Everyone has the right to feel safe in their own home. When it comes to protecting your family and your personal belongings, you can never be too careful. Putting in some extra effort can make all the difference. Here are some simple tips to help protect your rental apartment from a break in.
1. Before you ‘buzz’ someone into the community, make sure you know who it is.
In today’s world, it’s not uncommon for strangers to deliver everything from your Amazon packages to your groceries and that fast food you ordered from the place down the street. There can be a lot of unknown people showing up at your apartment building, and while your first instinct may be to welcome them into your lobby, you should be cautious. If you’re not expecting someone, please don’t let them into the apartment building.
2. Be careful of anyone who asks to enter your home. Boardwalk Associates can easily be identified by an ID badge and uniform.
The same logic applies to our maintenance and cleaning Associates. If your landlord hasn’t told you that a specific person is coming by, don’t let someone in just because they say they were sent to fix something. Remember, if you haven’t already given us permission to enter your apartment suite, Boardwalk will give you a minimum 24 hours’ notice.
3. Report solicitors and suspicious activity that you may see in and around your apartment.
If something doesn’t feel right, don’t be afraid to call the police. Many people think that the police do not want to be called if you only suspect something suspicious is happening in the apartment building. This is not true. Your safety and the safety of your neighbours is the most important thing! It’s always better to err on the side of caution.
4. Let us know immediately of any needed repairs on locks, latches, doors, and windows.
Windows closest to ground level have the highest chance of unwanted access, but checking that all window and door locks are working correctly is a crucial step to take in your apartment. You’d be surprised at the determination of intruders when they zero-in on a property, regardless of risk.
If you notice any common area doors or windows aren’t working, let your landlord know as soon as possible. Also, we encourage you to report any poor lit areas such as entranceways, hallways, etc. or any overgrown shrubbery around your complex to the property owner.
At Boardwalk, you have the convenience of making a maintenance request through the Resident Member Portal.
5. Always lock your doors, including your balcony.
We've all seen scary movies and laughed at the clumsiness of people who forget to lock their door, but it's not funny if someone's able to sneak in to your place.
Leaving your apartment doors unlocked is never a good idea, even if you are leaving for a few moments to grab something from your car, get the mail or take out the trash. This includes your balcony door too. Remember, most intruders are looking for the easiest opportunity. After all, the most common way that burglars access a home is walking in through an unsecured area, mainly unlocked doors.
You can never be too safe, no matter where you’re living. Follow a few-or all-of these tips to be more secure in your rental apartment, and if you do feel something is off, never hesitate to call the police and your landlord for assistance.
*Do you have tenant’s insurance? For your protection, we require that you purchase an insurance policy that covers your personal belongings against loss from water, fire, theft and includes insurance for third party liability. We offer our Residents the convenience of purchasing an insurance policy online with Westland Insurance at a discounted price.