the receiver pad. But in addition to their security faults, they can be cumbersome. In this day and age, there are better solutions. And yes, keys open locked doors. But they’re also notoriously easy to steal, copy, or lose. Yes, a locked door is better than an open one. ![]() That said, just because it’s simple doesn’t mean it’s the best option. Keys are easy to use and can be cut at most hardware stores. Let’s just state the obvious: exterior doors in a multi-family building should be closed and locked at all times.īut tenants and staff need a way to come and go freely. The simplest solution? Issue a physical key to everyone with a legitimate reason to have one. The last thing you want is an open front door that allows anyone to wander in from the street.Īccess control is literally your first line of defense. Robust access control means that you can trust someone in the building has a valid reason to be there. Your best bet is to control who gains access in the first place. Residents, friends, visitors, deliveries, employees, contractors, and more are frequently coming and going. Depending on the size of the property, it might be impossible to know and track them all. Multi-family residential buildings see a lot of foot traffic. Strong access control is the foundation of good security. Access Control: The First Line of Defense So, it’s time to put multi-family access control at the forefront of your security plan. ![]() And all of that affects your bottom line. The duty of reasonable care standard means you also have a weighty legal responsibility. Failure to provide it results in unhappy residents, frequent turnover, unflattering reviews, and ruined reputations. Tenants expect a certain level of security. Property managers and landlords: it’s up to you to mitigate that risk as much as possible. But multi-family residential security is ultimately the responsibility of the property manager or landlord.Īnd that includes everything from fire safety to package theft, squatting to vandalism, air quality to bike theft, and of course, burglaries. In fact, renters are twice as likely to be the victim of burglary as homeowners are. Sure, tenants can increase the security of their individual units. ![]() One person may be cautious, responsible, and diligent about security, but if a neighbor doesn’t show the same level of care, that puts everyone at risk. Tenants may not know everyone who lives in the building, let alone visitors. That’s why access control is such an important aspect of securing an apartment or condominium building. But a multi-family residential building is a different game with different rules. When that building is a single-family home, you have a great deal of control. A building–any building–is only as secure as its entry points.
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