The HOA plays a major part in making residents feel safe in their own neighborhoods. Here are some of the ways your HOA board can help improve safety and security in the community:
1. Limit Possible Hiding Places
In an HOA neighborhood, criminals can conceal themselves in a number of possible places. Thus, the
HOA board must make it hard for these criminals to hide. That means investing in street lighting, especially at night. In fact, lighting has been shown to reduce crime rates. Dark corners and dimly lit alleys should receive proper lighting.
The HOA should place light fixtures around the entire neighborhood, making sure no single area is too dark. Regular maintenance and repairs should also be done to ensure all lights remain functional and bright.
When lights in common areas and streets fail to work properly, residents can start to feel uneasy. They may begin questioning your board’s ability to fulfill responsibilities and use member assessments effectively.
In addition to lighting, you should also
invest in landscaping services
to facilitate safety in the
neighborhood. Hire landscapers to regularly trim hedges, bushes, and trees. When shrubbery grows above a certain height, they make for prime hiding spots for criminals.
2. Create Security Practices for Vacation Season
It is easy to see why crime rates, especially ones related to theft and property, tend to rise during the holiday season. When homeowners go on vacation and leave their homes unoccupied, thieves and other felons see it as the perfect opportunity to cause trouble. Therefore, your HOA board should set up safety protocols specifically designed to protect empty homes.
Ask homeowners to leave a light on even when they are away. Residents should also pick up their vacationing neighbor’s mail and, if possible, park an extra car in their driveway. All of this helps create the illusion of someone staying at home.
3. Get Help from Volunteers and Professionals
There is only so much that your board can personally do to ensure resident safety. Sometimes, crime prevention in HOA communities means asking for help.
You can ask volunteers from the community to regularly inspect the neighborhood for any signs of
crime. A neighborhood watch,
for instance, is a great way to increase resident safety and encourage involvement at the same time. The size of your community, though, will determine whether or not it is more appropriate to seek help from professionals.
Hiring a security service can take the burden from your board and fellow homeowners. Residents also tend to feel safer when experienced professionals are in charge of security in the community. These professionals can make rounds to inspect the neighborhood’s safety or even work with resident volunteers.
It is also a good idea to turn to your local police department for assistance. Work with a liaison or ask a police officer to speak at a gathering to orient residents on how they can ensure safety and security in the community.
4. Keep Residents Informed and Connected
Making sure your residents stay in the loop is imperative when it comes to crime prevention in HOA communities. Keep residents informed on the latest news, including any recent crimes in or near the community as well as any changes to safety rules. You can do this with the help of a digital monthly newsletter and even include safety tips that residents can adopt.
Keeping members updated can also promote a sense of community in your HOA. A closer community will make it easier for your board to set up and implement safety protocols. It also helps when neighbors are friends because they can keep an eye out for each other.
To foster a close community in your HOA, make sure you schedule enough social events throughout the year. This will allow neighbors to get to know each other better and form a friendship. Additionally, you can incorporate safety orientations into your social calendar.
5. Enforce the Rules and Be Ready for Legal Issues
A lot of HOA boards make the mistake of assuming residents will follow the safety rules set forth no matter what. Unfortunately, the reality is that many homeowners either forget about the rules or ignore them altogether. As a member of the HOA board, your job is to remind residents of the safety regulations in place as well as any new regulations or changes to existing ones.
There will also be times when you welcome new members into the community. These new members do not know of your rules yet, so you must find a way to educate them or make the rules accessible to them. This will allow you to promote safety and security within the community at all times.
In case a crime does take place, your HOA must be prepared. Familiarize yourself with your legal obligations. If a resident files a lawsuit against you, you must know how to handle them. This is when a board member with legal experience will come in handy.
If you do not have such a member, though, it is wise to consult with an attorney who has dealt with
homeowners associations before. An HOA attorney
can help you navigate the many confusing legalities of every type of situation.
What Is the Role of the Police?
Although your HOA has rules within your community, it is not up to the police to enforce them. The police technically have no authority to deal with violations of HOA covenants. However, if the violation in question is related to illegal activity, then the police do have authority over it. If a resident has committed an illegal act, inform the police immediately.
Whatever the case may be, though, it is essential that you have evidence to back up your claim. If you do not have any form of proof, then the police are unable to conduct an investigation. The same goes for HOA violations. Without proof, the HOA cannot send a violation letter to the homeowner with the alleged violation.
It Takes a Village
Crime prevention in HOA communities is not something that the HOA board can single-handedly accomplish. It takes an entire community to keep the neighborhood safe. In the same way HOA board members take action to ensure safety, residents must also do their part whether that means volunteering or even just keeping informed.