Surry Hills Locksmith

Apartments make up a large share of homes in Surry Hills, Darlinghurst, Redfern and the streets around Central. They range from 1930s walk-ups with original timber doors, to warehouse conversions with steel-framed entries, to new buildings with swipe-card foyers and lifts.

Apartment security is different from house security. Some things are easier, because there is usually a secure building door between you and the street. Some things are harder, because you share responsibility with the owners corporation and your neighbours, and because the hardware on your own door often has to meet fire safety rules.

This guide explains how apartment security actually works, what you can change yourself, what you cannot, and the simple steps that make the biggest difference.

Understanding the layers

Think of an apartment building as a series of layers, each with a different owner.

The street entry. The main door or gate from the street, often with an intercom or swipe access.
Car park and service entries. Garage roller doors, bin rooms, back gates and fire stairs.
Common areas. Lobbies, corridors, lifts and stairwells.
Your lot door. The front door of your apartment.
Inside your apartment. Balcony doors, windows and any internal locks.

In most strata buildings in NSW, layers one to three belong to the owners corporation, and layer four and five belong to the lot owner. If you rent, your landlord is the lot owner. This matters because it decides who can change what.

Your lot door

Your front door is the most important layer you control directly.

Fire-rated doors

Many apartment lot doors are fire-rated. They are designed to hold back fire and smoke for a set time, and they close and latch on their own. That has two consequences:

The hardware must be suitable. You cannot fit any lock you like. Locks, latches and closers on a fire-rated door must be compatible with the rating. Drilling extra holes or fitting the wrong hardware can compromise the door.
They self-latch. The door closes and locks behind you, which is why apartment lockouts are so common.

When we work on fire-rated doors, we use hardware designed for them and make sure the closer and seals still work afterwards.

Lever sets and deadlatches

Most lot doors have either a lever set that locks automatically or a deadlatch. These are convenient but not always strong. Many can be upgraded with a better deadlatch, or a deadlocking function, without changing the look of the door. Some buildings also allow a separate deadlock, subject to fire rating and by-laws.

The door viewer and chain

A wide-angle door viewer lets you see who is outside without opening the door. A door chain or restrictor adds a second barrier when you do open it. Both are simple, inexpensive additions, but check any building by-laws about changes to the door's outside face.

Rekey when you move in

This is the single most useful thing most apartment residents can do.

Apartments change hands often, especially in Surry Hills and Darlinghurst. Previous owners, tenants, cleaners, agents and tradespeople may all have held keys. You have no reliable way of knowing how many copies exist.

Rekeying changes the pins inside your lock so all the old keys stop working. It is usually cheaper than replacing the lock, and it does not change the look of the door, which matters in buildings with strict by-laws. See lock rekeying.

If you rent, ask your landlord or agent whether the lock was rekeyed after the last tenant. If it was not, ask them to arrange it, or ask for consent to arrange it yourself. Our guide to landlord and tenant lock change rules in NSW explains how this usually works.

Balconies and sliding doors

Balcony doors are often the weakest point in an apartment, particularly on lower floors or where a balcony can be reached from a neighbouring balcony, an awning or a walkway.

Sliding doors

Many aluminium sliding doors rely on a simple hook latch that can be lifted or levered. Practical improvements include:

A keyed sliding door lock that holds the door closed.
A secondary bolt at the top or bottom of the door.
Anti-lift blocks that stop the door being lifted off its track.

Windows

Ground-floor and first-floor windows, and any window reachable from a balcony, benefit from keyed window locks or restrictors. In NSW, windows above certain heights in residential buildings may also need to be restricted for child safety. Window locks and restrictors should always allow the window to be opened quickly from inside in an emergency.

Our door lock installation page explains how we fit sliding door and window locks.

Keys, fobs and building access

Your key ring for an apartment often includes more than just your door key.

Building keys and fobs

Street entry, car park and common area keys or fobs are usually controlled by the owners corporation or building manager. If you lose one, report it to the building manager straight away so it can be cancelled or recorded. Do not ask a locksmith to copy a restricted building key without written authority from the owners corporation. A reputable locksmith will refuse anyway.

Your own key

If your lot door key is a standard key, it can be copied easily. If it is a restricted key that is part of the building's master key system, only the authorised supplier can cut copies, and only with permission. That is a security benefit, but it means you need to plan ahead for spares.

Mailbox keys

Mailboxes are often overlooked. A lost mailbox key can expose letters containing your name, bank details and identity information. Mailbox locks can usually be replaced or rekeyed cheaply.

Strata rules and approvals

Before changing anything on the outside face of your lot door, or anything in a common area, check the building's by-laws. Common rules include:

Lot door hardware must match a particular style or finish.
Changes to fire-rated doors need approval.
Common property locks can only be changed by the owners corporation.
Some buildings require residents to give the building manager a key for emergency access.

Your strata manager can tell you what applies. If you are unsure, ask before work starts. It is much easier than reversing a change later.

Lockouts in apartment buildings

Apartment lockouts are common because lot doors self-latch. If it happens:

Check for a spare. A partner, housemate, friend or your agent may have one.
Arrange building access. A locksmith needs to get through the street entry to reach your door. A neighbour, concierge or building manager can usually help.
Call a local locksmith and explain that it is an apartment, which floor, and whether the door is fire-rated.
Have proof that you live there. The locksmith will ask.

See our lockout service page and our guide on what to do when you are locked out.

Security habits that cost nothing

Many apartment break-ins and thefts happen because of small habits, not weak locks.

Do not hold the street door open for strangers. It feels rude to let a door close in someone's face, but tailgating is one of the most common ways people get into buildings.
Report broken entry doors and closers quickly. A street door that does not latch puts every resident at risk.
Lock the balcony door when you go out, even on higher floors.
Do not leave parcels in the lobby. Arrange delivery to a secure locker or collection point if you can.
Keep your keys and fobs separate from anything showing your address.
Know your neighbours. People who recognise each other notice when someone does not belong.

Older apartment blocks

Darlinghurst and parts of Surry Hills have many interwar apartment buildings with solid timber lot doors and original hardware. These doors are often well made and can take good-quality locks, but they need careful fitting. Old timber can split if a lock is fitted carelessly, and some original hardware is worth keeping.

In these buildings, the street entry may also be an original timber door with a simple lock. If the street door is weak, raise it with the owners corporation. Improving the street entry protects everyone.

Warehouse conversions

Converted warehouses around Foveaux, Commonwealth and Albion Streets often have heavy timber or steel-framed doors, high ceilings and large windows. Security needs vary widely. Some have excellent access control. Others have large glazed areas, roof access or shared corridors that need extra thought. A walk-through with a locksmith can identify the weak points.

A five-minute apartment security check

Walk through your apartment with this list. It takes a few minutes and shows you where to start.

Lot door. Does it close and latch on its own every time? Does the key turn smoothly?
Keys. Do you know how many copies exist and who has them? If not, rekey.
Balcony door. Is there a keyed lock or secondary bolt, or only a hook latch?
Windows. Can any window be reached from a balcony, awning or walkway? Do those windows lock?
Mailbox. Does the lock work, and do you have every key?
Building entry. Does the street door close and latch behind you? If not, report it.

Anything you mark "no" or "not sure" is worth fixing first.

What we can do for apartment residents

We regularly help apartment residents and owners with:

Rekeying lot doors after moving in or between tenancies.
Repairing and replacing lot door locks with fire-rated compatible hardware.
Sliding door locks, secondary bolts and window locks.
Mailbox lock replacement.
Lockouts, once building access is arranged.
Working with strata managers on common property locks, with approval.

See residential locksmith for more.

The bottom line

Apartment security works in layers, and you control the most important one: your own lot door. Rekey when you move in, use hardware that suits a fire-rated door, secure balcony and sliding doors, and know the building's by-laws before changing anything. Good habits with the street door and your keys do as much as any lock.

For help with your apartment's locks, call Surry Hills Locksmith Service on 02 3820 5414, open 7 days, 7:00am to 12:00am, or request a quote.

Apartment Security in Surry Hills: A Practical Guide