Car Park Security Keys

Discussion in 'Property Management' started by NedKelly, 8th Mar, 2019.

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  1. NedKelly

    NedKelly Well-Known Member

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    Our strata scheme in Queensland has a secure car park with one vehicle entrance and three pedestrian entrances. You need a security key to access the car park. This key only gets you into the car park and not the complex itself which is open. The Body Corporate are having to get increasing numbers of security keys cut because tenants and their agents always seem to lose them. There have been some recent sales the sellers never seem to pass over the security key so the new owner has to get a new one and of course complain about the $50 fee. It is getting to the stage where we are considering changing all the locks and issuing new keys to everyone because the number of security keys floating around may turn into a security issue.

    Would the BC be able to charge a key bond of say $250 which is forfeit if an owner requests a new key? They would still have to pay $50 to get the key cut. I think this would focus their minds on not losing them.

    I wonder if this would be acceptable and within Body Corporate legislation. What do you think?
     
  2. Joynz

    Joynz Well-Known Member

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    Surely a bond should not be more than the cost of replacing a key.

    Otherwise it’s not a bond but a fine.
     
  3. NedKelly

    NedKelly Well-Known Member

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    The problem is that whenever a key is "lost" the security of the car park is further compromised and the bond would go towards the cost of replacing all the locks and issuing new keys to the unit owners, the cost of this would not be insignificant.
     
  4. Matthew Savage

    Matthew Savage Well-Known Member

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    I’m a body corporate manager in Brisbane.

    By-laws in Queensland are not able to impose a monetary liability, which includes bonds and deposits. So, the answer to your question is no - it would not be lawful to impose a bond on the key, or for the body corporate to mark-up the key beyond cost price.

    If losing keys is an issue, it might be worthwhile moving to a fob system - that way lost fobs can be deactivated to prevent unauthorised access.

    Matt
     
  5. NedKelly

    NedKelly Well-Known Member

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    Thanks Matt. That is the answer i was afraid of. We are only a small scheme and to install a fob system would work out quite expensive per unit.
     
  6. marmot

    marmot Well-Known Member

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    Our common and pool areas where the IP is requires a Do not cut key, it only costs $25 and we keep a couple spare ones,
    When it was leased to long term tenants, they were responsible for lost keys to be replaced.
    Dont think charging someone an additional $250 is a really good idea.
    Go into a good locksmith shop and they have a variety of keyed versions locks also with number pads that can be regularly changed, the only issue with that is if your tenants tell their friends the numbers , but they can be changed quite easily and do not need a power source.
     
  7. NedKelly

    NedKelly Well-Known Member

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    I will check out the ones that don't need a power source. That is a good idea. Thanks
     
  8. Paul@PAS

    Paul@PAS Tax, Accounting + SMSF + All things Property Tax Business Plus Member

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    Electronic tags (card / fob etc) are far better form of security as they can be cancelled for a user and it doesnt affect the lock itself. And a fee is charged to replace them or to replace any cancelled since they are then technically lost. Its a endless chore.

    Keys are easily duplicated (even when it says dont copy) and remain active years later when a thief can access the carpark and steal from cars.

    Electronic tags require all re-lets to be communicated and the coding reset for each card issued to a unit. In our office all cards are to be returned to be reissued (very quick). If 6 are on issue and 5 returned a lost fee applies to 1 and a new card issue fee is charged and a much smaller reissue fee applies to 5. If anyone wants two keys thats no problem as long as a new card fee is paid. If tenants change without returning cards they are all cancelled until someone brings the cards back. They tend to mention it quickly when they get locked out.
    And so on.....

    Some card systems are cheap and others horridly expensive. Some are easily copied using dodgies on the web and then enterprising occupants hand them around to their friends to abuse esp near public transport hubs. Some systems use a validity test on the card / fob to foil this so only a coded one issued by the correct channel will work. Our building had issues with that so the process is they can always enter using a clone but cannot depart. When they get locked in its a far easier way to raise the breach user by user and the clone master can be identified.
     
  9. dabbler

    dabbler Well-Known Member

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    I think your way over the top re security concerns....the system sounds ok as it is.

    Change locks and same thing will happen.

    Locks basically keep out honest people.
     
    Handyandy and Michael Mitchell like this.
  10. G..

    G.. Well-Known Member

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    Sounds like a fire hazard? Is there an alternate fire escape that they could use without the key?
     
  11. NedKelly

    NedKelly Well-Known Member

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    You only need the key to get in. Not out.
     

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