As a landlord, you must provide and maintain minimum external locks, and security doors can be fitted to a rental, but only with the right consent and a compliant installation. Insist on AS 5039.1:2023 for performance and AS 5039.2:2024 for installation. Check site suitability and fire safety first, especially in units. Start with an on-site assessment and a written agreement covering costs, installation and keys.
TL;DR:
- Ask the installer to identify the door’s AS 5039.1:2023 performance class and document installation under AS 5039.2:2024, including frame reinforcement where needed.
- Tenants generally need written landlord consent for permanent doors, while family violence protections may permit certain lock changes or security devices without prior approval.
- Before adding a screen door to a unit’s fire rated entry, obtain written clearance from the building certifier, owners corporation, or relevant authority.
- Choose mesh for airflow and insect protection; heavier steel offers greater resistance but may require frame strengthening, while aluminum reduces load on existing frames.
Table of Contents
- Which types of security doors suit rental properties?
- What are landlord and tenant responsibilities for security doors?
- Can you fit a security door to a unit’s fire-rated entry?
- What should a compliant installation checklist include?
- What affects the cost and timing of a rental security door?
- Why do security doors help in rentals?
- How do you maintain a rental security door over time?
- Which security features matter most in a rental?
- What problems come up with rental security doors and how do you fix them?
- How do you match a security door to the look of a rental?
- A practical view from our team
- How we can help you fit compliant security doors to your rental
- FAQ
- Sources
Which types of security doors suit rental properties?
Choosing a door for a rental is a different decision from choosing one for your own home. You want durability, low maintenance and a style that suits a rotating line of tenants. Here are the common options:
- Mesh security screens: A woven stainless steel or aluminium mesh in a framed door. These keep airflow and insect protection while resisting cutting and kicking.
- Decorative grille doors: Bar or pattern designs that add visual interest. Our decorative grille security doors are engineered with AS 5039 in mind.
- Stainless steel doors: Heavy and tough, suited to properties where forced entry is a real concern.
- Aluminium doors: Lighter, corrosion resistant and easier on the existing frame, which makes them a practical choice for many rentals.
- Double security doors: Used for wide openings such as French or double entries. See our guide to double security screen doors.
The trade-offs are straightforward. Heavier doors resist forced entry better but demand a stronger frame, and open mesh gives better airflow than solid panels. Some designs are engineered to meet AS 5039 performance classes, which are set out in AS 5039.1:2023. That matters in a rental because a classified door gives you something concrete to check in a quote, and something to point to if a dispute arises later.
When you speak to an installer, ask which class the door meets and how that is evidenced on paper.
What are landlord and tenant responsibilities for security doors?
Minimum security in Australian rentals is regulated by each state, and the duty to provide and maintain it sits with the landlord. In Victoria, external entry doors must have a functioning deadlock or deadlatch. The state’s minimum standards also accept an AS 5039 compliant key lockable security screen door on the main entry as one way to meet the requirement. Western Australia’s guidance says landlords must provide and maintain locks and give tenants at least one set of keys, and Queensland requires external doors and windows reachable without a ladder to have functioning locks or latches. Always check the rules in your own state.
Here is how consent and responsibility usually break down:
- Landlords: Supply and maintain working locks and deadlocks, and hand over keys at the start of the tenancy.
- Tenants: Generally need written consent for permanent fixtures. Removable devices, such as battery cameras or wireless doorbells, usually do not need consent, though permanent fixtures do.
- Family violence exceptions: Renters experiencing family violence may change the locks or install certain security devices under specific legal protections, without prior consent.
- Both parties: Put the agreement in writing, covering who pays, who installs, restoration at lease end and who holds the keys.
If a landlord fails to provide or maintain required locks, rental law can trigger a 14-day rectification process in some cases. Our rental permission checklist walks through the consent pathway step by step.
Can you fit a security door to a unit’s fire-rated entry?
Often you should not, at least not without sign-off. Fire & Rescue NSW advises caution about fitting security screen doors to sole-occupancy units, because they can encourage propping open the main fire door and compromise fire safety. Whether the addition is acceptable is a decision for the certifier or relevant authority.
The risk is twofold. Drilling into or changing a fire-rated door set can weaken its fire resistance. And if a tenant props the main door open for ventilation because the security door sits behind it, the fire door cannot do its job. Fire & Rescue NSW is the place to start for guidance on the rules.
Before touching an apartment entry, check with the building certifier, the owners corporation or building manager, and the local council. In a multi-unit building, a short written approval protects you far better than a good intention.
What should a compliant installation checklist include?
A good installer works through the site before any quote is finalised. The national unit MSFSSG303 describes the competency to assess security screen suitability, including building structure and regulations. A security door is also only as strong as its frame, so installers may need to add adaptors or frame-strengthening members.
- Measure the opening and note any out-of-square sections.
- Check what the frame is made of (timber, metal or masonry) and how sound it is.
- Look at drainage and airflow needs, plus any fire-rated or heritage constraints.
- Confirm installation follows AS 5039.2:2024, with tamper-resistant fasteners and frame strengthening where needed.
- Ask for evidence of installer competence, such as MSFSSG303.
- Collect the paperwork: AS 5039 compliance statement, warranty terms, scope of works (including restoration at tenancy end) and key handover.
Pro Tip: Ask for the compliance statement and warranty terms at quote stage, not after the door is on.
Our five-step compliant security door checklist covers the same ground in more detail.
What affects the cost and timing of a rental security door?
Price comes down to a handful of variables, and timing depends on how many steps sit between your enquiry and the final fit. Both are easier to pin down when quotes are itemised.
These factors move the price:
- Door style and material: Stainless steel, steel and aluminium all price differently.
- Custom sizing: Non-standard openings add manufacturing time and cost.
- Frame strengthening: Weak frames need work before the door goes on.
- Lock hardware: A three-point locking system costs more than a basic lock.
- Finishes: Our guide to powder coat versus anodised finishes explains the difference.
- Labour: Access, number of doors and installer availability all play a part.
For timelines, ask for itemised lead times covering site inspection, custom manufacture, finishing and installation. Then schedule the work around the tenancy so tenants are not left without a secure entry.
A solid quote also states AS 5039 compliance, the warranty period, whether removal or restoration is expected at lease end, and who pays for any remedial work.
Why do security doors help in rentals?
For landlords, a visible, solid door is a deterrent, and it can lift property appeal and help keep good tenants. For tenants, it adds a sense of safety without giving up fresh air.
Well-chosen mesh and finishes keep ventilation and insect protection while raising perceived security. Our note on whether security screens stop mosquitoes covers the mesh details.
Documentation matters too. A compliant installation, a written agreement and kept paperwork reduce liability and cut down disputes when the lease ends.
How do you maintain a rental security door over time?
Rentals change hands, so a maintenance routine matters more than it does in an owner-occupied home. A door that is cleaned and checked regularly lasts longer and stays compliant.
Build these checks into routine inspections:
- Hinges and closers: Look for sagging or slow closing. A door that does not latch properly is a security gap and a compliance risk.
- Locks and keys: Test the lock action, confirm every key works and record how many sets exist.
- Mesh and panels: Check for tears, lifted corners or loose beading, particularly near pets and high-traffic doors.
- Fasteners and frame: Make sure screws are tight and the frame has not shifted or corroded.
- Cleaning: Wash with mild soap and water, and rinse well in coastal areas where salt speeds up corrosion.
Keep a simple log of inspections and repairs. If a part fails, do not leave it. Our security screen and fly door repair service can help address problems without a full replacement, which keeps costs down and the door in service.
At the end of a tenancy, confirm the door still works as supplied and that the agreed condition, restoration or retention terms have been met.
Which security features matter most in a rental?
Rentals need features that survive heavy use and hold up when many different people operate the door over the years. Durability and simple operation come first.
Look for these:
- Three-point locking: Secures the door at several points along the frame, which resists levering far better than a single latch.
- Key-lockable, simple mechanisms: Tenants should be able to operate the lock easily, while a landlord can rekey between tenancies.
- Tamper-resistant fasteners: Prevent the door being unscrewed from outside.
- Tough mesh: Stainless steel or aluminium mesh that resists cutting, with the right gauge for the site.
- Quality hinges and reinforced frame: The weak point is often the hinge side, so reinforcement matters.
- Easy exit: Occupants must always be able to leave quickly, which is another reason fire-rated entries need care.
Tenant-friendly means the lock does not need a manual to understand, replacement keys are easy to cut and the door closes without slamming or sticking. Our stainless steel security doors and aluminium doors come in custom options that suit these needs.
Match the features to the building. A ground-floor entry facing a laneway calls for more than a first-floor balcony door.
What problems come up with rental security doors and how do you fix them?
Most issues are predictable, which means most are preventable. Here are some common issues and the practical fix for each.
- Consent disputes: A tenant installs a door without approval, or a landlord refuses without reason. Fix it with written consent up front and a clear statement of who owns the door. Landlords may not unreasonably refuse safety-related modifications.
- Lost or unreturned keys: Record the number of key sets at the start of a tenancy and rekey between tenants.
- Sticking or misaligned doors: Often caused by frame movement or loose hinges. A service visit usually fixes it.
- Damaged mesh: Pets and wear cause tears. Pet-proof mesh options reduce repeat repairs.
- Poor installation: A door fitted to a weak frame will fail early. This is why site assessment and strengthening matter.
- End-of-lease arguments: Who removes the door, who repairs the frame and who pays. Settle this in the original written agreement.
Most of these problems trace back to a missing document or a skipped inspection. Spend the time at the start and the rest of the tenancy runs more smoothly. If a rectification notice arrives, act inside the timeframe rather than waiting.
How do you match a security door to the look of a rental?
A security door should not make a property look like a fortress. Done well, it adds to street appeal, which helps with tenant interest and retention.
Start with colour. A frame in a tone that echoes the trim, window frames or front door blends in, while a contrasting colour can become a feature. Our comparison of powder coat and anodised finishes helps you pick one that lasts.
Style should follow the building. A clean mesh door suits a modern townhouse, while a decorative grille can suit a period home or a cottage. Our window security screens guide shows how to keep windows and doors visually consistent, and French door security screens are custom made for wider openings.
Think about the whole portfolio, too. A consistent door style across several rentals is simpler to maintain, and replacement parts are easier to source.
For broader perimeter planning, including ancillary structures, this garden office security guide is worth a look.
A practical view from our team
The best rental security door is the one with paperwork behind it. Start with a site inspection, insist on AS 5039 compliance in writing and agree the scope with your tenant before anything is fitted. We offer on-site consultations, custom solutions and professional installation, and we would rather measure the frame properly than guess. Book an inspection to discuss a quote and recommendations.
— MYBMC
How we can help you fit compliant security doors to your rental
We make custom security doors and install them professionally, so you deal with one team from measurement to handover. For landlords and property managers, that includes:
- Custom manufacture in stainless steel, aluminium and steel
- AS 5039 compliance guidance
- Professional installation
- Service and repair for doors already in place
- Warranty support
Request an on-site quote and we will assess the frame, talk through your tenancy situation and give you a clear written scope. Contact us through our range page to book a site assessment or quotation.
FAQ
What is the average cost to install a security screen door?
Cost depends on the style, material, custom sizing, frame work and lock hardware. Because these vary so much, ask for an itemised quote after a site inspection rather than relying on a general figure.
What type of door is best for security in a rental?
A door that meets AS 5039.1:2023 performance requirements and is installed to AS 5039.2:2024 is a sound starting point. Stainless steel or aluminium mesh doors with a three-point lock and a reinforced frame suit most rentals.
Can a screen door be cut to size?
Security screen doors are separate products that need custom fitting, and installers must check the existing frame before fitting. A door made to measure is safer than trimming a standard one.
Do tenants need permission to install a security door?
Generally yes, because a security door is a permanent fixture and needs the landlord’s written consent. Removable devices usually do not, and family violence protections allow certain changes without prior consent.
Sources
- Locks and security – Consumer Affairs Victoria
- AS 5039.1:2023 | Standards Australia Store
- Position statement summary – Security screen doors fitted to sole-occupancy units
- National Training Register – MSFSSG303 Assess suitability of security screens