A secure apartment building

Since the start of winter time, it has been getting dark around half past five, and in December even before five o'clock. You come home in the dark more often, the entrance hall and the car park are quieter, and those wishing to enter unseen have more opportunities.

This is not just a feeling, but a pattern. According to figures from the federal police, almost a third of all residential burglaries occur during the winter months, with December as the peak month. In the summer, this is approximately one-fifth.

The good news: most problems can be prevented with a few simple habits. In an apartment building, you share access with all your neighbours, so these habits protect more than just yourself. Below you will find 8 concrete tips, and what your Property Manager and the Owners Association can do extra.

Access: the entrance door is your first lock

An apartment building is only as secure as its weakest door. Anyone who passes the entrance door is already at your front door, in the cellar, or in the car park.

1. Let every door and gate close completely

This applies to the entrance door, the garage gate, the door to the cellar or bicycle storage, and the emergency exit. Wait until you hear the door click shut. Only drive away once the garage gate is fully closed, so no one can walk in behind your car.

Does a door close slowly, does it get stuck, or does it no longer lock? Do not place a wedge or fire extinguisher in between, but report it immediately. Furthermore, a fire door held open is a risk in the event of a fire.

2. Do not open blindly via the intercom

Do not automatically press the button when someone rings. Ask who is there and who they are visiting. If you are not expecting a visitor or delivery and receive a vague answer such as "mail" or "advertising", you do not have to open the door.

Anyone who rings all the bells at once is hoping someone will open without asking questions. A genuine visitor rings the person they are coming to visit. If your building has a video intercom, always check who is standing there first.

3. Do not let tailgaters in

Is someone walking in right behind you or asking you to hold the door open? Then kindly ask who that person is visiting. If you are in doubt, simply let the door close. Anyone with an appointment can always ring the bell.

Keeping a door closed is not impolite. It is a way to protect all your neighbours.

4. Handle keys and badges with care

Do not simply hand over your key or entrance badge to a handyman, delivery person, or acquaintance. Have you lost a badge or key? Report it immediately to your Property Manager so that a badge can be deactivated before someone else uses it.

Are you renting out your apartment? Request all keys and badges back every time a tenant leaves. Key safes on the facade and access codes circulating with every guest make the building more vulnerable. Check the internal house rules to see what is permitted in your building.

Lighting: light makes a world of difference

Good lighting ensures you can go up the stairs safely and deters people who prefer to remain unseen.

5. Ensure there is light in all common areas

Take a conscious walk through these areas when it is dark:

• entrance hall, corridors, and stairwells
• lift and lift landings
• cellar, bicycle storage, and waste room
• underground car park and driveway
• paths around the building and the letterbox area

If you notice a defective lamp, a flickering fluorescent tube, or a motion sensor that no longer responds, report it to your Property Manager. Do not assume that a neighbour has already done so. If the staircase timer is set so short that you are left in the dark halfway, your Property Manager can have that adjusted as well.

Is the house number poorly visible in the evening? Then emergency services will also have more difficulty finding your building. And if the Owners Association is planning investments, LED lighting with motion sensors or twilight switches is a smart choice: safer and more economical for the building's energy bill.

Car park, cellar, and letterboxes

The places where few people go deserve extra attention in winter.

6. Keep the car park, cellar, and bicycle storage closed

Do not leave any valuables visible in your car. Lock your cellar storage with a sturdy lock and secure your bicycle to a fixed point. The police recommend registering your bicycle via mybike.belgium.be.

Do not place items in corridors, in front of emergency exits, or in the car park outside your own space. They provide a hiding place, obstruct the way in the event of a fire, and are often also in violation of the internal house rules.

7. Do not show that you are away

An overflowing letterbox or parcels lying in the entrance hall for days are noticeable. If you are away for a while, ask a neighbour to collect your mail and parcels. A timer on a lamp in your apartment gives the impression that someone is home.

You can also request free absence monitoring from your local police. And it is better to share your travel plans on social media only after your return.

Safety is a shared responsibility

In an apartment building, residents, the Owners Association, and the Property Manager ensure safety together. You notice a problem, the Property Manager has it resolved, and the general meeting decides on larger investments.

8. Report what is not working to your Property Manager

A door that does not close, a broken lamp, a blocked emergency exit, or traces of a break-in: report it, even if it seems small. The sooner your Property Manager knows, the sooner it is repaired. State exactly where the problem is and include a photo.

Do you see something suspicious at the time? Then call the police immediately via 101. In an emergency, call 112. Afterwards, inform your Property Manager as well.

Who does what

Who	Role in the safety of your building
You as a resident	Keeping doors closed, conscious entry, reporting problems
The Property Manager	Having repairs carried out in the common areas, following up on maintenance, putting proposals on the agenda of the general meeting
The general meeting of the Owners Association	Deciding on investments such as a video intercom, badges, extra lighting, or cameras

What extra steps the Owners Association can take

• Video intercom: residents see who is ringing before they open.
• Badge system: a lost badge can be deactivated, whereas a lost key often means new locks.
• Door closer and electric lock: the entrance door always clicks shut automatically.
• LED lighting with motion sensors: light everywhere where and when it is needed.
• Cameras in the common areas: the camera law then requires a declaration via aangiftecamera.be before use, a pictogram at the entrance, a register, and storage of the images for a maximum of one month.

Would you like to make a proposal at the general meeting? First, ask for free and non-binding advice from the theft prevention advisor of your municipality or local police. They will look at where your home or building is vulnerable. Such advice is a strong basis for convincing your fellow owners.

Checklist for the dark months

• The entrance door and the garage gate click fully shut
• I only open after a clear answer via the intercom
• I do not let anyone tailgating in whom I do not know
• I know where all my keys and badges are
• All lighting in the common areas is working
• My cellar storage and bicycle are properly locked
• My letterbox does not overflow when I am away
• I know how to report a problem to my Property Manager

Alert together, even as the days get shorter

At Parte, we believe that a building where you feel at home is also a building where you feel safe. That safety starts with the small habits of everyone who lives there. Do you notice something in your building? Contact your Parte office, and we will ensure it is followed up quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to let someone in who says they are coming to deliver a parcel? No, not if you are not expecting a delivery yourself. A courier can ring the recipient or deliver the parcel as provided by the carrier.

Who pays for a broken lamp or defective door in the common areas? The Owners Association, meaning all fellow owners together according to the building's distribution key. Your Property Manager has the repair carried out. If someone caused the damage, the Owners Association can recover the costs from that person.

Is the Owners Association allowed to install cameras in the entrance hall or car park? Yes, if the general meeting decides so and the camera law is complied with. This includes a declaration via aangiftecamera.be, a pictogram at the entrance, a register, and images that you keep for a maximum of one month.

Am I allowed to hang a camera or video doorbell at my front door myself? If that camera films the common corridor or the entrance hall, you are filming a space that does not belong to you alone. Consult with your Property Manager first and check what the internal house rules say.

Where can I get free advice on burglary prevention? From the theft prevention advisor of your municipality or local police. This advice is free, non-commercial, and does not commit you to anything.

What do I do if I see something suspicious in my building? Call the police via 101, or 112 in an emergency. Afterwards, also report it to your Property Manager so they can check if anything needs to be done regarding access or lighting.

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