SA Affordable Housing July / August 2017 // Issue: 65 | Page 30

FEATURES
Measures that may be found to keep tenants safe include
biometric fingerprint entry, electric gates and fencing,
CCTV cameras, car stickers, panic buttons for security
guards, restricted visiting hours and so on. McMurray
suggests guard rotation and maximum patrol time. “The
Kievlet security management system is very useful in
ensuring guards patrol a property on a regular basis. You
also need to include random activities and patrols to
ensure you do not become a target for criminals,” he says.
He also adds that having good quality staff is the most
critical ingredient to ensure a safe residential
environment. “The effective selection, training and
management of security guards is critical to ensure a safe
and secure residence,” he adds.
MISTAKES TO AVOID
McMurray highlights hiring incompetent staff is one of the
common mistakes made. “The most common mistake
around safety and security, in my opinion, is the poor
selection of either staff or a security service provider. A
thorough selection and interview process together with
the various security checks are imperative in maintaining
the security integrity of any residential environment,”
he says.
‘Even with the implementation of all the security
features it is important for the residents not to get
complacent,’ states Realgrowth. There are bound to be
incidents within a development and it is crucial that an
incident gets investigated and if necessary, changes to the
security system be implemented. ‘Security and therefore
the safety of residents is the one aspect you cannot roll
out half measured or try save money on,’ adds Realgrowth.
“Any residential company that values their brand
reputation in the market will take security very seriously.
The reality is that if your tenant does not feel safe in the
environment that you provide for them to live in, they will
simply seek an alternative, safer environment to live in.
We see and experience a direct correlation between high
occupancies and a safe and secure living environment,”
says McMurray.
Realgrowth says that fibre optic cables play a bigger role
in safety and security of housing developments. The
availability of fibre optic cable will reduce costs and
improve the quality of systems. It foresees CCTV becoming
a standard feature for future developments.
THE GIST OF IT ALL
Feeling at home in your own home, relaxed and at ease is
important regardless of the area or community you live in.
‘For a complex, safety and security is the most important
service you provide to your residents, and always the one
aspect that is constantly revisited and upgraded should the
need arise and technology change,’ says Realgrowth.
Adequate planning from initial stages is necessary to
ensure a safe complex or residence. “Something as simple
as taking time to think where your waste management area
should be on the plan, and how that area is accessed and
secured during the waste removal process are often design
oversights. Bottom line is that you should be involved in
the security process from initial design all the way through
to managing the final product,” says McMurray.
Overall continued safety of workers or tenants is an
ongoing process. Not only does it require the correct
systems, it’s mandatory that the building manager, staff
and tenants work together and report any potential risks.
A symbiotic relationship further reduces incidences.
"Safety and security is critical
throughout the building process."
– Craig McMurray, Respublica CEO.
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JULY - AUGUST 2017
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