Strata and Apartment Building Security in Perth: What Committees Need to Consider

Security in a strata building is a different problem from securing a house. There is no single owner, entry points are shared, residents change over, and every decision has to work for people with different expectations of convenience and cost. Committees that treat it as one connected system usually end up with something that keeps working.

Entry Is the Foundation

Most apartment security problems trace back to entry. Shared codes get passed around, keys get copied, and a fob issued to a resident who moved out two years ago may still open the front door. Apartment building access control makes credentials individual, so one can be revoked without changing anything for the other forty residents. Intercoms handle the visitor side, letting residents see and speak to a caller before releasing the door.

Common Areas Are Where Committees Underinvest

Front entries usually get attention. The areas generating most complaints tend to get less:

• Basement and undercroft car parks, particularly vehicle entry points
• Bin and storage areas, common targets and often unlit
• Lifts and stairwells connecting the car park to residential floors
• Mail and parcel areas, where theft is increasingly common
• Pool, gym and shared facilities where access should be resident only

Car parks are the priority for most buildings. They are poorly lit, they connect directly to residential floors, and a vehicle gate that closes slowly lets a second car follow through with no credential at all.

Cameras That Work in Building Conditions

Basement car parks and covered entries are low light almost all of the time, which is where standard cameras struggle. Hikvision ColourVu cameras hold colour detail in those conditions, and colour is often what makes footage useful for identifying a vehicle or clothing rather than just confirming something happened.

Committees should also agree in advance who can access footage and under what circumstances, because that question tends to surface for the first time during an incident.

Practical Considerations for Committees

Work in occupied buildings is scheduled around residents rather than in spite of them, with a handover that makes sure people understand the system before the installer leaves. Retrofitting into an existing building is normal and follows a site assessment covering door hardware, power and cabling routes. Coast to Coast Alarms works directly with apartment complexes, strata managers and body corporates across Perth on residential access control in Perth, handling site assessments, system design, quotations and installation, and can integrate access control with intercoms, CCTV and alarms.

Frequently Asked Questions