How Safer Neighbourhoods Can Influence Long-Term Property Values
Multiple factors can boost local property values, notably good schools, high-value employers, a vibrant local high street, and access to transport links. But, an increasingly important factor is safer, secure neighbourhoods.
Domestic property landlords and commercial buyers now pay more attention to evidence of good or declining neighbourhoods through property prices and other metrics. Through personal visits, checks of local news, crime statistics and social media, they can easily identify areas suffering from regular troublespots, or recognise outward signs of crime and deprivation, all of which can creep into better areas, dragging down the wider perception of safety and pricing values.
While community policing, improved council facilities and regional efforts can help improve the safety of neighbourhoods, the most immediate way to improve a reputation is through local, focused security improvements. These can be delivered through high-street or residential-level anti-crime initiatives, neighbourhood watch schemes and engagement with troublesome groups to solve some of their problems.
And, as far as landlords are concerned, HMOs or blocks of flats will see reduced crime if there are high-quality panoramic security systems in around the premises. Both to protect the residents and the property from anti-social activity.
Looking Beyond Ring Doorbell Security Culture
While many people are satisfied with a video doorbell and other security hacks, improved home and street-level surveillance can deliver a stronger sense of security for buyers. The likes of comprehensive intruder alarm systems, flexible and smart panoramic cameras that cover the garage or drive, the immediate street and expansive rear areas of a property, all more useful and practical in delivering security.
Even in a wealthy and high-profile area, crime such as high-value vehicle theft can blight the neighbourhood, so improved camera systems for deterrence and evidence gathering can make the street or village more attractive to buyers when they see efforts are being made at advanced security.
By eliminating blind sports, tracking the source of trouble day or night, and connecting to a smartphone or the cloud for immediate analysis, people will feel safer and criminals less brazen when they see high-quality security systems in action.
Creating a Local Culture of Security, Not Snooping
Often, the first feature added to a new build property or when a new owner moves in is security features like alarms and cameras. As part of residential-area-level engagement, owners or installers can discuss the installation with tenants or neighbours to highlight the benefits and put to bed the “snoopers’ charter” claims that some residents will likely foster.
While a cluster of 360-degree and panoramic cameras may look oppressive on a residential property or local store, explaining the value in terms of collecting evidence, deterring casual criminals, and reducing insurance costs can all help drive safety efforts around a cul de sac, street or retail area.
Add in good communications between residents or shop owners, and the locals can gain a better sense of security risks, people to be concerned about as well as acting as a general safety net alongside postal delivery workers, regular couriers and grocery delivery staff, who can be encouraged to check in on vulnerable customers while reporting suspicious behaviour rather than ignoring it as “not their problem”.
As part of wider efforts, depending on the area, funding is available for community safety projects to reduce anti-social behaviour and reduce the fear of crime. These and individual security projects can help improve neigbourhoods at the street level, expanding into a wider approach to home safety and protection.
All of which can improve property prices over time, as locals identify with their neighbours and new arrivals as helping improve the overall situation through improved security. Simple steps like neighbourhood forums (online or in-person) can help locals raise awareness, and authorities understand community and neighbourhood needs, putting pressure on them to deliver resources to improve the situation.
As part of these forums, recordings of high-quality video evidence (with footage recording at up to 32 megapixels in modern systems) can provide proof of a problem and evidence for investigations. Whatever your reason for property investment, a concerted effort at improved security can help prices recover in affected areas, or boost them further in areas that successfully fight off criminals and casual urban or suburban disorder.
