Seventy-four percent of Millennials don’t feel secure in their homes, according to a recent survey. Considering that 72% of Millennials live in apartment buildings, this statistic should be a wake-up call for those who own and manage long-term multifamily rental properties. It’s increasingly clear that the security measures most property managers have in place no longer cut it for a large portion of renters.

And it’s no wonder: Technology has advanced exponentially over the past decade, offering safer, more convenient options to old-school security methods. Physical keys and even slightly more advanced technologies such as key fobs and cards are no longer considered the secure option of choice when it comes to keys in multifamily buildings.

This might not be a big deal among Gen X or even Baby Boomer renters. But for younger, digital-first generations, it’s a different story. To keep tenants safe and ensure that Millennials and Gen Zers don’t look for other places to live, managers need to embrace more modern approaches to safety.

Why Safety Should Be a Top Priority for Managers

There’s no question that property owners and managers already know that tenant safety is important. After all, basic safety precautions such as deadbolts on doors, intercoms at building entrances, and working fire alarms have long been standard practice for rental properties. If this has been enough to keep tenants safe so far, is there really any benefit to changing things?

The answer is a resounding yes. It’s not enough for a landlord to think a place is secure; the residents have to feel that security themselves. For 75% of Millennial renters, safety is their top concern. It’s important that they can see exactly what you are doing to protect them. Security upgrades can also improve the value of your property and help with renter turnover, reducing a huge financial drain.

While it might seem like a big undertaking, upgrading the security of a building doesn’t have to mean hiring 24/7 security guards; it just requires some more modern security solutions. Here are five technologies you can install to create a safer and more welcome environment for residents:

1. Cloud-based access control platforms for common areas.

Physical keys can be duplicated, and key fobs or cards can be shared. In both cases, there’s no way to monitor who enters and leaves common areas, and there’s no truly safe way to grant temporary access to guests or prospective residents. With a cloud-based digital key platform, however, you have greater control over who has access to these areas, without requiring constant check-ins at the key tracking machine or front office. That will make your residents feel safer and actually be safer, along with making your staff and vendors more efficient.

2. Connected intercoms.

Intercoms and apartment buildings have gone hand in hand for decades — and with good reason. They provide an easy way for residents and staff to grant front-door access to a particular property. However, technology has advanced quite a bit since the days of buzzing people in. Connected intercoms are safer, more manageable solutions, adding new layers of security that traditional intercoms lack. Integrations with property management software can allow for the automated creation of smart digital keys for work orders, package deliveries, resident move-in and move-out, and other necessary services.

3. Connected resident locks.

The most apparent benefit of smart locks is that they don’t rely on easily lost or surreptitiously duplicated physical keys. While that already makes connected locks safer than traditional deadbolts, it’s not the only benefit they provide. Smart locks also let residents and property managers handle access remotely, which means that people who might need to temporarily enter an apartment for maintenance or dog walking don’t have to be given spare keys or wait until someone is home to enter.

Connected locks let you monitor in real time who enters and exits a residence so that you are likelier to identify break-ins or other suspicious activity. Similar to cloud-based access control, they eliminate time wasted by staff or vendors who need to check keys in and out for maintenance items.

4. Common area smart cameras.

Theft and vandalism, as well as problems like tailgating or piggybacking — in which an unauthorized person sneaks through a closing door behind an authorized person — are real concerns for both residents and owners. They are not only expensive to deal with, but they also make tenants feel unsafe in their homes.

Connected intercoms and locks can help reduce the risk, but cloud-connected cameras become a visual deterrent to would-be bad doers. Modern analytics programs can help identify people who sneak in, monitor traffic flow, and track the number of people in an area. In the event of a major incident, cameras can also provide authorities with immediate information. Common area cameras can also help residents check on the availability of those locations, such as the front of a building.

5. Monitored life safety systems.

Fire and carbon monoxide detectors should already be in every residence and common area on your property. However, if these detectors only act as local alarms, then they are doing the bare minimum of what is possible. Connected life safety systems in both common areas and resident units can alert emergency services at the same time they alert residents and staff of local dangers, potentially saving lives (and your property).

Creating a more secure rental property doesn’t necessarily mean immediately replacing everything in a building with all new technology. Pick just one of these solutions to start with, and you will already be taking a major step forward in security. Just take your time in choosing the platform to use. Regardless of which technology you start with, a good platform should be able to integrate all these technologies so that your staff and guests have a seamless experience.

You should take safety seriously not only because it’s the right thing to do, but also because it’s an amenity that attracts young residents and keeps them safe and happy. Now more than ever, people want to feel safe in their homes, and you have the power to make that happen.