These Q&A about lockboxes, keys and garage remotes in NSW strata apartment buildings.
Table of contents:
- QUESTION: If owners do not comply with a fob audit by the due date, can the owners corporation deactivate their fobs?
- QUESTION: Is there a system that solves the problem of access to elderly residents’ apartments in an emergency?
- QUESTION: Can an Owners Corporation ban owners from installing key safes or lockboxes on the exterior of a building (common property)? Can this be passed as a by-law or can the onsite manager enforce this rule?
- QUESTION: What is the best way to allow emergency services to access the building without compromising the security of the building?
Question: If owners do not comply with a fob audit by the due date, can the owners corporation deactivate their fobs?
My owners corporation would like to undertake an audit of access fobs to all apartments. They have requested all owners and residents cooperate.
They stated that if owners do not comply by the due date, the owners corporation will deactivate their fobs, obstructing access to the building, lots and elevators. Residents cannot enter or exit the garage without a fob.
When I purchased my apartment, I also purchased additional fobs. Does the owners corporation, via the facility manager, have the right to deny access to the building and my apartment?
Answer: The owners corporation has no legislative power to deny a lot owner access to their lot.
The owners corporation has no legislative power to deny a lot owner access to their lot. Access is a fundamental property right.
Arguably, the owners corporation could pass a by-law detailing how they will conduct and the consequences of failure to comply (e.g. fob deactivation). However, based on recent case law, such a by-law would likely be invalidated on the basis that it is harsh and/or oppressive.
Leanne Habib
Premium Strata
E: [email protected]
P: 02 9281 6440
This post appears in the August 2025 edition of The NSW Strata Magazine.
Question: Is there a system that solves the problem of access to elderly residents’ apartments in an emergency?
Emergency services use a lockbox system for a few of the older residents in our large inner city building. The use of this lockbox has always been a concern of mine. Is there a system that solves the problem of access to elderly residents’ apartments in an emergency? If so, how?
Answer: This can be arranged with a digital key safe.
There are a couple of ways you can do this.
The strata manager can grant access to the emergency service, ambulance, etc. When the emergency services get to the building, they’ll be granted access, or they’ll have to call the head office to be let into the building.
Another way to organise this is with a digital key safe. If five apartments require emergency access and don’t have digital apartment doors, the building can install a digital key safe for those apartments. The key safe would only be for the use of emergency services for access into those lots.
Emergency services would get to the building, access the digital key safe and gain access to the elderly residents’ apartments.
A third option would be to place a digital door lock on the apartments. Emergency services can be authorised access to those apartment doors.
Jake Sharp
MiMOR
E: [email protected]
This post appears in the May 2023 edition of The NSW Strata Magazine.
Question: Can an Owners Corporation ban owners from installing key safes or lockboxes on the exterior of a building (common property)? Can this be passed as a by-law or can the onsite manager enforce this rule?
Answer: I do think it is possible for a building to ban key safes being place on common property by way of a by-law.
I do think it is possible for a building to ban key safes being place on common property by way of a by-law. It could be argued that keeping a key safe for one lot may inhibit another owner or resident keeping a key safe which is unfair.
In either case, to keep a key safe on common property would require the permission of the owners corporation and I wouldn’t suggest giving permission for a key safe to an owner or resident unless there was a plan to make suitable arrangements for all residents rather than only a few.
Rod Smith
The Strata Collective
E: [email protected]
T: 02 9879 3547
This post appears in Strata News #279.
Question: What is the best way to allow emergency services to access the building without compromising the security of the building?
Our strata has 34 apartments and many single residents, some old, some not. We are an apartment building with a shared entrance, halls, and underground garage but individual apartment doors.
The committee is conscious that if someone has an accident they may not be found for some time unless someone else has approved access to their apartment to check on them should the need arise, eg they have not been seen as usual and no one knows where they are.
The committee has agreed to allow the installation of lockboxes in a safe area in the building to allow people to store a spare key in case someone needs to access their property to check on their health and safety.
In an emergency, access to each apartment can also then be obtained by approved persons.
Is a lockbox or keybox the best way to allow emergency services to access the building without compromising the security of the building?
Answer: In short, yes, lockboxes are a good idea.
In short, yes.
Provided someone has consented to their key being stored in their lockbox, and the committee agrees that the lockboxes can be put somewhere, this is ok.
I would hazard putting unit door keys anywhere in the common area, however. It’s always better if a key is left with one or more trusted people.
Regarding emergency services, an agreement to put a keybox externally can be reached with them (and likewise the local police station – unfortunately they seemingly don’t share the same backend system for access).
Andrew Terrell
Bright & Duggan
E: [email protected]
P: 02 9902 7100
This post appears in Strata News #218.
Have a question about key safes or lockboxes or something to add to the article? Leave a comment below.
Read More:
Visit Maintenance and Common Property OR NSW Strata Legislation.
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What about the situation where the key safes are portable and not permanently attached to any common property . The portable safe is removed each time a guest checks in and taken inside and is not left out on the door .
Hi Deborah
We have a Webinar coming up in a few weeks with Jake Sharp from MIMOR: Solve Airbnb / Trade Access Issues & Improve Safety in Your Building
With short stays from Airbnb, Stayz, etc continuing to be an issue for buildings across Australia, Jake will show you how to minimise the need for key safes being stored at the front of buildings, or more alarmingly, lock boxes being accessed on the street or via the corner shop!
If you’d like to join us for this session, you can register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_M4vJUDnaRPiqL-PI68E-eQ
A small apartment block, with remote door access from each apartment, during covid-19 19 can the Strata Committee prevent deliveries being granted remote access to leave parcels into the secure common property foyer?
Thank you for your reply but it is the electronic security that I am concerned about. There are 3 points of electronic security even before getting to my front door. The issue of entering my apartment door has been resolved.
There is a real need for Strata to resolve the issue of access to developments where there is electronic security, after hour hours in an emergency. This has been done in other apartment blocks. Locked boxes in an open letter box places the mail at risk of being stolen.
Failure to resolve this issue has the potential to placing lives at risk.