An apartment does not have the same needs as a house. Fewer accessible windows, a front door opening onto a shared landing, and sometimes a landlord or a co-ownership manager to consult. Good news: an Ajax alarm is wireless and scales to the size of your home. Here is how to choose, from a studio to a three-bedroom apartment.
What changes in an apartment
In a building, intruders mostly come through the front door, or through a window if you live on the ground or first floor. The system can therefore stay simple. As a rule: 2 to 3 detectors are enough for an apartment, and a single one for a studio.
- Studio or student room: one hub, a contact on the door, a motion detector.
- 1 to 2-bedroom apartment: the same base, plus a second detector depending on the layout.
- Apartment with terrace or on the ground floor: add a contact on the patio door.
The landing door: priority number 1
Your front door is the first thing to protect. A DoorProtect magnetic contact (€46.04 incl. VAT) signals opening. The DoorProtect Plus version (€69.07 incl. VAT) also detects shock and tilt, which is useful if someone forces the door before opening it. In a building where strangers pass on the landing, it is a good choice.
Then add a motion detector in the hall or living room, placed so that the intruder has to cross its field after entering.
Which hub?
For an apartment, two choices stand out.
- Hub (€208.66 incl. VAT): Ethernet and GSM, 100 devices, no photo verification. Enough for a studio or student room.
- Hub 2 (€292.75 incl. VAT): adds photo verification with MotionCam detectors, two SIM cards and 32 scenarios. This is our choice for a lived-in apartment.
All models are in the Ajax hubs category.
Which kit?
In an apartment, a kit is often the simplest solution: everything comes in one order and the devices are already chosen to work together.
| Situation | Kit | Price incl. VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Studio, student room | Hub kit: hub, motion detector, door contact, remote | €373.65 |
| Apartment with photo | Hub 2 kit with PIRCAM, contact and remote | €544.46 |
| Apartment with keypad and siren | Hub kit with keypad, indoor siren and remote | €600.95 |
The Hub kit and the Hub 2 kit are the two simplest bases to start with. Compare them in the Ajax alarm kits.
No cables, few fixings
Jeweller technology is an encrypted radio link: no cables to run through shared areas or walls. If you rent, keep fixings to the strict minimum and check what your lease says. Before fixing a device, test the signal in the app: if the level is good, you can place it.
Devices can be re-paired to a new hub. If you move, you take them with you and reconnect them.
Rooms to cover
Entrance hall
A contact on the door and a motion detector that sees the hall. Place it at about 2.4 m, away from radiators and curtains.
Living room
A MotionProtect (€79.34 incl. VAT) covers up to 12 m. If you have a cat or a small dog, adjust the pet immunity.
Kitchen and bathroom
A LeaksProtect (€62.70 incl. VAT) warns you of a water leak. It is useful in a building, where a leak also affects the neighbours below.
Siren and keypad
In an apartment, an indoor siren is generally enough. It goes outside the protected room. An outdoor siren requires the agreement of the co-ownership manager or the landlord, since the facade is a shared area. A keypad, inside near the door, is handy for the whole family.
A worked example: two-room flat on the third floor
Imagine a two-room flat on the third floor, with a single door onto the landing and a balcony that is hard to reach. Protection comes down to three elements: the landing door contact, a motion detector in the hall that also covers the living room, and a LeaksProtect under the sink. An indoor siren in the corridor completes the set if you want an audible signal on site.
Arming and disarming day to day
Three options exist: the app, the SpaceControl remote (€37.27 incl. VAT, supplied in the kits) and the keypad. The hub's groups (9 on a Hub or Hub 2) allow a night mode. Scenarios, 32 on the Hub 2, automate certain actions.
Typical budget (incl. VAT)
| Home | Composition | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / student room | Hub kit | €373.65 |
| 2-bedroom apartment | Hub 2 kit (544.46) + MotionProtect (79.34) + HomeSiren (79.34) | €703.14 |
| Apartment with equipped kitchen | Hub 2 kit (544.46) + MotionProtect (79.34) + LeaksProtect (62.70) | €686.50 |
Add €302.50 incl. VAT if you have the system installed (up to 10 items within 15 km of Brussels). Delivery is free in Belgium from €302.50 incl. VAT. Prices are indicative: the price shown on the product page prevails.
Co-ownership and renting: good habits
- Inform the co-ownership manager if you fit a visible item in shared areas (outdoor siren, detector on the landing).
- If you rent, ask the landlord for written consent.
- Declare the system on police-on-web within 10 days and confirm it every year: see how to declare an alarm system in Belgium.
What if you want monitoring?
A subscription is never compulsory. If you want visual verification and emergency calls, our dispatching service from €21.78 per month incl. VAT is available, as is installation by Belgium Security Brussels (approved by the Belgian FPS Interior).
Frequently asked questions
How many detectors for an apartment?
Two or three are enough. For a studio or student room, a motion detector and a door contact cover the essentials.
Can I install an Ajax alarm without drilling?
The system is wireless, so no cables are needed. Keep fixings to the strict minimum and tell your landlord if you rent.
Which kit for a studio?
The Hub kit at €373.65 incl. VAT includes the hub, a motion detector, a door contact and a remote.
Do I need the co-ownership manager's approval?
For anything visible or fixed in shared areas, yes, it is better to inform them. Inside your own home, you are free to decide.
Can I take the alarm with me when I move?
Yes. Devices can be re-paired to a new hub.
Going further
Discover the full range of Ajax alarms in Belgium, the Ajax detectors and our guide which Ajax alarm to choose. Questions? Use the contact page or call 0800 37 087.