Residential Security Guards for Communities, Seniors’ Housing and Vacant Homes
Written by Paul Thandi, Operations Manager, On Guard Security Ltd. — 10+ years in BC security · Updated September 2026
Homes need a different kind of security from businesses. The people you’re protecting live there, their visitors come and go at all hours, and nobody wants to feel watched in their own driveway. Residential security guards have to be visible enough to deter trouble and friendly enough that residents are glad to see them. On Guard Security Ltd. provides residential security guards and patrols across Surrey, Langley, Abbotsford, Burnaby, Vancouver, Richmond and the Fraser Valley for three main settings: townhouse and gated communities, seniors’ complexes, and homes left empty. This page explains what each needs and how we cover it.
Key takeaways
A residential security guard protects homes and shared residential property through a visible presence, patrols, access checks and written reports.
Townhouse and gated communities usually need gate and visitor control plus overnight patrols of lanes, parking and amenities.
In seniors’ complexes, guards support care staff with entry control and night rounds; they don’t replace care or medical services.
Vacant homes, whether owners are away, the house is for sale or it’s between tenants, are well suited to scheduled mobile patrol checks.
Under BC’s Trespass Act, a guard authorized by the owner or strata can direct someone to leave, which is different from police powers.
Residential security guards keep an eye on the parts of a residential property that everyone shares: entrances, gates, lanes, parking, mailboxes, garbage areas and amenity buildings. They check doors and gates, watch for people who have no reason to be there, respond to residents’ concerns, and write down what they find so the owner, strata council or property manager has an accurate record.
The tone matters as much as the tasks. Our guards are uniformed and visible, but they’re there to serve residents: saying hello, helping a visitor find the right unit, and treating guests with respect. A community that likes its guards tells them about problems early, which is when a guard can do the most good.
Coverage can be a guard posted on site for set hours, mobile patrol visits through the night, or both. For a fuller overview of how guard roles differ, see our guide to the types of security guards.
Many townhouse complexes and gated communities across Surrey, Langley and the Fraser Valley are run as stratas. Under BC’s Strata Property Act, the strata corporation is responsible for managing and maintaining the common property, and its council exercises those powers. That makes the council, usually working with a property manager, the client for residential security guards in these communities.
Common concerns are gate codes that have been shared too widely, cars in visitor parking that belong to no one, mail and parcel theft, prowling in underground parking, and vandalism of amenity buildings. Typical coverage includes:
Visitor and contractor checks at the gate during busy hours
Overnight patrols of lanes, visitor parking, garages and amenity buildings
Checks that gates close properly, with fault reports to the property manager
Written incident reports the council can review at its meetings
We cover gate codes, visitor management and the limits of a gate on its own in more depth in our article on gated community security in Surrey.
Key insight: A gate only helps if the code stays private and the gate actually closes. The most useful thing a guard often does in a gated community is notice when either has stopped being true.
Independent-living buildings and seniors’ residential complexes have their own security needs. Residents may be more likely to open the door to strangers, and families want to know that the building is controlled overnight. Guards in these settings focus on:
Controlling the main entrance and checking in visitors and trades, especially after hours
Night rounds of hallways, stairwells, exits and parking
Making sure exterior doors are closed and latched
Being a calm, patient point of contact for residents with questions or concerns
We’re clear about the limits. Security guards are not care aides or medical staff. If a resident falls or is unwell, a guard calls 911 and follows the building’s emergency procedure, and works alongside the care or management team, not in place of them.
An empty house is easier to spot than people think: no lights at night, deliveries on the step, an unshovelled driveway. Owners travelling over the holidays, estates waiting for sale, homes between tenants and properties waiting for renovation all benefit from someone checking regularly. Our holiday and vacant-home patrols include exterior checks of doors, windows, gates and outbuildings, a note of anything left on the doorstep, and a report after each visit. We can also attend if an alarm is triggered while you’re away.
Key insight: For a single vacant home, a few well-timed patrol visits usually make more sense than a full-time guard. Changing the times of the visits matters more than how many there are.
Cost depends on hours, the number of guards, overnight and holiday shifts, and whether you choose a fixed post or patrol visits. Our security guard cost guide explains how those factors add up.
Residential security guards are not police. What they can do comes from the owner or strata that hires them. BC’s Trespass Act allows an occupier to authorize another person to act for them, and someone who is directed, orally or in writing, to leave the premises and doesn’t do so commits an offence. So a guard authorized by your strata can politely ask someone with no reason to be there to leave, record what happened, and call police if the situation calls for it. Guards don’t search people, and they avoid physical confrontation. This is a general summary, not legal advice.
On Guard Security Ltd. is locally owned and has worked in BC security for more than 10 years, from our Surrey office at 12565 88 Ave. Our guards are licensed, JIBC-trained and unarmed, and every new hire trains one-on-one with a senior officer for a week before working alone. You can check any guard’s or company’s licence with the province’s licence status verification tool. We’re WorkSafeBC compliant, fully insured, available 24/7, and happy to take short holiday assignments as well as long-term contracts.
A residential security guard is a licensed guard who protects homes and shared residential property, such as townhouse complexes, gated communities, seniors’ buildings and vacant houses. They provide a visible presence, check gates and doors, manage visitors, patrol overnight and report incidents to the owner, strata council or property manager.
How much does a security guard cost for a day?
It depends on how many hours you need covered, whether shifts run overnight or on holidays, how many guards the site needs, and the length of the contract. A full day of on-site coverage is billed hourly per guard, while patrol checks are usually billed per visit, which often costs less for a single home. We quote after seeing the property.
What are the four types of security guards?
There is no single official list, but guards are commonly grouped as static or on-site guards, mobile patrol guards, concierge or front-desk guards, and event guards. Residential properties most often use on-site guards, mobile patrols or a mix of the two.
Can a security guard ask someone to leave our strata complex?
Yes, if the strata has authorized the guard to act for it. Under BC’s Trespass Act, an occupier can authorize another person, and someone directed to leave who doesn’t commits an offence. Guards ask politely, document the incident and call police when needed. They don’t have police powers.
Can you check on our home while we’re away?
Yes. Our holiday and vacant-home patrols check doors, windows, gates and outbuildings at varied times, note anything left at the door and send a report after each visit. We can also attend if your alarm goes off while you’re away.
Google Review
Jack Willson
A pleasure to recommend company On Guard Security; mostly I enjoyed their quality services and effective response. They understand our security needs and able to ensure the best possible or professional services. Team members were professional, friendly experienced and highly approachable and live up to our expectations.
Google Review
James Cook
On guard security is my preferred choice when I need reliable security services. The team and professional service are unmatched. Their security guards and overall security are really dedicated. Recommend them for any security guard or private protection services!
Google Review
Patrick Parker
The reason I called on guard security is because they are local. They did not waste any time from the first phone call. I greatly appreciate the professionalism, service, and peace of mind offered by this security company.
Google Review
Thomas Chase
I was experiencing many incidences of shoplifting at my store and so I hired On Guard Security to provide professional guards. They did a fantastic job and now my business and merchandise are fully protected.
Google Review
Jon Wiltz
I was looking for a reliable and affordable security company for my clothing store and On Guard Security Ltd have done a fantastic job! I would definitely recommend them to fellow small business owners.
Google Review
Alan Cooper
I am happy with the performance of On Guard Security Staff assigned to our facilities. The guards respond quickly to needs and questions. I would definitely recommend this security company to others.
Google Review
~CrystalStarHomesLtd.
The guards were friendly and very cooperative. Excellent services with prices you can’t turn down. I had 24 hours security patrol on all sites. I would recommend OnGuard Security to anyone who’s looking for security services . Thanks so much Rajan really appreciate your services looking forward to meet again!
Google Review
~Jovan Dhillon
Very respectful staff, staff got to my site on time. Would book again
Google Review
~Aman Johal
I would highly recommend On Guard Security. We hired them for my brothers wedding and they provided great service. The staff always showed up on time.
Google Review
~Jason Powell
We used On Guard for our building while we were transitioning to our new intercom and entry system. They were always incredibly professional to deal with and the guards showed up well ahead of time and did a great job as we went through the process, which extended longer than expected. On Guard was also great at getting somebody on site the first night we needed them on very short notice. Overall, we were extremely happy with their service.
Google Review
~Balraj Malhi
Very good company to work with on gaurd ” Rajan is very proffesional and so are the guards. I would definetly reccomend On Guard security”Always Treat like a Famliy
Google Review
~kiran sohal
I hired on guard for my sisters wedding this past weekend, the guards were there 15 minutes early and made sure everything went smoothly , definitely will hire again
Google Review
~Sukh Brar
Provided an excellent service with my wedding events last week!! Very professional team of workers. Will definitely call for on guard’s services for future needs.
