Imagine standing in the foyer of a sleek, newly renovated apartment building or the lobby of a bustling commercial complex. Visitors come and go, deliveries arrive, and residents and business owners need secure, seamless access to their spaces. In these dynamic environments, communication is key. That’s where a multi tenant intercom system comes into play.
A building intercom system is more than just a convenient tool; it’s crucial to modern security and access control. Whether you’re managing a residential high-rise or a small multifamily condo, co-op, or apartment, choosing the right system can streamline operations, enhance safety, and create a better experience for tenants and visitors alike. It’s the same story for multi tenant office and commercial spaces, which can benefit from many of the same makes and models of intercoms as a residential building.
With a growing range of intercom technologies available — from video-enabled units to app-controlled systems — how do you know which fits your needs best? This article will guide you through everything you need to consider before investing in a multi tenant intercom system. By the end, you’ll feel confident in selecting a solution that balances security, convenience, and future-proof technology for your property.
What Are the Benefits of a Multi Tenant Intercom System?
Enhanced Security
Multi tenant intercoms with video allow tenants to visually and audibly confirm the identity of visitors before granting entry, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized access. This added layer of protection can help deter potential intruders and ensure that only verified individuals enter the premises, enhancing overall building security. The visual verification provided by video intercoms can deter porch piracy, which is becoming a massive problem in the U.S. economy.
Manage Deliveries and Service Providers
These days, even small offices and small multi family residences are experiencing heavy foot traffic. A veritable army of package deliveries, food deliveries and service people including nannies, dog walkers, and cleaners are adding to the volume of other visitors like friends and family. A multi tenant intercom system with access control helps your tenants manage it all independently without a front desk or building staff, while keeping the front door running smoothly.
Improved Efficiency for Property Management
For all but perhaps the most high-end residential and commercial real estate, a multi tenant intercom system can replace full-time door and lobby staff who screen visitors. Even buildings with door staff often find that an intercom can be a good enough solution overnight. Meanwhile, modern Internet-enabled intercoms can usually be programmed remotely using an app or management portal. This saves property management significant time adjusting settings at individual intercom panels. Property managers can often program multiple building intercoms from the same central office.
Convenience
With many modern multi tenant intercom systems, tenants can manage access to the building from anywhere through mobile apps, allowing them to let in visitors, delivery personnel, or service providers even if they are not physically present. This eliminates the need for physical keys or in-person interactions, streamlining daily activities and reducing the hassle of lost keys or lockouts.
Improved Communication
Intercom systems enable smooth communication between tenants and building staff, making it easier to handle maintenance requests, visitor inquiries, and package deliveries. This creates a more organized and responsive environment, enhancing the overall experience for tenants and improving property management efficiency.
Access Management
Property managers can monitor who enters and exits the building, ensuring tighter control over access points. Temporary PIN and QR codes or limited-time access permissions can be issued to guests or contractors, preventing long-term security risks and allowing for flexibility.
Scalability
Some models of a multi tenant intercom system quickly adapt to accommodate additional tenants or units as the property grows. This flexibility allows property owners to future-proof their buildings, ensuring that the system can meet the demands of expansions or new developments without requiring a complete overhaul.
Property Value
Installing a modern intercom system not only enhances tenant satisfaction but also boosts the overall appeal and value of the property. Prospective tenants are often attracted to buildings with advanced security and convenience features, leading to higher occupancy rates and increased rental or resale value.
Key Features of a Multi Tenant Intercom
Years ago, buying a building intercom was straightforward. Most intercoms were simple audio-only systems that were either wired to each tenant or called each tenant over a dedicated landline telephone. With today’s video and internet-enabled intercoms, there are a wide array of features to learn about to inform your decision-making. We review some key features that add security and convenience for a multi tenant building.
Video Intercoms
While for decades, many intercoms were audio-only “call boxes,” today, we highly recommend choosing intercoms with built-in video. A multi tenant intercom system helps to deter theft. A video intercom creates a visual record of who entered the building or tried to enter, enhancing security. Tenants can see over video if a visitor is pretending to be someone they aren’t. It’s a feature tenants have come to expect that enhances property values or enables higher rents for management companies. For new construction and retrofits, this is becoming de rigueur.
Durability
Intercoms need durability to last through the years and bring a return on investment. Especially for intercoms mounted outside, you’ll want to know the hardware’s IK and IP ratings. IK ratings measure a system’s resistance to impact, such as vandalism or accidental damage. We recommend higher ratings like IK08 or IK10 for high-traffic or vulnerable areas. Meanwhile, IP ratings reflect a system’s ability to resist dust and water, making systems with at least an IP65 rating ideal for outdoor or exposed environments to ensure durability in harsh weather.
Wired or Wireless
Many older types of intercoms were wired to each unit, which can be an installation nightmare for all but new construction. Others, sometimes known as telephone intercom systems, or “call boxes,” were connected to a telephone landline to call each unit over the phone. Those are quickly becoming obsolete as well.
In the current era, wireless intercoms have become more popular. A wireless device connects over the Internet (via Ethernet, WiFi, or cellular data) to call or alert each tenant on their digital devices. Wireless intercoms save considerably on installation costs and negate the need for landline telephone service.
Built-in Tenant Directory
For any multi tenant use, the intercom needs to be paired with a directory of residential units or offices so that a visitor can call the right tenant. Older intercoms may have an individual push button for each tenant, paired with a printed directory next to the intercom. Or, simple “up” and “down” buttons may allow the visitor to scroll through a digital directory built into the intercom. The latest intercom designs have touch screens like a smartphone or tablet so that you can search the directory quickly by typing in a name, even if the building has thousands of units.
Access Credential Type
Most intercoms are part of a holistic access control solution. The intercom is linked to an electronic door lock mechanism and controls who can get in and out of the building. Instead of using traditional metal keys, intercoms use a variety of modern electronic solutions to verify who should get access:
- Key fobs: These are small radio frequency identification (RFID) devices that fit on a key chain, often used in residential buildings. A resident taps their key fob near an RFID reader either next to or built into the intercom, and the door unlocks.
- ID badges: Rectangular ID badges are a popular access credential in office buildings to identify employees who may work for different companies within the building. The badge works with a “tap” in the same manner as a key fob. But it can also double as a form of identification for employees of a specific company.
- PIN codes: Typing a numeric PIN code is a popular choice of access credential in smaller buildings. However, tenants have a tendency to share PIN codes with friends or visitors, and so they “leak” over time, much like a key getting copied. This reduces their security benefit. The best systems only use temporary, expiring PIN codes that can be issued to visitors.
- Mobile Devices: Today, many intercoms have built-in NFC and/or Bluetooth readers. You can tap your mobile device at the intercom just like you would a key fob or ID badge. That means one less item to carry.
- Biometrics/Facial Recognition: Biometrics use each person’s unique anatomy such as their iris, fingerprint or face to prove their identity and grant access. Because it is hands-free and easy to implement, facial recognition is the most popular biometric identity method used in multi tenant intercoms.
How Much Do Multi Tenant Intercoms Cost?
Hardware Costs
Telephone line intercoms start at $500 for the most basic models that serve roughly 4-10 apartment units or a single office. Prices climb to $2,400 for larger buildings with a digital directory. Though we’ve seen call boxes as expensive as $5,000 for buildings with thousands of units.
Video intercom systems cost between $1,400-$5,500. Although you can find models with all the features you could need at the lower end of that spectrum.
Installation Costs
Installation often starts at $1,000 per device but can climb from there depending on your market and if the intercom needs to integrate with multiple additional building systems. However, discounts are sometimes available when you are installing multiple units simultaneously. A third-party building security company often sets these prices. Your system manufacturer can typically recommend an installation company that works in your local market.
Subscription Fees
Apartment intercom systems that use a subscription-based model differ in two ways:
- Their software is managed in the cloud, as opposed to on-site; and
- Upfront costs are significantly lower, but there is a fixed, monthly cost (typically per user).
While the subscription-based intercom model may not be for everyone, there is something to be said about the reasons that facility managers are opting for it over legacy systems:
- Low installation cost creates accessibility and affordability
- Automatic software updates from the cloud
- Fixed cost-per-user is typically only $3 – $5
- The total price for a subscription-based system is often less than a legacy system, particularly those with a pricey dedicated landline telephone.
What Do I Do if its Time for an Intercom Replacement?
If you are in the market for an intercom replacement, you’re in luck. We’ve created guides for owners and property managers of both commercial and residential buildings to help them with the process.
Our buyer’s guide for Business and Office Intercom Systems
Our Apartment Intercom Buyer’s Guide, which covers all multi-unit residential types, including co-ops and condos.
If you’re looking for a moderately priced intercom that includes 2-way video, remote management, facial recognition, security audit logs and comes with the durability of an IK10 and IP65 rating, you may want to reach out for a free customized quote.
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