When you own or even rent a house, it’s much easier to take control of your home security because only you and your family live in the same perimeter.
The scenario changes when you rent an apartment. You are going to live in close proximity to other people since you’ll all be sharing the same building. This means a lot more people will be going in and out, which may increase the risk of potential intrusions.
In the first part of the article, we’ll talk about the security aspects you need to consider before moving into an apartment.
In the second part, we’ll discuss what security measures you can use to make your apartment as safe as possible.
Security Tips Before Moving into a New Apartment
- Neighbourhood safety
Before deciding on an apartment, it’s important to do a little research about the safety of the neighbourhood you’re planning to move into. You can enter the postcode here and you’ll find out in seconds how safe the area you’re interested in is.
- Lighting
Check the entrances, hallways, parking area, elevators, stairways, walkways and mail areas to see if they are poorly-lit or not. The idea is to discourage intruders when they are in plain sight. Talk to the landlord to see if they can help installing more lights if they are needed.
- Communal door
It’s important to take into consideration the security of the entire building, as well. In most cases, the entry door will require a key, passcode or buzz-in. That way, the residents, including you, will be able to control who enters the building. Ideally, the communal door should have an audio and video entry system.
- Door locks
Before signing the lease for your new apartment, ask your landlord if they agree to change your door lock. You can never know how many old tenants still have the key to the apartment. We recommend choosing a smart lock for that extra door security.
Home Security Tips to Apply After Moving in
- Blinds
Blinds are often overlooked when it comes to home security, but they should actually be a staple. You can reduce the risk of break-ins if you block the outside view on your belongings and valuables.
- Patio security
If you’re living on the ground floor and you have a patio, you need to take action. Even if you lock the patio door, some sliding doors may not be as safe and can come off the tracks extremely easily if forced. To improve the security of a sliding door, arm it with a security bar.
- Alarm system
The majority of burglars would be discouraged from targeting an apartment if they knew it had an alarm system installed. So having one in your new rented apartment is most certainly a must. Thanks to the modern technology, most of today’s security systems are wireless, so you won’t need to break the walls, which means the landlord won’t have any complaints whatsoever.
Renting Doesn’t Have to Minimize the Importance of Home Security
Our advice is to work with your landlord to make your apartment as secure as possible. In any case, they should give you the freedom to choose whatever alarm system and door lock you want.
Apply the steps we mentioned and you will be on your way to having a burglar-proof apartment.
Also, keep in mind whether you are looking for a quote, have an enquiry or want to book a locksmith, you can call us on 0800 0612 677.
