If you live in a condo complex or HOA, you know that the security of your property depends on your neighbors (and vice versa). To safeguard your family and your investment, you’ll need to engage with your homeowners’ association and ensure they are implementing essential security measures for condos. Your condo community may have already adopted security solutions that you’ll need to abide by, or there may be major security gaps. By learning about your rights and responsibilities, you contribute to the collective goal of protecting condo residents in your community.
Engagement is key, since the security of each household will be affected by the community’s vulnerabilities as a whole. If one property becomes an easy target, opportunistic wrongdoers may look to take advantage of nearby homes. That’s why your first step should be to review your community’s documentation concerning security best practices, attend meetings if possible, and learn about the precautions and tools your neighbors are adopting.
If your property is still vulnerable after implementing your HOA’s recommended security measures, you may need to take further action. If condo board policies are insufficient in protecting your family, other residents may also be at risk. For condo owners, it’s crucial to approach your security within the context of communal living—the entire community must adopt best practices to ensure best results. Ultimately, armed or unarmed security guards may be the best option for protecting your family and neighbors.
We’ve compiled this brief guide on assessing security standards and protecting condo residents. We’ll help you organize your interactions with your community’s governing body, develop security plans that follow best practices, and provide a few condominium safety tips based on our experience in the field.
Assess Risks & Develop Your Security Plan
In the 2020s, more Americans are living in condos and HOAs than ever before—almost a third of the US population, by some estimates. With so many folks living in condo communities, mountains of data are available that point to a few common security concerns. This is a double-edged sword since thieves and wrongdoers are aware of these vulnerabilities, but solutions are also readily available to help mitigate common risks.
The most common security issues in condos include:
- Vehicle Theft
- Break-Ins
- Loitering & Trespassing
- Vandalism
These threats jeopardize the safety of residents and their property, home values, and liability for everyone on-site. If your HOA or community association is serious about protecting condo residents, it will need to address these specific vulnerabilities. Review all of your association’s literature to ensure the essential security measures for condos are being implemented. If criminality increases or residents feel unsafe, you should encourage your association to conduct a general risk assessment and develop a new security plan that addresses common security issues in condos.
In most cases, a security plan should already be in place. A responsible HOA will also address safety and liability issues unrelated to security, such as maintenance of the property and its infrastructure, and response plans for fire and medical emergencies (including fire watch). If a security assessment reveals significant vulnerabilities, there is a good chance your HOA may also be lacking in other areas.
Implement Condo Security Solutions
Once a safety risk assessment is complete, you should be able to identify any gaps in coverage and improve or replace the existing security plan. Just as there are common security issues in condos, there are standard condo security solutions that HOAs deploy when protecting residents:
Access Control
Access to common areas and individual units must be restricted. Adding a key fob or other form of swipe access to the property, parking areas, and buildings helps regulate access and improve security outcomes. In addition, many swipe access systems collect usage data which can help identify potential wrongdoing and aid in any investigations.
Surveillance & Monitoring
Well-positioned CCTV systems, 24-hour monitoring, and perimeter security sensors are excellent supplements to improved access control. Conspicuous cameras are often enough to deter wrongdoing, and if theft or vandalism occurs, incidents areresolved quickly when everything is recorded. Improvements in technology have made consumer-grade surveillance equipment more affordable than ever—installing cameras will likely be one of the least expensive options for your HOA.
Security Guards
When it comes to protecting condo residents, few options offer the flexibility and comprehensive coverage of security guards. Unlike stationary barriers or surveillance cameras, guards are mobile—able to patrol entire properties and advise community members on vulnerabilities and strategies for improving security. If your guards are equipped with the proper communication tools and top-notch training, they can provide a wide range of services such as emergency first aid, evacuation assistance, and fire watch.
When security threats occur in condo communities, HOAs can be held liable. In these instances, the lack of on-site security guards is often cited as the most significant failing on the part of the condo association. By hiring security guards, communities dramatically reduce their liabilities by ensuring trained personnel are on-site, and able to respond to emergent threats.
Contact The Guard Alliance
Protecting condo residents and their property is one of the fundamental duties of an HOA or community association. It is crucial that you understand common security issues in condos and the essential security measures that most HOAs take to address them. Your condo association should conduct regular risk assessments that inform a well-documented security plan that all residents can access. That plan should include emergency response, access control, surveillance, and security guards if necessary.
For more than a decade, the Guard Alliance has been proud to deploy armed, unarmed, vehicle patrol, and fire watch security guards to residential properties nationwide. Our guards arrive on-site within hours in most US cities, bringing the tools and expertise needed to improve security outcomes in your community. Contact us immediately if you need guards today.
