Modernising residential access and entry at Spencer Close with Hikvision and Galician Security

Spencer Close, a private residential development in Finchley, North London, comprises six apartment blocks housing 109 flats, plus a dedicated concierge outbuilding. This managed community is overseen by an association of flat owners, with decisions made by an elected board. The development's residents rightly expect a secure and seamless access experience that matches the quality of their homes and lifestyle.

Over time, Spencer Close’s legacy intercom and access control systems had become outdated and unreliable. Facing rising complaints and mounting maintenance costs, the residents’ association made the decision to overhaul the system. They turned to Galician Security, a trusted installer of advanced access and surveillance solutions, to deliver a futureproofed, high-performance upgrade using Hikvision’s cutting-edge IP intercom technology.

“The old system was failing in every way,” says Alex Diaz, Director at Galician Security. “Video dropout, poor audio, failing locks, and fob issues were all regular complaints. Our goal was to provide a new solution that offered real reliability, improved performance, and future flexibility.”

The Challenge

The existing system at Spencer Close had reached a critical point of degradation. Residents frequently encountered poor video quality, muffled or broken audio, and unreliable door lock releases. Administrative difficulties also plagued the fob management system, making it time-consuming and frustrating to add or deactivate users. This created day-to-day frustrations for everyone: residents, guests, delivery drivers, and especially the site management team, which bore the brunt of complaints.

Additionally, repair and maintenance costs were escalating. “It was costing them thousands of pounds just to keep the old system going,” says Diaz. “It was clear that the technology needed to be brought up to modern standards.”

However, upgrading a system in a live residential environment came with a number logistical and technical hurdles. Firstly, although the existing cabling infrastructure was assumed to be reusable, Galician discovered severe degradation in every block.

In addition, cable routes ran in unexpected configurations, not through the typical floor-to-floor risers, making upgrades complex.

Replacing the outdoor intercom stations risked leaving visible holes or requiring costly custom backplates, and any downtime needed to be minimised to avoid prolonged inconvenience to residents.