How should a condo manage delivery riders without compromising security? Decide where riders are allowed to go, make residents pre-register or approve deliveries, log every delivery entry, and give riders a fast path that does not require entering residential blocks when possible. With a clear policy and the right tools, guards spend less time on deliveries and residents get their food and parcels faster.
Food delivery, grocery delivery and e-commerce parcels have changed the daily rhythm of Singapore condominiums. In many estates, delivery riders now outnumber social visitors on weekday evenings. Each rider is a stranger who needs to reach a specific unit within minutes, which puts pressure on both guards and security rules.
Why deliveries need their own policy
Delivery riders are different from other visitors:
- High volume: dozens or hundreds of deliveries a day in larger estates.
- Short visits: most need only a few minutes on site.
- Unknown identity: the rider changes with every order, and the resident often does not know who is coming.
- Time pressure: riders are paid per delivery and want to move quickly, which encourages tailgating and propping doors open.
Treating riders like social visitors creates queues. Letting them through without checks creates a security gap. A delivery policy finds the middle ground.
Choose your delivery access model
There are four common models in Singapore condos. Many estates combine two or more.
Delivery access models compared
| Model |
How it works |
Security |
Resident convenience |
| Guardhouse handover |
Rider leaves the item at the guardhouse; resident collects |
High |
Low; resident must come down |
| Lobby or drop-off point |
Rider goes only to the block lobby; resident meets them |
High |
Medium |
| Parcel lockers |
Rider places parcels in a locker; resident gets a code |
High |
High for parcels, not suitable for hot food |
| Door-to-door with approval |
Rider goes to the unit after the resident approves |
Medium, depends on controls |
High |
For most estates, a practical default is: parcels to lockers or the guardhouse, food to the lobby, and door-to-door only with resident approval and a time-limited pass.
Step 1: Make residents responsible for their deliveries
The resident is the only person who knows a delivery is genuine. Your policy should make that clear:
- Residents pre-register expected deliveries in the condo app, or approve them when the rider arrives.
- Unannounced riders wait at the guardhouse while the guard calls or notifies the unit.
- Residents who do not respond within a set time will find their delivery held at the guardhouse.
In the myCondo app, residents can register a delivery in a few taps and receive a notification when the rider arrives. They can approve entry or ask the guard to hold the item.
Step 2: Give approved riders a short, limited pass
If your estate allows door-to-door delivery, the rider should get a pass that:
- Is valid for a short window, such as 15 to 20 minutes.
- Opens only the pedestrian gate and the lobby of the resident’s block.
- Cannot be used for facilities or other blocks.
- Is logged on every use.
Smart door stations make this possible. An Akuvox X915S door station, for example, accepts QR codes, PIN, Bluetooth and RFID credentials as well as face recognition, and myCondo can issue a QR code that works only at the right doors for the right time. The X915S is rated IP66 and IK10, which suits busy lobby entrances.
Step 3: Stop tailgating and propped doors
Riders in a hurry may hold doors open for each other or follow residents through gates. Your policy should cover:
- Clear signage at lobby doors asking everyone to let doors close.
- Door-held-open alerts from the access control system to the guardhouse.
- CCTV coverage at lobby doors, so incidents can be reviewed.
- Feedback to platforms when a rider repeatedly breaks estate rules.
Step 4: Handle motorcycles and vehicles
Many riders arrive on motorcycles, and some parcel services use vans. Decide where they can stop. Common choices are a designated short-stay bay near the guardhouse or a drop-off point that keeps vehicles out of resident car parks.
If vehicles are allowed in, licence plate recognition helps. Cameras from partners such as Dahua Technology and Hikvision read plates at the barrier and log entry and exit times. Hikvision’s DeepinView ANPR cameras, for example, can also detect vehicles without plates and recognise motorcycle plates in checkpoint scenarios, which helps when riders arrive on two wheels. With myCondo, a delivery vehicle can be given a short-stay permission that expires automatically.
Step 5: Keep delivery records simple and useful
You do not need detailed personal data from every rider. A good delivery record includes:
- The delivery platform or courier company.
- The unit receiving the delivery.
- Time in and time out.
- Vehicle number, if a vehicle entered.
- Whether the resident approved door-to-door access.
Under PDPC guidelines, guards should not record full NRIC numbers for routine deliveries. If a rider’s identity needs checking, a visual check of photo ID is enough. Keep records in a system with access controls and delete them after your retention period.
Step 6: Write the house rules and communicate them
Put the policy into a short notice for residents and a one-page instruction for guards. Residents should know:
- Where riders can and cannot go.
- How to pre-register or approve deliveries.
- How long unclaimed items are held at the guardhouse.
- Who to contact if a delivery goes missing.
Guards should know how to handle unannounced riders, what to record, and when to call the managing agent.
Sample delivery policy outline
Delivery policy at a glance
| Item |
Example rule |
| Parcels |
Delivered to parcel lockers or the guardhouse; resident notified |
| Food |
Delivered to the block lobby; door-to-door only with resident approval |
| Rider pass |
QR pass valid for 20 minutes, gate and one lobby only |
| Vehicles |
Short-stay bay near the guardhouse; plate logged by LPR |
| Records |
Platform, unit, times and vehicle number; no full NRIC |
| Unclaimed items |
Held at the guardhouse for a set period, then returned to sender |
How myCondo helps
myCondo lets residents register and approve deliveries in the app, gives guards a live list of expected riders, issues short QR passes that open only the right doors, and logs every entry for the managing agent. It integrates with door stations, barriers, LPR cameras and CCTV from partners such as Dahua Technology, Hikvision, Akuvox and Milestone, and our Singapore team provides setup and after-sales support.
Frequently asked questions
Can a condo ban delivery riders from going to units?
Many estates restrict riders to the lobby or guardhouse through their by-laws or house rules. Check your estate’s by-laws and communicate the rule clearly to residents.
Should guards record a rider’s NRIC?
Generally no. Under PDPC guidelines, a visual check of photo ID and a record of the platform, unit and time is usually enough.
What if a parcel goes missing?
With digital records, the managing agent can see when the rider entered, which doors they used and when they left, then review CCTV for that exact time.
Do parcel lockers work for food?
Standard lockers are designed for parcels. For food, a lobby handover or a short door-to-door pass is more practical.
How do we stop riders from tailgating?
Combine signage, door-held-open alerts, CCTV at lobby doors and short passes, so riders have no reason to follow others in.
Need a delivery policy that works?
Our team can review your current delivery process and equipment and recommend practical changes, with no obligation.
WhatsApp or call: +65 8812 3888
Email: [email protected]
Address: 8 Ubi Road 2, #07-13 Zervex, Singapore 408538
Related reading: QR Code Visitor Passes in Condos: How They Work and Are They Safe?
