Multi-family housing, also referred to as multi-tenant and multi-dwelling, is a fluid, ever-changing market. Tied closely to economic conditions, investors are choosy, seeking projects with less risk and more opportunity for profitability. Construction costs have risen, and project planning and initial execution can take months. Still, access control has become an essential for apartments, condos, townhomes and other multi-family dwellings in both new construction and retrofit.

Access control innovation is creating new value for owners, managers and users. It’s no longer viewed as an overhead cost that can’t be recouped, but a gateway to adjacent technologies and happier tenants. It’s used beyond security, offering data and operational metrics — integrating to property management systems like Yardi and RealPage. Mobile credentials are now a familiar and preferred way to enter buildings and common areas, with end users leveraging the cloud to manage and control openings remotely.

New Builds & Retrofits Poised for Growth

“The 2026 pipeline is looking healthy, especially for retrofit multi-family projects,” says Cris Kimbrough, president, SKBM Smart Technology, Kissimmee, Fla. The company is a proptech provider, delivering smart solutions to thousands of residents in a comprehensive risk management package.

SKBM is an agnostic integrator, working with more than 25 technology partners to provide a tailored solution for property owners and developers. “Systems integrators need to work with tenants, onsite staff, asset managers, senior managers, owners and property managers to solve problems for these stakeholders,” Kimbrough says. “It’s not a one-size-fits all approach, so SKBM leverages different manufacturer technologies to customize solutions.”

Mobile credentials are must-haves as users move to newer technologies, Kimbrough adds. “Owners are also looking for one centralized app from curb to building,” she says. “Former proprietary systems are opening their APIs, and suppliers are paying more attention to real estate requirements for integration and open systems.”

Joe Cutaia, vice president, Elite Tech Solutions, Jacksonville, Fla., says the multi-family access control market has evolved rapidly over the last 18 months. “Properties are moving away from isolated, single-purpose systems and adopting fully integrated platforms that cover more access points,” he says. “The most significant trend we’re seeing is the push toward unified solutions that handle everything from unit entry to amenity spaces to previously unsupported areas, like storage rooms with smart locks. Properties want systems that can tie everything together and simplify both management and user experience.”

Owners are increasingly using access control systems as a marketing advantage, Cutaia adds. “Secure communities, smart-lock-enabled units and fully integrated access experiences help properties stand out,” he says. “When everything from the call box to the unit door is handled through a single app, owners can promote a modern smart community experience. It creates real differentiation against competing properties that still rely on outdated or fragmented systems.”

Mobile Drives Owners to the Cloud

SecureTech Systems, Garden City South, N.Y., was founded in 2020 and works in the heart of multi-family territory. “It’s a highly competitive market,” says Jawad Khalfan, MBA and CEO, SecureTech, and an honoree in the Long Island Business News “30 Under 30” awards.

“We focus on service and teaching our employees that a sense of urgency, as well as quality installations and equipment, is extremely important,” Khalfan says. He reveals that one of the overriding trends SecureTech is seeing is the transition from local, on-premises servers to offsite computing infrastructures. “Along with that comes resistance by some owner-operators, because of the reoccurring costs they didn’t have before,” he says. “It’s important for systems integrators to educate the owner-operator on the benefits of the cloud and how it helps their building remain relevant now and in the future.”

Another important consideration in multi-family access control, Khalfan says, is an open API and the ability to integrate with other systems and software. “When you’re dealing with property management companies with thousands of units across several buildings, you need open integration, so everything is managed in one place,” he says.

Streamlining Digital Touchpoints

Ease of permitting visitors is part of the experience in multi-family access control. “Access control systems allow the creation of a QR code or a temporary barcode to enter an apartment. This is helpful for residents during holidays or parties, who can assign access to individuals during specific times with no heavy lifting or administration,” Khalfan says.

Ranked among the top systems integrators, Security 101, West Palm Beach, Fla., says owners and building managers are focused on the client experience. “Integration is super important right now, and users want a single pane of glass to control their solutions,” says Ken Poole, chief revenue officer, Security 101. “In the residential multi-tenant space, mobile credentials allow users to use the same mobile credential at the front door, fitness center and individual units, while segmenting who goes where. Some tenants have access to everything. Others can only use the front door and their apartment. This adds a layer of complexity to the system, but it’s something building owners are asking for.”

Poole says wireless access control locks have been a game changer, expanding solutions inside the building into tenant spaces and doors at a lower cost and with less disruption than hardwiring.

Of course, data is a sought-after amenity for owners and building managers, he adds. “Let’s say that, on average, there are 10 people using the fitness center daily. Suddenly, it jumps to 75 entries,” Poole says. “We need to determine what's going on and if we need to add additional levels of security.”

The Shift Is Monumental

The multi-family access control market is shifting rapidly toward mobile-first, cloud-managed and wallet-based access experiences, says Scott Harry, project manager, LaMarco Systems Inc., Northbrook, Ill. LaMarco Systems is deploying a mobile-only access control ecosystem, designed to bring a modern, app-driven experience to multi-family properties.

Harry says property teams are looking for full portfolio visibility; instant credential activation and removal; real-time activity logs and audit trails; and simplified access workflows that reduce on-site support needs. Other operational perks include automated move-in, move-out processes; reduced lockouts due to mobile credentials; remote diagnostics; and central management of multi-building properties. “This results in higher resident satisfaction with a premium, tech-forward living experience,” Harry says.

The multi-family market is as diverse as the potential opportunities, with systems integrators focusing on delivering value and a smooth user experience in their installed access control solutions.