6 Ways to Improve Apartment Security

Whether you manage a single apartment building or a large apartment complex, taking proactive steps to improve building security can help residents feel safe while protecting people, property, and deliveries. Good apartment security starts with a layered approach that combines secure entry points and access control, video surveillance, resident education, and secure package management solutions that help protect residents and their belongings, reduce security risks, and create a safer apartment community.

This blog will teach you how to strengthen apartment safety, including practical strategies for apartment property management that you can implement, such as:

• Strengthening entry points with better apartment door security, lighting, surveillance, and access control
• Educating residents and staff on apartment security best practices to help prevent suspicious activity
• Conducting regular security audits to proactively identify and address potential security risks
• Protecting package deliveries with secure package management solutions, like smart lockers, that prevent theft and unauthorized access

The Importance of Security Audits

The first step to successful apartment security is understanding what you’re up against. You can gauge the level of property crime in your neighborhood with the help of a security audit: a collection of data that tracks the volume and characteristics of crime in any given area.

One of the best security audits accessible to the public is the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer. You can view data from the entire US or look up a more specific location. This information is crucial for creating sustainable home security procedures in your apartment building. You can use this tool to look at the types of property crimes most prevalent in your area and take the right measures to counteract them.

You can also perform an audit on any apartment communities you own or manage to assess the types and frequency of crimes, as well as identify any potential issues contributing to the security concerns.

For example:

• What security systems are already in place in your community?
• Are all door locks/apartment door security solutions functional?
• Are there any security cameras in at-risk areas?
• Is there a security measure the community has not already implemented that would help residents feel safer?
• Is there a secure location for resident package deliveries?

Consulting with a security team can also help to ensure the safety of your residents.

Strengthen Apartment Building Security with Physical Security Measures

Once you’ve conducted security audits and identified vulnerabilities, you can start strengthening apartment building security by addressing common physical security risks. Taking a layered approach to building security, including securing entry points and adding lighting, can help deter potential intruders, reduce unauthorized access, and create a more secure apartment community for residents.

Improve Door Security at Every Entry Point

Apartment door security is one of the first lines of defense against unauthorized access. Property managers should regularly inspect all entry points, including apartment doors, exterior entrances, gates, parking lots, and amenity spaces, to confirm they remain secure and function properly.

Inspect doors for worn hardware, damaged frames, or malfunctioning locks, and promptly repair any issues. Consider installing smart locks or access control systems that allow onsite teams to manage access without relying on physical keys. Reinforced strike plates, self-closing doors, and controlled access systems can add an extra layer of security, making it more difficult for a burglar to gain entry. Resident turnover is a great time to update access credentials, remove inactive key fobs, and verify that all apartment doors are secure before new residents move in.

Check Doors and Windows

Doors and windows are also common security risks, particularly in first-floor apartments and shared community spaces. Be sure to regularly inspect window locks, sliding door hardware, and common area entrances to ensure they remain in good condition. Where appropriate, security bars, reinforced locks, or impact-resistant glass can provide additional protection for vulnerable areas. Most importantly, encourage residents to keep doors locked and to confirm that windows are locked before leaving their apartment, as these measures can also reduce opportunities for unauthorized entry and theft.

Use Lighting and Landscaping to Reduce Security Risk

Well-maintained landscaping and proper lighting can play an important role in apartment safety. Overgrown shrubs, poorly lit walkways, and hidden corners create opportunities for suspicious activity while also making residents feel less secure.

To reduce security risks, trim landscaping around entry points, parking areas, mailrooms, and sidewalks to improve visibility. Install adequate lighting throughout the apartment complex, particularly near building entrances, garages, stairwells, mail and package areas, and shared amenities. Motion-activated lighting can provide an additional layer of security while helping reduce energy consumption.

Create a Security Emergency Response Plan

Most people are first exposed to emergency response plans when they’re kids, whether in school or at home. Do you remember practicing fire drills at school, or where to go in the event of a natural disaster? These directives are part of a security emergency response plan.

Just like schools and office complexes, multifamily communities need security plans in place in case of an emergency. Apartment security and safety should be a top priority for property managers and leasing staff. If you are a property owner or property manager looking to improve your apartment complex security, you can work with security professionals to create a comprehensive response plan and ensure the safety of your residents. After all, the best home security system is preparation.

Some examples of emergencies to plan for include:

• Cyberattacks
• Fires
• Tornados
• Active Shooters
• Pandemics
• Hurricanes
• Floods

If you are concerned about emergencies in your area, consulting with a local security team can ensure proper apartment complex security. You can also look to the National Multifamily Housing Council for tips on creating an emergency plan for your community.

Build a Culture of Apartment Safety Across Your Community

Technology and physical security improvements are most effective when residents actively participate in maintaining the property’s safety and security. Encouraging awareness, communication, and proactive reporting helps create a stronger sense of community while reducing security risks across your apartment complex.

Educate Residents on Apartment Security Best Practices

Many of the best apartment security tips are simple daily habits. Provide new residents with security guidance during move-in to help them secure their apartment – and the larger community – from day one. Encourage residents to:

• Keep apartment doors locked whenever they’re away
• Verify that windows are locked before leaving home
• Report suspicious activity to property management and appropriate authorities immediately
• Avoid allowing unknown visitors to follow them through controlled entry points
• Bring packages inside promptly or use secure package management solutions (if available at your property)
• Get to know your neighbors so unusual activity is more likely to be recognized and reported

Partner with Residents and Local Law Enforcement or Apartment Security

Apartment safety is a shared responsibility between property management and residents. Encourage open communication by making it easy for residents to report maintenance concerns, broken locks, lighting outages, or suspicious activity.

Many apartment communities also benefit from collaborating with local law enforcement or security teams on crime-prevention initiatives or neighborhood safety programs. These partnerships can help identify emerging security risks and provide additional recommendations for improving building security over time. Providing residents with emergency contact information and clear reporting procedures also gives them confidence that concerns will be addressed quickly.

Security patrols can also help ensure residents’ safety. Two types of patrols that apartment buildings can utilize are foot patrols and vehicle patrols:

• Foot Patrols are security guards who patrol the grounds on foot. They can check locks and common areas and patrol hallways and stairwells for intruders or other security concerns. A security guard is often the main deterrent to criminal activity since they’re highly visible.
• Vehicle Patrols are security guards who patrol the grounds in a vehicle. They provide home security by patrolling the community’s perimeter, garages, and parking lots and are often used in addition to foot patrols.

How Parcel Lockers Support Apartment Security

Parcel lockers for multifamily apartments provide dedicated protection for one of the property’s most vulnerable services: package delivery. Instead of having carriers leave deliveries in an open mailroom or outside apartment doors, smart lockers provide a secure location where packages are stored until residents are home and ready to retrieve them.

Parcel Pending by Quadient lockers help streamline the entire delivery process for onsite teams and residents. Carriers place packages directly into designated locker compartments, and Parcel Pending’s solutions, built to provide 100% delivery accuracy ensure the right resident is notified and the package reaches the resident, every time. This controlled process reduces unattended packages, limits unauthorized access to deliveries, and helps lower the risk of package theft – all while preventing deliveries to unauthorized occupants.

Parcel Pending lockers also provide several other important benefits for multifamily properties:

• Parcel Pending lockers are always-on solutions, designed to provide 24/7/365 access to packages without additional staffing, so residents aren’t limited to collecting packages during office hours or forced to wait for staff to retrieve deliveries.
• Secure parcel lockers help on-site teams reduce package management labor and operational overhead, getting staff out of the business of package handling and back to the business of property management.
• With fewer packages filling offices and common areas, communities can maintain a cleaner, more organized environment while offering residents a convenient amenity.

When combined with controlled building access, adequate lighting, surveillance cameras, and resident education, multifamily parcel lockers can strengthen apartment security while improving day-to-day package management.

IoT Technology and Security Automation

IoT – the “Internet of Things” – encapsulates a variety of technology and physical objects, all connected for common purposes, one of which can be the automation of apartment security. For instance, key fobs in a secure apartment community are considered a part of IoT technology, as are an electronic locker (or parcel locker) system and surveillance cameras.

Smart home technology allows building owners to better monitor the safety of their properties. Communities can install doors that lock automatically instead of requiring a renter to manually lock their apartment door (or doors) behind them. A surveillance camera can be connected to a motion detector or sensors to detect suspicious movements and report them to the appropriate authorities automatically. Mobile apps can be used for video surveillance so property managers and residents can monitor activity near their apartments when not on-site, and there are even apps that can control an entire home security system remotely.

While IoT has greatly streamlined apartment security (and will probably continue to play an important role in the future of apartment living), professional monitoring is still helpful in many cases.

Create Multiple Layers of Security for a Safer Apartment Community

The safest apartment complexes take multiple steps – combining secure entry points, apartment door security, video surveillance, well-lit common areas, resident education, and ongoing maintenance – to deter potential intruders and create a safe environment for onsite teams and residents.

As online shopping continues to increase, package deliveries have become another important part of building security. Incorporating a secure package management solution into your overall security strategy helps protect residents’ deliveries while reducing opportunities for unauthorized access. Parcel Pending helps apartment communities add an extra layer of security with smart package lockers that keep deliveries protected until residents are home and ready to retrieve them.

When combined with thoughtful property design, modern access control, and proactive management, secure package delivery solutions like package lockers help property managers create apartment communities where residents can feel safe, keep their belongings safe, and enjoy greater peace of mind. Contact Parcel Pending to learn more about our secure multifamily locker solutions.