Landlord Security System Installation Guide
Buying a home is one of the most significant investments a person can make. You upgrade your home in many ways—a fresh coat of paint, a landscaping project, or possibly adding a security system.
If you go a step further and invest in rental properties, you have to do all those things and more to keep both your tenants and property safe. A security system makes sense if you want to protect your investment.
Why Should You Install a Security System at Your Rental Property
A security system provides peace of mind for both you and your tenants, gives your property a competitive edge in a crowded market, and is a value-added feature that allows you to (rightfully) charge more for rent. Need some more justification? Here are a few common reasons landlords install security systems:
Keep an eye on tenants—sometimes renters exceed the allowable occupancy or have huge parties. The landlord has a right to document those violations.
Hold contracted workers accountable—some workers clock in late, clock out early, or don’t show up at all. No matter what the situation, it’s always helpful to verify the service on your property.
Prevent theft and vandalism.
Monitor when vacant—there will be times when there are no renters, and you want to ensure no one is accessing your property without permission.
Landlord Best Practices
Be sure you research and follow any local and state laws regarding security cameras and where landlords can install them. Every state has different laws in place to ensure the privacy of tenants.
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, a Washington D.C. organization that provides pro bono legal representation to protect First Amendment freedoms, reports “unauthorized installation or use of hidden cameras is a felony punishable by fines and up to two years in prison.”
Below are three best practices to keep in mind for a security system at your rental property:
Know the code—This means if the tenant changes it, they must notify you. You should always have access to the property. There may be an emergency; you may have to schedule repairs or show the property again if a tenant leaves.
Teach your tenants how to use the system—this will minimize wasteful and annoying false alarms, which will, in turn, help keep your monitoring fees from going up because of excessive calls.
Put a security clause in your lease—it’s a great way to document that your tenants know there is a system on-site, and it protects you against claims of secretive recording.
When you decide to install a security system at your rental property, FSS Technologies is ready to help every step of the way. See some of our solutions for homes and businesses.
Explore Our Other Blogs
3 Types of Security Lights
Your security system is only useful if you can see what is going on when you can’t be there. This also means that when it gets dark, your cameras need to be able to capture the image clearly. To do this past dusk will require that you set up security lighting. Additionally, check out the…
Best Small Business Security Systems
While no two small businesses are the same, they share commonalities when it comes to what they want in a security system. Most small business owners want to do three things: Protect their people, property, and assets from fire Protect their people, property, and assets from theft See what is happening in their business even…
What is a Backflow Prevention Device?
Backflow prevention devices aren’t the most visible part of a building’s fire sprinkler system, but they still play an important role at the water supply connection. If water ever reverses direction in the system’s piping, it can pose a contamination risk to the potable water system. That’s why many local water authorities require backflow prevention…
Home Insurance Discounts and Security Systems
Home invasions or burglaries are a threat to any household, regardless of where they are located. One of the biggest deterrents for burglars is a home security system that could record evidence of their actions or could notify the authorities at the time of a break-in. This is a huge motivator for homeowners when deciding…
The Benefits of Keyless Access Control
As your organization grows and evolves, managing physical access becomes increasingly complex. Traditional keys often struggle to keep pace with changing employee roles, multiple locations, and heightened security expectations. These issues don’t just cause minor issues—they create risks that can impact productivity, compliance, and overall security. Keyless access provides a modern approach to commercial access…
Kidde: Innovations in Fire Safety
Your fire alarm system can protect your family, home, and belongings from fires, gas leaks, and other hazards. FSS Technologies is committed to providing its customers with top-of-the-line fire safety and emergency prevention technology, which is why we are a proud provider of products from Kidde, North America’s most installed fire safety brand. Learn about…
Fire Prevention, Protection, and Suppression Systems
Fire safety is a crucial matter that every business should prioritize. Whether it’s caused by arson or an accident, a fire can cause catastrophic damage to a company’s property, inventory, and equipment if the proper protection measures aren’t in place or there are operational issues. In more unfortunate cases, insufficient fire safety standards can put…
DIY Home Security Cameras
DIY Security Systems Are the New Fad There are many pre-configured, DIY home security system kits on the market. They are sold under various brand names including Ring, Nest, SimpliSafe, and others. The basic idea of a DIY home security system is that you pay one low fee to purchase all of the equipment and…
Inside the Mind of a Burglar
What Message Are You Sending? Whether you know it or not, your business could send a message to potential burglars about how easy or difficult it is to break in. Professional thieves can quickly assess a property, also known as “casing,” to determine if it could be an easy and lucrative target. Unfortunately, many employees…
Has Chicago’s CCTV System Helped Lower Crime Rates?
It’s been 19 years since the Chicago Police Department (CPD) kicked off its pilot of Police Observation Devices (PODs). Today, there’s a network of 50,000+ surveillance cameras in use all over the city. But Are They Working? This simple question has no simple answer. According to the Chicago Police Department, in some areas, narcotic related crimes…