Apartment Safety Tips

Home-entry, window, and lock safety tips specifically for apartment layouts.

Apartment Safety Tips

Quick Apartment Safety Scan

Options for a basic safety review of your apartment:

• Walk through your apartment once in the daytime and once at night.
• Note doors, windows, shared walls, and any weak points.
• Identify at least two exit routes from your unit and from the building.
• Check how sound travels: what you can hear from hallways, neighbors, and outside.
• Decide which areas feel most private for calls, planning, or storing important items.

Door Checks

Main Apartment Door

Options to review the safety of your main door:

• Test the main lock:
  • Check that the lock turns smoothly and fully engages.
  • Confirm the door cannot be opened by pushing or pulling when locked.
• Check for additional locks:
  • Deadbolt that can be locked from the inside.
  • Door chain or swing bar that limits how wide the door can open.
  • Door viewer (peephole) or a glass panel you can cover when not in use.
• Look at the door frame:
  • Check for cracks, loose screws, or damaged strike plates.
  • See if the door fits tightly into the frame with minimal gaps.
• Consider simple additions that do not damage the door (if allowed in your building rules):
  • Portable door security bars that fit under the handle.
  • Removable hinge pins or hinge security clips on inward-opening doors.
  • Non-permanent draft stoppers that also reduce visibility gaps.

Secondary Doors (Balcony, Patio, Back Door)

• Check that all secondary doors latch and lock properly.
• Test sliding doors:
  • Engage the built-in lock and try to slide the door firmly.
  • Use a cut-to-size dowel or bar in the track so it cannot slide open fully.
  • Check if the door can be lifted out of the track and adjust anti-lift screws if available.
• Review visibility from outside:
  • Check if someone can see directly in from walkways or neighboring units.
  • Use curtains, blinds, or window film if you want more privacy.

Window Locks and Window Safety

Check Existing Window Hardware

• Walk room-to-room and:
  • Open and close each window once.
  • Test the existing lock and confirm it fully engages.
  • Note any windows that do not close tightly or have damaged latches.
• Record problem windows so you can decide later whether to:
  • Submit a maintenance request to the landlord or property manager.
  • Use temporary, non-damaging security tools.

Options for Added Window Security

• For sliding windows:
  • Use a dowel or security bar in the track to limit opening.
  • Consider adjustable window stops that prevent the window from opening beyond a set point.
• For double-hung (up-and-down) windows:
  • Use pin locks or sash locks (where allowed) to restrict opening.
  • Limit opening width to what you consider reasonable for ventilation but not easy entry.
• For windows on fire-escape routes:
  • Maintain a balance between safety from intrusion and having a usable exit in an emergency.
  • Avoid permanent barriers that you cannot open quickly from the inside.

Building Entry and Shared Areas

Front Entrance and Lobby

• Observe how people enter the building:
  • Keyed entry, key fob, or code.
  • Unsecured doors that remain propped open.
• Check:
  • Whether the main door closes fully and latches on its own.
  • If visitors can ring individual units or reach all units by phone.
  • If names or unit numbers are publicly displayed and how much they reveal.
• Consider:
  • Using initials instead of full names on mailboxes or directories, if allowed.
  • Requesting that management not share your unit number with callers without your consent, if that is an option.

Side Entrances, Garages, and Stairwells

• Walk all routes you regularly use:
  • Side doors, basement doors, and parking garage entries.
  • Stairwells and elevator lobbies on each floor.
• Look for:
  • Broken locks or doors that do not latch.
  • Areas with poor lighting or blocked visibility.
  • Cameras or signage about surveillance (if any).
• Adjust your routines if helpful:
  • Prefer routes with better lighting and more foot traffic.
  • Avoid propped-open doors if you do not want others following you inside.
  • Close gently propped doors when you finish using them, if this feels safe.

Visitor and Delivery Management

• Decide how you want to handle:
  • Unexpected visitors at the main door or at your unit.
  • Deliveries (leaving items in lobby, outside your door, or meeting in common areas).
• Options you might consider:
  • Using building intercom or phone to speak with visitors without opening your unit door.
  • Providing instructions to delivery services that limit how close they get to your door, when possible.
  • Not sharing your unit number unless necessary for a service you trust.

Safe Neighbor Strategies

Identifying Potentially Safe Neighbors

• Note:
  • Neighbors you see regularly in halls, laundry rooms, or mail areas.
  • People who seem calm, respectful of privacy, and consistent in their routines.
• Start with low-information interaction:
  • Simple greetings in shared spaces.
  • Short conversations about building-related issues (packages, noise, maintenance).
• Decide who, if anyone, you may want to trust with limited information that supports your safety.

Setting Up Simple Signals or Agreements

Some people choose to create low-key arrangements with one or two neighbors. Options include:

• Noise or contact signals:
  • An agreed phrase or text that means “please check on me” or “please call for a wellness check,” if that is something you would use.
  • An arrangement that loud, unusual noise from your unit may mean they can call building security or another agreed number.
• Package and door awareness:
  • Neighbors who let you know if someone is repeatedly knocking or waiting at your door when you are not there.
  • Notifying each other about opened mailboxes or tampered-with doors in the hallway.
• Shared information, at your comfort level:
  • Providing a trusted neighbor with a non-local contact number for you (for example, a work phone or alternate email).
  • Letting them know what kind of contact, if any, you would want them to make if they become concerned.

Inside-the-Unit Safety Options

Room-by-Room Adjustments

• Entry area:
  • Keep walkways clear so you can move quickly if needed.
  • Store keys, cards, and essential items in one predictable place.
• Living areas:
  • Notice which rooms have doors that close and lock.
  • Observe which rooms have windows or balconies that could serve as exits or ways to signal for help.
• Bedroom:
  • Decide where to keep important documents, small valuables, or a packed bag if that is part of your planning.
  • Note any direct access to hallways, stairs, or fire escapes.

Information and Privacy

• Consider what is visible from windows:
  • Schedule, work badge, or ID cards near windows or doors.
  • Valuables that may draw attention from outside.
• Review:
  • Whether your name and unit number appear together on mail, packages, or intercom systems.
  • Whether building staff share information about your unit location or schedule with visitors.
• Decide whether you want to:
  • Ask management to limit information they share about you, where that is an option.
  • Use a mailbox service or alternate delivery address for certain items.

Coordinating Apartment Safety with Other Supports

Apartment safety is one layer of a broader plan. Some people combine building-focused steps with:

• A written or mental safety plan for different scenarios.
• Secure storage of documents and backup copies in another location.
• Technology and phone privacy steps, such as reviewing app permissions and location settings.
• Information about community or advocacy organizations, which you can sometimes locate through directories like those listed at DV.Support.

Personal Safety Checklist for Apartments

• Doors
  • Main door lock and frame checked.
  • Secondary doors (balcony, patio, back) tested and secured.
  • Non-permanent reinforcement options considered, if desired and allowed.
• Windows
  • All windows opened, closed, and locks tested.
  • Problem windows listed for repair or extra precautions.
  • Stops or bars used where helpful, while keeping exits in mind.
• Building entry
  • Main entrance behavior observed (doors closing, who can enter).
  • Side entrances and stairwells walked and assessed for lighting and visibility.
  • Visitor and delivery routines chosen (how you prefer to handle knocks and buzzers).
• Neighbors
  • Potentially safe neighbors identified, if any.
  • Optional low-key check-in or signal systems considered.
  • Decisions made about what information to share or keep private.
• Inside the unit
  • Clear paths to exits identified.
  • Important items stored in predictable, accessible places.
  • Visibility from windows adjusted with blinds, curtains, or placement of items.

Recommended Articles

• Safety Planning Checklist
• Gathering Evidence and Documentation
• Technology and Phone Safety Basics
• Protecting Personal Information and Privacy
• Preparing to Move Out Safely