Homeowners association (HOA) communities are often seen as beacons of safety and security. However, without proper personnel, technology, and resident outreach, many HOA neighborhoods are becoming as susceptible to crime as those without associations. For example, in Coconut Creek, Florida, two individuals posing as HOA workers gained entry into a woman’s home under the pretense of performing landscaping services. Once inside, they distracted her and stole thousands of dollars’ worth of jewelry. With better HOA security, incidents like this can be avoided.
In this article, you will learn how to strengthen your security with more effective emergency preparedness, video security cameras, access control, security audits, and lighting. Plus, don’t miss our exclusive HOA security audit checklist!
In this Article
- Creating a Community Security Audit
- Checklist: HOA Security Audit
- Install or Upgrade Access Control
- Better Lighting
- Video Security Cameras for HOAs
- Enhanced Emergency Preparedness
- Final Thoughts
Create a Security Audit
Here’s a comparison you’ve probably never considered: HOA security is a lot like flying a plane. The safety of a whole community is in your (or your security team’s) hands, and preparation matters just as much as execution.
Before takeoff, pilots perform what is called a “preflight inspection.” The inspection is a spot check, in which they visually examine aircraft components, coordinate with ground crews, and run through checklists. These inspections are essential for spotting any potential dangers.
Similarly, auditing your HOA security is the first step to ensuring safety. Below is a sample HOA Security Audit Checklist.
Checklist: HOA Security Audit
- Entry Points & Gates
- Are vehicle and pedestrian gates working?
- Are all gates secure and well protected?
- Access Control
- Review records of all access credentials, including residents, staff, and visitors
- Delete all outdated access permissions
- Ensure all permissions are up-to-date, including access codes, PINs, key cards, and key fobs
- Audit temporary visitor permissions
- Document all new access permissions and changes
- Review all visitor logs
- Create signage indicating private property and access rules
- Test all door alarms and access control software
- Assess blind spots
- Video Surveillance
- Assess potential blind spots around the community
- Assess community for poorly lit areas
- Inspect and test all current video security cameras
- Ensure video footage is securely stored
- Add new signs alerting residents that video surveillance is active (if needed)
- Security Personnel
- Implement updated training and licensing (as needed)
- Review patrol routes and schedules
- Create or review communication emergency protocols
- Review security logs
- Perimeter Security and Lighting
- Make sure fences and walls are intact
- Look for signs of tapering
- Make sure all pathways and parking areas have adequate lighting
- Look for and replace burned-out light bulbs
Important Note! Remember, this is just a sample. Other important aspects to consider include neighborhood safety education, cybersecurity protection, emergency preparedness, and more. Feel free to customize and adjust this list to better meet your community’s unique needs. Need some extra help? Contact a SafeTouch security expert today.
Install or Upgrade HOA Access Control Systems
You probably already know the importance of access control in HOA neighborhoods. So we’ll spare you the repetitive details and get straight to the point – failing to audit your access control is dangerous.
As the first line of defense, a misconfigured or outdated access control system means more unauthorized visitors and more crime. More crime means losing money. It’s that simple. So what can you do?
How to Conduct an HOA Access Control Audit
An effective audit of access control in a residential community begins with a detailed review of current policies, technologies, and user access rights. Start by:
- Examining the configuration of all access control systems. Inspect gates, key cards, intercoms, and credential readers. Confirm that these systems align with your security goals.
- Next, analyze access logs to identify patterns, failed entry attempts, or suspicious activity. If you don’t have one, make a regular schedule to review these logs.
- Finally, perform credential checks to ensure former residents, ex-staff, or temporary visitors no longer have access. Outdated or duplicated credentials should be revoked immediately.
- Failing to audit access controls can result in higher crime and devalued property. It’s bad for everyone.
Inspect and Improve Lighting
In a 2016 study by the National Bureau of Economic Research, researchers found that added street lighting reduced crime by a minimum 36%. Although the study showed little change within these communities, the enhanced lighting helped deter assault, robbery, and theft around the community perimeters.
Properly lighting a residential community poses challenges. It should be light enough to deter crime, but not so bright that it bothers residents. Smart lighting technology is helping strike a balance. LED fixtures and motion-activated lighting bridge the gap between security and comfort. Additionally, it reduces costs for property teams.
How to Improve Lighting in a Residential Community
Start with a thorough assessment of the current lighting infrastructure. Walk around the community at night, identifying areas that are too dim, overly bright, flickering, or completely unlit. Pay special attention to high-traffic zones such as pathways, parking areas, entrances, mailboxes, stairwells, and community amenities.
Once problem areas are identified, a lighting improvement plan can be developed. When drafting this plan, remember to prioritize safety, coverage, and efficiency. These are key elements to figuring out your desired outcome.
It’s also important to consider fixture placement and design. Ensure lights are positioned to avoid creating blind spots or harsh glare that can interfere with visibility. Extra tip! Reach out to residents. Not only does this give them a sense of say in their community, but they might have concerns or suggestions about poorly lit areas.
Security Cameras: Keep Your Eyes on Blind Spots
The original caption for the photo below is “Ironically, the room would be more secure if someone stole the exit sign.” While funny, this photo illustrates the importance of auditing your HOA security camera system.
As you inspect your community, consider your system’s current coverage, camera performance, and placement strategy. Identify critical areas that require surveillance, such as entry and exit points, parking lots, lobbies, mailrooms, recreational areas, pools, and perimeter fences. Additionally, conduct both daytime and nighttime assessments to determine how lighting and environmental factors affect visibility.
Know Your Surveillance Camera Options
If you love choices, you’re in luck: video security for your residential community comes in many forms. Here are the most important things to keep in mind when inspecting and upgrading surveillance cameras:
- Upgrade outdated or low-resolution cameras with modern high-definition (HD or 4K) models to ensure clear footage.
- Do you need features such as night vision, motion detection, license plate recognition, or infrared capabilities for low-light conditions?
- For large or high-traffic areas, consider wide-angle or PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) cameras to maximize coverage.
Cameras are useless without a video management system (VMS) from which to store, monitor, and playback footage. To choose the best VMS, start by answering these questions:
- How much storage capacity do you need?
- What kind of security features do you need?
- Do you want an API integration with your access control?
- Is cloud-based video management or on-prem video management better for my community?
Finally, make sure that all your surveillance complies with privacy laws and community regulations – including proper signage and resident notification where required.
Extra tip! Maintenance is essential for reliability. Establish a regular inspection schedule to clean lenses, check connectivity, and verify that recording systems are functioning properly. Provide training for management or security staff on how to retrieve and review footage efficiently.
Emergency Preparedness
Emergency preparedness is sometimes overlooked during the security audit process. However, the way security teams, community members, and first responders coordinate during an emergency will determine the final outcome.
The Uvalde school shooting demonstrates the loss of life that can happen when law enforcement officials and security fail to prepare for emergencies.
From fires and medical emergencies to natural disasters and security threats, communities that plan and prepare in advance are significantly better equipped to protect lives, minimize damage, and restore normalcy quickly.
Emergency Preparedness Plans for Residential Communities
Emergency preparedness starts with developing a comprehensive emergency response plan tailored to the specific needs and layout of the community. This plan should cover scenarios such as fires, severe weather, power outages, medical emergencies, and human threats.
- Define evacuation routes, safe zones, and communication protocols for residents
- Outline the roles staff must take
- Share and distribute information to residents using flyers or email
- Hold community meetings
Greater Emergency Preparedness with Virtual Security Guards
Partnering with a reliable 24/7 monitoring service is a key step in augmenting your security and enhancing real-time response. These virtual security guards monitor community security from an off-site center, which can make assessing threats easier. Often, virtual security guards can take action before on-site personnel respond.
The #1 Way to Improve Community Security
Let’s talk about relationships. Believe it or not, the strong relationships within your community are by far the most important ingredient to better security. When people get to know each other, they take more responsibility for one another. This is where HOA leaders step in.
HOAs can create safer neighborhoods by organizing community events, spreading safety awareness information, and cultivating spaces where people can relax and interact. While it requires some effort, it’s far less costly than paying for a whole new security system.
Trust Experience
With over 30 years of industry experience, SafeTouch installation experts will help you assess, purchase, install, and monitor your security. Whether you’re installing a virtual guard system, shopping for HD security cameras, or in need of human security guards, we’re here to help. Give us a call at 888.895.SAFE (7233) to speak with a SafeTouch expert today!