Multifamily Summers and Video Surveillance
School is out. Temperatures are rising. Summer is officially here, and multifamily communities across the country are feeling the impact.
Every season brings its own set of challenges for property management teams, but summer stands out with higher activity levels, more resident engagement, and spikes in unwanted issues. To stay ahead of the curve, video surveillance should be an essential part of every property’s strategy during the summer months.
As the days grow longer, residents naturally spend more time outdoors. Here is what that looks like on multifamily properties where hundreds of people share living space.
- Daily amenity usage skyrockets. Pools, grills, and picnic areas are in use almost constantly.
- Gathering spaces like clubhouses host parties for graduations, birthdays, and holidays like Memorial and Labor Day weekends.
- Increased foot traffic from residents walking pets, exercising, or kids playing in common areas.
- An increase in events organized by management such as food truck nights, pool parties, or resident socials.
- A surge in vehicle traffic due to visits from residents’ friends, out-of-town guests, and increased move-ins and move-outs.
The uptick in activity was clearly seen in Watchtower Security’s data. In 2024, the number of forensic video reviews increased by 15.58% per month between June and August – a direct correlation of how busy summer can be.
Common Summer Issues at Multifamily Communities
Unfortunately, more activity often leads to more problems. Here are some of the frequent summertime challenges.
- Unsupervised Youth
With school out and parents working, many children and teens are left unsupervised during the day – and well into the night. This can lead to:
- Increased loitering
- Rough use of shared amenities or vandalism
- Curfew violations and safety concerns
- Unauthorized Amenity Use
Nonresidents and guests frequently try to access pools, clubhouses, and grilling areas. This can result in:
- Overcrowded and unsafe environments
- Liability risks for the property
- Disputes between residents and unauthorized users
- Parking Chaos
More cars on site can lead to:
- Double parking or blocked fire lanes
- Unauthorized vehicles in reserved spots
- Limited space for emergency access
- Trash and Bulk Item Overflow
Summer is the busiest move-in/move-out season, which can cause:
- Overflowing dumpsters and trash receptacles
- Illegal dumping of bulk items
- Unattended Units, Vehicles, and Packages
- Residents on vacation may leave units or vehicles unattended
- Summer sees an increase in package delivery
Units, vehicles, and packages left unattended for extended periods are more likely to be subject to theft or break-ins.
How Video Surveillance Supports Property Management
Video surveillance provides on-site teams with visibility, documentation, and peace of mind when activity is at its peak. Here is how it helps:
- Real time visibility: Property teams can check on the condition of pool areas, dumpster enclosures, and common spaces from their computer, whether they are onsite or not.
- Incident Verification: Footage provides answers to key questions like:
- Who left the bulk items on property?
- Were people using the pool after hours?
- What happened to the vehicle that was damaged or parked improperly?
- Who was responsible for damage to the community room?
- Police Support: Video footage provides documentation to support lease violations or, if necessary, police involvement.
Watchtower Security’s Summer Advantage
Watchtower Security provides fully managed video surveillance systems, allowing property teams to focus on all the tasks they need to complete – not the camera system.
Unlimited Forensic Video Reviews
- With so much activity, management teams do not have time to comb through hours of footage. Watchtower’s dedicated Review Team handles that for you. All that is needed is the basic details about the incident, and they will deliver:
- A detailed video compilation showing exactly what occurred
- Still images of the event
- A written summary of what was observed
Reliable Service & Support
Outdoor cameras take a beating in the summer heat, and enclosures can reach temperatures well above 100 degrees.
- Watchtower’s Service Team constantly monitors the health of the system. If any equipment goes offline or stops functioning, the Service Team ensures the system is repaired in a timely manner.
- All equipment is fully under warranty. There are no additional charges above the monthly rate for maintenance, repair, or replacement.
- Property management teams are relieved of the burden of daily camera checks or coordinating service calls.
Summer is a time of community and celebrations. With that comes increased risk and responsibility in multifamily communities. A robust, fully managed video surveillance system and strategy helps to manage anything that comes with the summer season.
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