Access, Security & Tenant Safety Feature


Safety & Regulation


The ‘new normal’ in access control


Intratone takes a look at how the latest access control technology can ensure tenant security and safety as we emerge from lockdown


T


enant safety and security have always been a priority for housing and property managers – everyone has a right to feel safe in their own homes.


From regular health and safety checks to building repairs, maintenance, and


access control, a managers’ remit in terms of keeping tenants safe is a broad one. Taking access control in particular, housing and property managers need to


ensure that entry for residents, visitors and contractors is seamless, while unwanted visitors are kept out. With traditional access control systems this can prove challenging, both to implement a system that meets these requirements, and also to manage it on a day-to-day basis, especially as time-consuming site visits are often necessary to ensure the system’s smooth operation. Now, with COVID-19 adding a whole new layer of complexity to property


management in terms of social distancing and tenant safety, how can housing professionals ensure that their buildings stay secure – while at the same time keeping both themselves and their residents safe during a pandemic?


SAFE AND SOUND Multi-dwelling properties often house a broad range of tenants, including the elderly or those with a physical disability, as well as young or single occupants, with commonplace safety and security concerns. Safety initiatives such as fire risk assessments and emergency evacuation plans, which guarantee that residents know the actions they should take in the


event of an alarm or fire occurring, are just two ways property and housing managers can grant them peace of mind. In terms of security, tenants want to know that no-one except residents can


gain access to their building, that key fobs cannot be copied, for example, and that housing and property managers are in full control. Access control is a crucial, and relatively simple way that building security


can be enhanced. It can be achieved through the installation of proximity readers with key fobs that can’t be copied, and can quickly be disabled when lost, as well as through door access systems such as wireless intercoms and coded keypads. Plus, by installing video-enabled access technology, tenants can identify exactly who is calling for them before they open the door, to help them feel as safe as possible in their own home.


REDUCING ON-SITE INTERACTION With traditional access control devices, site visits and face-to-face contact are still necessary. From granting access to contractors on-site, to managing keys or key fobs and updating ever-changing tenant details, access control management can be time-consuming. Indeed, COVID-19 has made this task even more difficult. Housing


professionals now need to complete these tasks while maintaining a social distance, reducing the overall amount of site visits, and minimising on-site contact.


www.housingmmonline.co.uk | HMM October/November 2020 | 41


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