When people think about vacancy countermeasures, attention tends to go to rent, photos, and restoration work, but well-equipped security is also one of the factors that influences a prospective tenant's decision. Here's an overview of the effect of auto-lock entrances, security cameras, and common-area lighting, and how to think about installing each one.
- Security measures don't just increase tenants' sense of safety — they're also a selling point to prospective tenants.
- An auto-lock entrance can be retrofitted at some properties, but the cost and difficulty vary with the building's structure and wiring.
- For security cameras, you need to sort out the installation locations and operating rules — how long footage is kept and who can view it — in advance.
- Reviewing common-area lighting and sensor lights is a relatively low-cost security measure that's easy to start with.
- It helps to think of installing security equipment less as a way to push rent up and more as something that shortens vacancy periods and helps curb move-outs.
Where Security Measures Fit Into Rental Management
Beyond their original purpose of protecting tenants' safety, security measures also matter from a rental management standpoint. Single women looking for a unit, in particular, are said to tend to treat whether there's an auto-lock entrance and how well-lit the common areas are as important factors in choosing a property. Raising the level of security can be seen as an investment that increases tenant satisfaction and, in turn, may lead to longer tenancies and faster leasing.
The Effect of an Auto-Lock Entrance, and the Hurdles to Installing One
An auto-lock entrance restricts who can get through the shared entryway, making it one of the pieces of equipment that prospective tenants rate highly. It's often installed when a building is newly built, but retrofitting an existing property is also an option. That said, the scope of the work tends to grow — securing a wiring route, replacing the intercom in every unit — and the cost and construction period vary widely depending on the building's structure. When considering installing one, it's advisable to get quotes from multiple contractors and confirm the scope of work and the likely cost.
Where to Install Security Cameras, and Points to Watch in Operating Them
Security cameras are typically installed in places with a lot of foot traffic — the shared entrance, the bicycle parking area, the garbage collection point. When installing them, it's important to set rules in advance for how long recorded footage is kept, who's allowed to view it, and how tenants will be informed. Out of consideration for privacy, care is also needed in choosing locations — avoiding angles that capture the inside of units or placement anywhere other than common areas.
Reviewing Common-Area Lighting and Sensor Lights
Common-area lighting is one of the security measures that's relatively low-cost and easy to start with. If the entrance, bicycle parking area, or walkways stay dark, it doesn't just hurt nighttime security — it damages the overall impression of the property too. More properties are switching to motion-sensor lights to achieve both energy savings and better security. For aging lighting fixtures, it's worth planning a review that covers not just replacing bulbs but updating the fixtures themselves.
How Security Equipment Affects Leasing and Rent
Well-equipped security often functions less as something that directly pushes rent up and more as something that makes a property more likely to be chosen at the viewing stage or when a prospective tenant compares options. When units with similar conditions are lined up side by side, a difference in security is often enough to tip the decision. As part of vacancy countermeasures, it's also effective to spell out the security equipment in the listing photos and fixture information.
How to Proceed When Considering Installation
When considering installing security equipment, start by reviewing the property's current state — what equipment already exists, the security environment nearby — together with your management company, and setting priorities. Rather than installing everything at once, it's a good approach to start with something easy, like reviewing the lighting, based on cost-effectiveness, and to fold larger projects like an auto-lock entrance or cameras into your medium- to long-term repair plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I install security cameras, will that reduce tenant trouble?
A certain deterrent effect can be expected, but it won't prevent trouble entirely. It's advisable to set up proper installation locations and operating rules, and consider it alongside other measures.
Is it possible to retrofit an auto-lock entrance?
It's possible at some properties, but the scope of work can grow large — securing a wiring route, replacing the intercom, and so on. Since the cost and difficulty vary with the building's structure, we'd recommend consulting several contractors.
Do I need to show security camera footage to tenants?
In principle, whether to disclose footage is something that should be judged carefully depending on the purpose and the circumstances. It's advisable to work out operating rules in advance — who can view it, how long it's kept — and consult your management company or a professional as needed.
Summary
Security measures are an investment that increases tenants' peace of mind while also potentially helping with leasing. Start with an easy measure like reviewing the lighting, and fold an auto-lock entrance or security cameras into a medium- to long-term plan while weighing cost against effect.