There are a lot of ways to make sure your apartment experience is a safe as possible. In addition to things you can do on your own to make sure you and your possessions are protected, making sure that your apartment complex is as safe as possible goes a long way towards having a safe experience. Choosing an apartment complex for their safety measures is a great way to cut down on possible threats.
When choosing an apartment complex, your safety within that complex should be one of your paramount concerns. Here are a few things to make sure that the landlord or management company does to protect their residents.
Background checks should be performed on all potential renters. If these are not done, avoid moving to that complex. This is one of the best ways to screen tenants and helps to ensure that your neighbors are good, friendly folks.
Proper outdoor lighting is another measure of safety. Thieves and other criminals don’t like well lit areas; make sure the rental property is well lit at night, with bright lights in all areas. From the parking areas to the interior hallways and stairwells, light should be everywhere.
Overgrown bushes and trees should not be apparent. These provide great hiding places; every bush and tree on the property should be well kept and trimmed to provide maximum safety for residents.
Security personnel should be present after dark. A gate with a security guard is another good idea, but security personnel should also patrol the grounds after the sun goes down.

While getting a new apartment is a fun, exciting experience, you need to follow a few tips to keep it that way. Apartment safety is an important aspect of living in a rental property; following these tips will keep it a fun experience.

The first thing to do is to get renter’s insurance. This will protect your stuff if it’s lost, stolen or damaged, as well as protecting your assets if someone comes to harm within your apartment and sues you.

Change the locks on the doors. Many rental properties will do this automatically when a renter leaves. Ask your landlord if the locks have been changed. If they haven’t been, ask them to do so. Another tip in this vein is to not make copies of your apartment key.

Get an unlisted phone number. This will cut down on sales phone calls as well as removing your name from the public sphere.

Don’t put your full name on your mailbox. The mailperson will be able to figure it out with just your initials. This keeps your name safe and unknown to all but those you introduce yourself to.

Don’t leave mail or packages sitting outside your door. Take them inside as soon as possible.

Get to know your neighbors. In addition to helping you make new friends, you’ll also be able to recognize strangers who don’t belong.

Lock your windows and doors. Leaving windows unlocked or open when you’re not home or are asleep is a great invitation for thieves. Lock up every night and every time you leave.

Check your smoke detectors. These are important safety tools, so make sure they’re working properly.

Know your escape routes in case of an emergency. These should be posted in the building, on every floor.

While it may be tempting to think that the safety of the apartment complex is the sole responsibility of the property owner or management company, it doesn’t work that way.  An apartment complex is a community and that community must take steps on its own to protect the complex as a whole.

One of the best ways to help make your apartment a safer place to live is by getting to know your neighbors.  This will help you make friends as well as notice people hanging around that don’t belong there.  Knowing who belongs and who doesn’t goes a long way towards making your apartment a safer place to live.  Thieves and vandals don’t like attention and if they know they’ve been spotted, are less likely to return.

Make sure your front door has a deadbolt and a peephole.  If your door doesn’t, then ask your landlord to have them installed; these are great safety items and can do a lot to make your apartment experience better.

Make sure you know the apartment complex’s safety rules and regulations.  These go beyond the “no diving” sign on the pool; they affect who can come and go with ease, what time visitors are allowed to wander the complex and more.  Following these rules and regulations will help you maintain a safer living environment.

Knowing what is going on around the complex, being involved with other residents and keeping an eye out for suspicious activity will help you have a safer and more enjoyable apartment living experience.