Everyone wants to live in a safe environment and strata residents are no different. Here are a few ways strata communities can improve building security.
1. A shared sense of community
Strata is about building a sense of community. Strata helps people connect with each other, feel safe and secure in their homes, and feel they are part of something bigger than themselves. This sense of community often means that people take shared responsibility for the security of the premises.
Neighbours are always close by to keep an eye on your property. If you have a good relationship with your neighbours, you can ask them to watch for unusual activity around your home while you’re away. When your neighbours are friends, they’re more likely to be vigilant when it comes to keeping an eye on common spaces and even other people’s homes.
2. Install cameras and security systems
Cameras can be used to monitor common areas, entrances and exits, parking lots and exterior areas. Although this can be an expensive option, especially if it needs to be fitted retrospectively, security systems are a great way to deter crime in strata buildings. Signage alerting people that they are “caught on camera” can sometimes be more effective than the camera itself.
3. Keycard access
If you live in a strata building, particularly where there are lifts, chances are that there’s a keycard system in place to restrict access between floors. This is a fantastic way of ensuring security and privacy within your home. Building access passes can also be used to gain entry into common spaces, such as car parks, storage units and shared facilities. Often these access passes are also registered to the resident so there is an audit of people coming in/and out of the building.
4. Consider motion sensor lighting
Motion sensor lighting is a great way to improve building security and reduce energy costs. The sensors can be set to turn on when someone enters an area and then turn off after a certain amount of time. If no motion is detected, the lights will automatically shut off at night or during times when no one is in the room.
This can be particularly beneficial in two ways: residents may feel safer if common spaces are well-lit at all times, and motion sensor lights can be useful in deterring unwanted visitors. Flooding them with light when they enter a space they shouldn’t is an exposing shock.
5. Keeping gates/doors closed
As tempting as it may be to keep doors open for ease of ingress/egress, keeping gates/doors closed and locked is an easy way to signal to any unwanted visitors that entry is restricted.
If you think your community can benefit from a security upgrade, speak to your strata committee or you can request a motion to be added to the Annual General Meeting so that it can be discussed amongst owners.
Need help with strata management?
With More Than Strata by your side, your strata community will flourish. We’re here to help your committee run smoothly and make sure you have everything you need to succeed. We’ll keep your finances in order, take care of maintenance issues, and plan for future needs. If you want to grow your community of happy residents and increase the value of your property, contact us today.
