Risks and Benefits of CCTV Systems for Apartment Complexes

More than any other residential buildings, apartment complexes benefit from the use of CCTV systems and security cameras. With a large, frequently changing population, building residents are frequently strangers to each other. Because they’re used to seeing people come and go, they may fail to recognize an intruder and simply assume that a thief or vandal is a new tenant. Even relatively small apartment complexes benefit from installing CCTV systems for security and surveillance.
Benefits of CCTV Systems in Apartment Buildings
Affordable
CCTV systems are surprisingly affordable these days. Depending on the size of your property and the complexity of the system you’re installing, landlords may be able to install a good quality CCTV surveillance system for just a few hundred dollars per unit.
Ease of Installation
Some types of CCTV systems are easier to install and configure than others. A bare bones system with a security camera for public areas and entrances can be a do-it-yourself project for a small building owner. Even more complex systems may allow for considerable DIY work by the building owner, which will greatly reduce the cost of the security system.
Secure Public Spaces
Even if the only security camera provided is one on the entrance, tenants will benefit from feeling and being more secure. A visual, obvious surveillance camera mounted at the entrance to the building will serve as a discouragement to would-be thieves and vandals, and make it more difficult for them to slip in behind your tenants when they enter and leave. If something should happen despite precautions, the video footage will help identify the culprits and can assist the police in their efforts to apprehend them.
A Few Risks of Apartment CCTV Systems
Privacy
The biggest risk factor when setting up a CCTV security system is protecting tenant privacy. Surveillance camera views should only include public areas, such as entrances, parking lots and laundry rooms. No security camera view should include a tenant’s door, or the interior of their apartments.
Vandalism
Ironically, CCTV systems, which are often installed to discourage vandalism, are likely to fall prey to vandals. It’s important to position cameras out of reach and, if feasible, protect them with grilles or secure housing to prevent vandals from damaging them.
Weather Damage
If cameras are placed outside, there’s always a risk of damage to the system from inclement weather. There are many CCTV systems that feature weather-resistant camera housings for outdoor use.
CCTV systems offer many more benefits than risks in apartment complexes and residential settings. Any building owner who has the best interests of his tenants and his property in mind should seriously consider installing security cameras and a CCTV system to protect them from harm.