5 Apartment Access Control Systems for Multifamily Buildings

 

 

Building security and resident satisfaction are top priorities for any apartment owner or manager. And the type of apartment access control you install significantly impacts your building operations, security, and the resident experience. So, you must choose the right one.

In this guide, we review what an apartment access control system is and how it works. Then, we discuss its benefits and how to choose the best system for your apartment building.

Navigate this guide:

• Choosing the best apartment access control system
• What is apartment access control?
• 5 common types of apartment access control
• How an apartment access control system works
• Benefits of apartment access control
• Return on investment for apartment access control systems
• Apartment access control FAQs

 

 

Choosing the best apartment access control system

A good access control system that checks all the boxes is hard to come by. But with ButterflyMX, you know you’re getting a premium system with robust features that fulfill all your residents’ needs.

With over 40,000 positive apartment access control reviews, our ButterflyMX intercom is the ultimate solution because a smartphone app powers it. Through the highly-rated app, residents can open doors, send one-time delivery passes to couriers, and assign virtual keys to visitors.

In addition, the intercom runs on the ButterflyMX OS, which is a powerful cloud-based software. This software empowers property staff to remotely update tenant information, manage access privileges, and review each door entry event.

 

Features of the ButterflyMX access system include:

• Industry-leading smart intercom. Our sleek intercom isn’t just an inviting face — it secures your property with a sweeping 156-degree wide-angle lens, accepts multiple credentials, is vandal-resistant and weatherproof, and maintains an audit trail of all door entry events.
• Your choice of access hardware. While our smart intercom is the centerpiece of our ecosystem, that’s not all we offer. Secure your property with our keypads, fob and card readers, elevator controls, and more. Moreover, we offer one of the best condo access control systems because our solutions empower you to control and manage access at every touchpoint.
• Ease of integration. We offer integrations for dozens of leading access control solutions and smart lock brands. Whether you’re installing a new access system or complementing your existing hardware, we’re the right choice for you.
• Powerful management dashboard. With the help of ButterflyMX, managing your entire property has never been easier. ButterflyMX offers the only apartment access control software that empowers you to integrate the devices on your property and manage every keypad or reader from one place.

 

What is apartment access control?

Apartment access control is a method of automating property access for authorized residents, staff, and visitors. While there are many different multi-tenant access control systems, they all share the common goal of simplifying building access for authorized tenants and visitors. Controlled-access apartments enjoy greater convenience and security, which renters actively seek out when apartment hunting.

Apartment access control systems are installed at entryways where only authorized people can pass through. They allow building owners and operators to keep doors locked for security while providing a simple way for approved people — residents, guests, and staff — to gain access.

 

What are controlled access apartments?

A controlled-access apartment is a residence that requires a credential to gain entry. Users must present a credential for the door to open.

 

Watch how ButterflyMX works:

 

5 common types of apartment access control

Although apartment access control systems come in various shapes and sizes, some work better than others. So, an essential step in choosing the right system for your controlled-access apartment building is educating yourself on the different types of available solutions.

The five types of apartment access control systems commonly used today:

1. Key fobs and key cards
2. Cloud-based access control
3. Mobile access control
4. Apartment intercom systems with door release
5. Keypads

 

1. Key cards and key fobs

If you’ve ever stayed in a hotel, you probably used a key card to enter your room. Key card and key fob systems for apartments were among the first to replace the traditional key.

Here’s how key card and fob systems are used in apartment buildings:

• Each resident and building staff member receives a physical key card or fob.
• At the building entrance, residents hold up their fob or card to the access reader, which then scans the credentials and verifies their identity. Most fob entry systems use
• RFID technology to scan credentials.
• After the resident is verified, the access reader instructs the electric or magnetic door lock to unlock so the resident can enter.

Key card and fob systems are often used beyond the front door, too. You’ll often find them controlling access to elevators. Fob systems allow building managers to restrict access to certain floors and prevent unauthorized visitors from accessing certain areas of the building.

 

2. Cloud-based access control

A cloud-based access control system operates and stores data in the cloud. Today, the Internet of Things (IoT) powers nearly all of our electronic devices – from smartphones to laptops and even refrigerators. The “things” in IoT – essentially every device connected to the internet – communicate through the cloud.

With cloud-based access control, residents and building staff can open doors for themselves or guests with any device that’s connected to the internet and from anywhere. Additionally, property managers can update the resident directory, manage access permissions, and review entry logs remotely without having to be on-site.

 

3. Mobile access control

Mobile access control systems enable users to use mobile devices—such as smartphones, tablets, and smart devices—as access credentials to enter buildings and the rooms within. The access card reader on the door communicates with residents’ mobile devices to verify their credentials. A mobile access control system enhances the resident experience and saves time and money for building staff.

Mobile access control systems use one of three types of technology:

• WiFi
• Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
• Near field communication (NFC)

 

4. Apartment intercom systems with door release

An apartment intercom system with door release controls access at a building’s front door or gate. Residents use the intercom to open doors for themselves and grant access to their guests. When someone is granted access via the intercom, the door release mechanism triggers to unlock the door.

When visitors come to the property, they look up a resident in the intercom’s directory and press the corresponding button to call them. Then, the resident answers the call either on an in-unit device or on their cell phone. Finally, the resident presses a ‘door open’ button to activate the door release.

 

 

5. Keypads

Keypad access control systems are commonly used to manage access to rooms within an apartment building, such as amenity spaces like gyms and rooftops. But unlike key card or fob systems, residents don’t need to carry a physical device to use keypads.

Choose keypads that offer the following entry methods:

• PIN code. Residents enter their unique PIN codes or use virtual keys to open the door.
• Mobile app entry. Residents swipe to open the door from the system’s smartphone mobile app.

 

 

How an apartment access control system works

All apartments with access control have the same goal: monitoring who accesses the building and certain rooms within. Access control provides residents with a safe, reliable, and convenient door entry system for apartments to let themselves and guests into the building.

Every multifamily access control system requires four basic components. Although these components may come in different forms, they’re the foundations of any access control system.

The main components of apartment access control:

• Access control panel
• Access reader
• Credentials
• Door release mechanism

 

Access control panel

The access control panel—or access controller—is the core of the system. It stores the resident authorization information configured by the property owner or manager. The control panel can be either a physical device—usually tucked away in a mechanic’s closet—or cloud-based software that can be managed anywhere with internet access.

When a person scans their credentials, the control panel receives an encrypted tag number from the reader. Then, the control panel decodes the number and compares it to the information in the system database. If the information matches up, the system signals the door release to activate.

 

Access card reader

The access card reader is installed at one or both sides of the apartment access-controlled entry. However, the inner side of the door is more likely to have a “request to exit” button or sensor that activates when exiting a room or building. The card reader scans a user’s access credential and sends the encrypted information to the access control panel.

 

 

Access credentials

Depending on the specific access control system installed at the apartment, resident access credentials can take one or more forms. The important thing is that these access credentials contain resident or staff identification information and access permissions.

Common types of access credentials include:

• Key card or fob
• Mobile app
• Fingerprint scan

 

Door release mechanism

The control panel operates the electrical door lock—if a person is permitted to enter, the door will automatically unlock. The door release mechanism is either an electronic or magnetic lock.

 

 

Benefits of apartment access control

An apartment access control system benefits the community’s residents, visitors, property managers, and staff.

The top benefits of apartment access control are:

• Audit trails of every entry event
• Convenient property access for residents
• Enhanced visitor management
• Seamless integrations with existing proptech

 

Audit trails of every entry event

With date- and time-stamped logs of every door entry event, you’ll know that your property is always secure. Modern, cloud-based systems let you review the logs from anywhere, anytime, without the hassle of traditional lock and key systems.

What’s more, if you invest in a video access control system, your audit trail will include photos of every person who enters. Additionally, residents can visually verify a guest’s identity before letting them in.

 

Convenient property access for residents

Keys are quickly becoming an artifact of the past. Nowadays, we do virtually everything from our smartphones — including opening doors.

The last thing residents want is to carry around physical keys, so this is more of a reason to get an access control system with a mobile app. That way, residents can swipe, tap, or use a voice command on their phones to open the door.

 

See the different ways to open the door with ButterflyMX:

 

Enhanced visitor management

Whenever a resident has a visitor—a friend, family member, or delivery person—they can quickly grant access from their phone rather than go to the lobby to open the door for them.

The best commercial access control systems let residents give one-time delivery passes to food or package couriers so they’ll never miss a delivery. Authorized guests can also use virtual keys to let themselves in even if the resident isn’t home.

 

Seamless integrations with existing proptech

Installing a cloud-based apartment access control system empowers you to integrate existing property management and proptech systems. These integrations can improve building efficiency and automation.
For example, connecting your property management system (PMS) with your access control system will automatically give new residents access permissions and revoke access to those who move out.

 

Return on investment of apartment access control

A residential access control system can increase your property’s net operating income. Numerous factors go into the ROI of access control systems in multifamily properties.

The following are among the top variables in determining ROI:

• Charging of rent premiums. Apartment Guide reports that residents will pay upwards of $33.52 to add new amenities, like a video intercom system.
• No cost for rekeying locks. When a resident’s key is lost or stolen, not only do you have to replace their key, but you may also have to rekey the locks for security reasons. This means distributing new keys to each resident — and the whole process can cost thousands of dollars.
• Eliminating the third shift. Having an access control system frees your property staff from late-night and third shifts. As a result, you’ll reduce your property’s operating expenses. So, during the day, your team can allocate their time to addressing more urgent requests from residents, which keeps them happy.
• Lower turnover rates. As a property manager or owner, you know that finding new residents costs more than retaining current ones. So, installing a robust access control system will increase resident satisfaction by improving their quality of living. As a result, they’ll likely renew their leases year after year, lowering your property’s turnover rates.

 

 

Apartment access control FAQs

Here are some commonly asked questions about access control systems for multifamily buildings:

• What is access control in an apartment?
• What does apartment-controlled access mean?
• What is access control for buildings?
• How much does apartment access control cost?

 

What is access control in an apartment?

Access control in an apartment regulates who can enter your apartment building and specific areas in your property. This can include physical barriers like gates or doors that require keys, key cards, or codes, as well as more advanced systems like video access control or mobile app-based access.

 

What does apartment-controlled access mean?

Apartment-controlled access means that entry to your building and its amenities is restricted to authorized individuals only. This typically involves access control systems that ensure only residents, their guests, and authorized personnel can enter your property.

 

What is access control for buildings?

Building access control is a security measure that only lets authorized individuals enter the property. This can involve various technologies such as key cards, PIN codes, biometric scanners (fingerprint or facial recognition), intercom systems, and mobile access apps.

Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that only people with permission can enter your building or specific areas.

 

How much does apartment access control cost?

The cost of apartment access control systems can vary widely depending on their type and complexity. Basic systems, like a keypad or key card entry, can range from a few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars.

More advanced systems, which include biometric scanners, integrated security cameras, and mobile app access, can cost several thousand dollars.

Additionally, ongoing costs may apply for maintenance, software updates, and security monitoring services. So, consult a security professional to get an accurate estimate based on your needs and building requirements.