Building security: doorman (portero), entry phones and your neighbours

Terms used

• Portero — The portero is a concierge who controls who enters the building, common in older or larger blocks.
• Videoportero — The videoportero is an entry phone with a camera and a button that opens the street door.
• Junta de propietarios — The junta de propietarios is the meeting of a building's owners, where community decisions are voted on.
• Estatutos — The estatutos are the written rules of a building's community of owners.
• Reglamento de régimen interior — The reglamento de régimen interior is the building's house rules for daily life, such as noise and shared areas.

Key rules

• Strangers at the door: Never buzz in someone you do not know, and do not let anyone follow you through the street door.
• Tenant vote: Tenants cannot vote at the owners' meeting unless the landlord gives written permission.
• Your own camera: Film only your own property, never the street or a neighbour's door.
• Faults: Report broken door closers, locks and lost fobs to the administrator in writing.

What controls entry to your building

Most security in a Spanish apartment block starts at the street door. Know which system yours uses.

• A portero is a concierge who decides who comes in. You find one mostly in older or larger buildings.
• A videoportero is an entry phone with a camera and a button that opens the street door.
• Many buildings use only keys or fobs.

The usual weak points

Most break-ins start with a small habit, not a clever trick.

• Tailgating: someone slips in behind you. Wait until the door closes.
• Buzzing in strangers: people claim to be delivery staff or technicians. Do not open for callers you do not know. Go down and meet a courier, or ask them to leave the parcel.
• Propped-open doors: do not wedge the street door, garage door or roof door.
• Lost keys and fobs: ask the administrator to replace lost fobs and change codes. A lost master key or an old fob that was never cancelled stays a risk.
• Faults: a broken door closer, a worn lock, or shared access to garages and rooftops. Report them to the administrator (the person who manages the building) and keep a copy of your message.

What a tenant can and cannot change

Only owners vote at the junta de propietarios, the owners' meeting. As a tenant you have no vote unless your landlord gives you written permission to vote for them, and the landlord must be allowed to do that. You can usually attend only if invited, and you have no right to speak.

So raise security worries through the landlord, the administrator or the community president. You can ask your landlord to put an item on the agenda, or to vote for you. Your lease may also say you must follow the community rules (the estatutos and the reglamento de régimen interior), so read those too.

Cameras

A camera of your own should film only your own property. Do not point it at the street, at the landing outside your door, or at neighbours' doors and windows. Filming shared areas is only allowed through a system the community has approved. Installing one needs a vote at the owners' meeting, which is for owners to decide.

A community system must show a visible "zona videovigilada" sign. Recordings are normally deleted within one month. If they are evidence of a crime, they go to the police or a court. A camera inside your home that films only your household is mostly exempt from these rules.

Get on with your neighbours

Neighbours are your best security. Learn who lives on your floor, and tell them when you are away. Agree to tell each other about strangers or doors left open. If something is wrong, tell the administrator early rather than waiting for the next meeting.

The questions below cover votes, door cameras and how long recordings last.

Frequently asked questions

Can a tenant vote on security changes at the community meeting?

No, a tenant cannot vote at the junta de propietarios (the owners' meeting) unless the owner gives written proxy and is allowed to do so. Tenants usually attend only if invited and cannot speak. Ask your landlord, the administrator or the community president to put your concern on the agenda.

Can I put a camera on my door that sees the landing?

No, a private camera should film only your own property, not neighbours' doors or shared areas. Common areas can only be filmed by a system the community approves at the junta. If you do install a camera, a visible "zona videovigilada" sign is needed.

How long can a camera recording be kept?

Recordings are normally deleted within one month. The exception is footage needed as evidence of a crime, which you hand to the police or a court.