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6 Crucial Security Flaws That Every HOA Needs To Pay Attention To


Question:

There are many things that your HOA should take care of, and security is perhaps one of the most important of them all. But there are many security flaws that HOAs do not take into account. If you learn what they are, and why they are important, then your entire community can be safer.

1. Guests

Those who are invited into the HOA community can cause many security threats. They will be given temporary access to even the most secluded communities. The time that they spend in the neighborhood allows them to find out about certain security procedures and how the community operates. During this time where they are finding out about the neighborhood, there is almost no accountability that they can be held to.

There is no way to vet everyone that temporarily visits a home within the association. It is not practical, and a default position of distrust can lead to tension within the group of homeowners. However, you can document license plates and descriptions of visitors, times when they visited, etc. This can allow you to verify that they were indeed visiting a resident at the next HOA meeting. And if they are known, you can find out more about them.

2. Problematic Residents

Not all threats come from outside of the community. Whether it is a feud between neighbors, a resident that keeps the company of shady individuals, or even a community member that does not take their own security serious, those within the HOA can cause security vulnerabilities. When neighbors are arguing, there may be an issue with vandalism or even an unwillingness to look out for the security of the entire community.

Once someone becomes isolated by others or even themselves, they lose the necessary accountability that an HOA needs to establish security. Adversarial relationships tear at the fabric of communities. People will not come forward after a crime or even perpetrate crimes themselves. These feelings divide people and leave everyone less secure. Similarly, if someone is negligent about their security, this behavior invites unwanted elements that put the rest of the neighborhood at risk.

3. Security Guards

There are many flaws related to security guards. Most often they stem from an unwillingness to make the investment. Subpar guard companies leave residents with very little protection. In the worst of cases, poorly run security dispatch services can endanger the entire community. If the HOA has not done a proper job selecting a quality service, a community can be opened up to the threats of criminals working to familiarize themselves with potential targets.

Make sure that the guards used to protect the neighborhood have been properly screened. Also, limit the amount of access these companies have to the residences. Some companies will ask for keys and alarm codes, but this type of decision should be weighed heavily by the entire HOA. Determine if this precaution will be more helpful than it is potentially threatening.

4. Communal Gates

Gates are a very common example of shared security. Whether it is the gate of a gated community, a shared park, hiking trail, pool area, etc., when everyone uses it, many things can go wrong. Every person that has access to the gate poses a potential threat to its security. It is very common that visitors will also be given temporary access to this security, compounding the risk further.

Due to the high rates of use for these shared security measures, they need to have commercial grade locks. These locks can be subjected to more rotations (opening and closing) than residential locks without breaking down. They are also more likely to be high-security products, which means they will better protect against unauthorized users.

5. Appearance vs. Security

Many HOAs focus on the look of their community, and sometimes this can come at the expense of greater levels of security. Restrictions against backyard fences or gates may make the neighborhood more inviting, but you don’t want to make criminals feel welcome. Keeping residents from adding bars to their windows or security screens to their front doors, can prevent homeowners from better protecting their property. The way to deal with this flaw does not necessarily demand the removal of these restrictions.

Any attempt on the part of a homeowner to improve their security should not end with a simple “no”. Alternatives must always be presented that can maintain the appearance desired by the HOA and the security needed for the particular home. Doors and windows can be strengthened without bars or screens, but it important for the HOA to know that so that they can make a recommendation instead of preventing increased security. If you do not have these answers, you can turn to a residential locksmith for further insight into potential solutions.

6. Standardized Protections

Being very strict on how much security each member of the HOA is required to maintain can be a very good thing. It allows you know that everyone is contributing to a general fabric of communal safety. The flaw that most HOAs do not realize is that homogenized security protocols and devices pose a significant risk to the neighbor they are meant to protect.

When every person uses the same protection, once a single house’s security is bypassed, the same bypass will be effective on every house. Whether there is a weakness in a specific alarm company or a supposedly high-security lock, if they are universally installed, the flaw is universal. A seemingly isolated instance can turn into a string of crimes

Conclusion

Whether you are running an HOA yourself or using a property manager, whoever is in charge must be aware of the possible flaws in the community's security. Safety starts with good leadership. Make sure those you are responsible for protecting are not put at risk unnecessarily and decrease the flaws facing your HOA.


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