Being Proactive With Security Pays Off… In Several Ways

Our security systems and services help monitor pools, gyms, gates, and rooftops, keeping apartment complexes safe and secure. These spots are often overlooked by others but can pose serious safety and liability risks. Guardian Integrated Security knows exactly where to place cameras and equipment for maximum protection and peace of mind.

Our construction clients are using Guardian Integrated Security systems to ensure all OSHA regulations are adhered to. They help make sure PPE policy is being enforced, on-site driving safety policies are in effect, and that employees are utilizing safe work practices, for example.

Peace of Mind Through Visibility and Control

These scenarios—and many more—offer peace of mind, ensuring policies are followed and providing tools to understand what happened if something goes wrong. Being proactive protects your property, business interests, and helps you avoid legal issues, extra costs, and sleepless nights.

Todd McCormick

Global Director of Operations

How to be Proactive with Security at Your Rental Property or Community – Part 1: Where To Start

While amenities attract renters, current residents are the true heart and strength of any apartment community. Just like homeowners, renters want to feel safe and protected. Property managers must be proactive with security so residents feel as safe as homeowners.

Property managers must provide security to protect residents from threats like trespassers, break-ins, theft, and assault.

The best way to attract and retain tenants is by offering housing where everyone feels safe. Now is the time to upgrade security systems, monitoring, and guards to better protect your property and its residents.

Where to Start

The fastest way to create a safer environment for renters is by staying proactive with security. Begin with repairs, clean common areas, check locks and gates, and respond quickly to maintenance requests.

Train Your Staff to Be Observant

Your staff often serves as the first line of defense, so training them to spot and report suspicious behavior can go a long way. As Officer Derwin Bradley advises, “Train your employees how to spot crime and report crime.”

Prioritize Safety Inside Rental Units

Also check unit doors and window locks during repairs and ensure maintenance requests are handled promptly. Door viewers that provide a 180-degree field will help occupants feel safer when they hear someone knocking.

Encourage Community Connections

Encourage tenants to connect through events like poolside barbecues, lobby mixers, or movie nights. The options are endless!

Build Trust Through Resident Engagement

Hopefully, meeting leads to them getting to know each other. It would foster more confidence and comfort in your residents. Plus, if they know each other and become familiar, they are more apt to look out for their neighbors and detect potential security concerns (such as unusual activity, trespassers, and loiterers). Safety and being aware of what goes on at the property is everyone’s responsibility.

Empower Tenants to Participate in Safety

Officer Bradley concurs, having stated, “You need active participation with your residents. The more you engage your residents, and remind them it’s part of their responsibility to keep an eye on things, the better and safer your community will be.”

Integrate Smart Solutions for Maximum Protection

While we know our integrated security solutions offer the best protection for your apartment community or housing rental property, when they are used in conjunction with the above, your residents will feel even safer and more secure.

Top 3 Findings of NAA’s Survey on Rental Housing Industry Insurance Premium Increases

In June 2021, the National Apartment Association (NAA) made public the results of a survey conducted in conjunction with other industry organizations. Throughout America, providers of rental housing units have endured higher premiums while still reeling from losses due to the financial dilemmas unleashed on renters – and, therefore, their ability to pay rent for months – during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

The study “outlines the magnitude, rationale, and effects of insurance premium increases for the rental housing industry”, per NAA’s website. Specifically, the 174 respondents were asked to reference the rate increases on their 2020 and 2021 policy renewals when answering the survey questions. In total, these participants operate about 2.6 million housing units located in the United States. Below, we have shared (verbatim) the 3 key findings, as found on the National Apartment Association website.

1. Magnitude of Premium Increases: Housing providers are experiencing higher premiums across multiple lines of insurance. For general umbrella/excess liability insurance, 60% of survey respondents reported increases greater than 15%. One in 10 witnessed their premiums double or more than double.

2. Rationale for Increased Premiums: Limited markets is one of the most common reasons for increased insurance premiums for both conventional and affordable housing. However, housing providers with policies covering affordable housing units more frequently identified renter population and risk characteristics such as crime statistics as drivers of increased premiums.

3. Impact of Increased Premiums: Higher premiums impact housing providers and, subsequently, renters. Most housing providers indicated that they would take action to mitigate cost increases due to higher insurance premiums, the most common of which was increasing insurance deductibles, with 77% of respondents citing it. Roughly half of respondents said they would both decrease operating expenses and increase rent.