Do you live in a gated area?

I am part of a gated area within the HOA. We only have an electronic gate, no guards, cameras or the like. Each homeowner was issued 2 clickers that will allow access through the gate at any time. Also, each homeowner was allowed to set up a private security code (unique to the homeowner) that could be used at the entrance kiosk in case they didn't have the clicker. For visitors, there is a directory panel from which the visitor presses a magic button and the home phone is rung and if the homeowner wants to allow access, they press a button on the phone and the gate will be opened.

We do not want to change this configuration.

However, I would like to find out if anyone has created any rules/policies on what should happen to a homeowner that willing gives out their private security code to a non-resident. We recently had a case where a homeowner (or realtor) posted their private gate code on the kiosk because they were having an open house to sell their home.

I believe each homeowner should sign a document stating they should not give out their code. Also, there probably should be some penalty if they do. There is no rationale in putting in a penalty if we can’t enforce the rule. However, there are many exceptions that need to be accounted for, like when the homeowner has a house sitter to come over each day when they are vacation. We do not want the homeowner to give the code to the lawn maintenance crew or any other vendor.

Has anyone gone through this issue and have come to any resolutions? I would love to hear/see the results.

Wow - nice rules Swan. Can you really keep owners from getting to their homes? That's amazing. Harold

I've had this situation before - a resident gave the gate code to her boyfriend, who became a nuisance after they broke up - and my solution has been to immediately change the gate code in question, notifying the owner via letter. Most residents will get the message.

Our gate is accessed with magnetic key cards and those cards can be turned off by computer. There is also a phone to call into the homes and the homeowner/member can then raise the gate with a keypunch on their phone. Since we own the roads we do have the right to limit access through the gate to members who violate our rules. If they don't follow the rules they have to walk in.