Securing Tenant Mail: A Landlord’s Guide to Multi-Unit Letterboxes

A letterbox is a piece of fixture typically installed outside a residential or commercial property. It serves as a safe container for receiving and sending letters and other correspondence.

While single letterboxes built into the wall or fence are most common, there are certain instances when a property may require multiple letterboxes. This is particularly true for apartment complexes and multi-tenant residential buildings where mail for each tenant can be accessed in a common area.

Because a person’s mail must remain safe and secure, it is crucial that you pick the right fixture to secure your tenants’ correspondences. This article aims to guide landlords and ladies in selecting the perfect multi-unit letterbox for their rental property.

What is a Multi-Unit Letterbox?

A multi-unit letterbox is a kind of letterbox that can accommodate the mail of several different people in one place. They can be banked together vertically or horizontally and are used to secure the mail in apartment buildings, flats, and homes where several families reside.

Aside from choosing between portrait and landscape style letterboxes, you also need to consider whether retrieval of mail is done from the rear or the front. Mounting of the letterbox is another consideration (more on that later).

5 Things to Consider When Choosing a Multi-Unit Letterbox

Multi-unit letterboxes function much like their single-unit counterparts, with the exception of holding several people’s mails all at once. Choosing a letterbox should be done with careful thought and consideration.

To help you get started, here are five vital considerations you should think about before buying a multi-unit letterbox:

1. Cluster Letterboxes

A popular option for condominiums and apartments is a cluster letterbox system. This particular system offers several benefits that both the landlord and his tenants can benefit from, including:

• Lower expenses on mail delivery services and upkeep
• Ease of security due to the placement of the letterboxes in a single place
• Boosted safety of the mail, thanks to the individual locks that only the unit tenant and mail carrier have access to
• Longevity of material because it can be placed in a covered area or within the building itself

1. Letterbox Orientation

As mentioned earlier, letterboxes may be piled horizontally and vertically. Both orientations have their own perks, but it will always depend on yours and your tenants’ specific needs.

For instance, portrait-style letterboxes may be advantageous for residential buildings composed of several stories where each unit can be assigned their own “level” in the letterbox system. Landscape letterboxes, on the other hand, provide ease of access to a specific unit’s letterbox since the mail containers are placed side-by-side.

1. Mounting and Location in the Property

Another primary consideration you should think about when having letterboxes installed for multiple units is the type of mounting and its location in the property. There are several types of letterboxes based on these aspects, each having the perfect solution for different situations.

For example, curbside boxes can be placed along the curb with easy access to anyone who lives in a gated community with large driveways or front yards. This can come in the form of fence-mounted, brick in, post-mounted, or freestanding letterboxes. Such an option is most prevalent in rural and suburban areas.

For properties with smaller front yards or driveways, wall-mounted letterboxes are the best choice. Because of the minimal space allowance required, this type of letterbox is common in more populous urban areas. It is also best for keeping strangers from accessing your tenants’ mails.

1. Material

Generally, choosing a material for a letterbox depends on where you live and where the fixture would be placed within the property.

For letterboxes to be put in areas where it can be exposed to elements (see curbside boxes), the material should be made from stainless steel. This material is known to withstand several kinds of weather conditions and maximum mail protection.

For those living in coastal areas where metal is prone to rust, it is best to choose a letterbox made from aluminum and other marine-grade materials.

Other alternative materials include brass, copper, or wood. These require a bit more maintenance than stainless steel, but they definitely pack a punch when it comes to bringing elegance to your property for better curb appeal.

Note: Letterboxes made out of wood can be reinforced with powder coating and galvanized steel to make it sturdier against some weather conditions.

1. Additional Security Features

Be it a cluster system or a wall-mounted letterbox unit, security is the topmost priority. This is the most effective way to prevent mail theft and all the consequences that may occur thereafter, including stolen money and identity.

Fortunately, you can reduce – if not eliminate – this possibility by installing a multi-unit letterbox within your apartment complex or a common secure area in the residential. Some additional security features you should look for include:

• Rubber sealed access doors
• Extra keyholes
• Private captive locks

Managing the Mail, the Right Way

Managing your rental property is challenging enough as it is without you having to worry about your tenants’ mail. To ensure the safety of correspondences going in and out of your property, only choose the right multi-unit letterbox based on the guidelines described in this article.

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AUTHOR BIO

Jay Flavell is the General Manager at Sandleford Holdings. He has been working in the DIY & Home Improvement industry since 2007 and has vast experience sourcing and developing products from overseas suppliers in the Far East. Jay has also been successful dealing with a number of major DIY & Home Improvement retailers throughout his career.