Being a locksmith for Sydney residents meant dealing with lost keys or stuck deadlocks in the past. Nowadays it is also equally probable to face a lobby entrance, tenancy issues or an unresponsive keypad. The city has evolved into a new lifestyle, and a lock and key industry follows its suit.
A City of Common Doors
Strata buildings have come to define a great deal of Sydney locking, which will not surprise any locksmith Sydney. Lobby entrances, parking gates and bin rooms are located on common property of the building. Access to copies of these keys is a more important issue than most people think.
Master key systems provide owners corporations with a number of access control layers. The master key unlocks a set number of doors, and the resident’s key unlocks only their own door. An even stricter restricted key system allows cutting of a copy only with proper authorisation.
Installation of common property locks should be done according to the process followed by the owners corporation.
New Homes, Old Weak Spots
The Hills District and the north-west are getting some seriously new homes and I mean brand new. Many of them are arriving with pretty basic security hardware that might need an upgrade before too long. But here’s the thing: being brand new doesn’t necessarily mean being secure.
Typical first upgrades include:
- Sorting out locks on the front door that pass the fire safety and emergency exit tests.
- Making sure there are window locks that still allow people to get out quickly if there’s an emergency.
- Securing those patio sliders with some decent bolts.
- Getting the locks rekeyed after the handover, since the builders or tradies might still have keys to hand.
New Homes, Old Weak Spots
Growth areas across the Hills District and the north-west have filled with brand-new homes. Some arrive with basic hardware that owners may want to upgrade soon after moving in. New does not automatically mean secure.
Common first upgrades include:
- Suitable deadlocks on external doors, checked against fire safety and exit needs.
- Window locks that still allow safe escape in an emergency.
- Patio bolts for sliding glass doors.
- Rekeying after handover, since trades may have held keys during construction.
After a Break-In, Speed Matters
Finding a break-in is quite disturbing, and the first step is to make sure everything is safe and then contact the police. Once the police are done, locks and damaged doors need immediate fixing. A house that isn’t protected properly will be inviting a return.
A locksmith will fix all issues with securing the property the same day, fix or change any broken locks, and even rekey the locks if the keys were stolen. Taking pictures of the damage before repairs are made can help in filing insurance claims.
New Issues Arise with Smart Locks
Keypads, app-controlled locks and video doorbells are becoming common on regular suburban doors. These provide an end to the quest for keys and the possibility of creating temporary codes for housekeepers or family members. Low battery power, poor passwords and non-updating apps, however, pose new threats.
Good passwords and frequent software updates go a long way with most smart devices. Having a key as a backup for when things do not work electronically makes sense. Video cameras that look into shared hallways or a neighbour’s backyard also present privacy issues to consider.
Small Business Security – More than the Deadbolt
While there are issues that arise in small businesses that don’t occur in residential properties, there are other security measures that may not even occur to you. There may be staff turnover, workers requiring temporary access, and goods and money being stored overnight.
Access control solutions that use cards or codes enable management to instantly revoke a card if lost. Monitored alarm systems, intercoms, and appropriately installed safes complete the package. A simple key log of which keys belong to which people eliminates any nasty surprises when staff members leave their jobs.
The security requirements of Sydney have become multi-layered and the proper locksmith requires not only experience but also legal knowledge. Getting a license checked and having a walk-through before any emergency is the easiest method to be one step ahead.
