Securing your holiday home against unauthorised entry

Dropping the luggage through the front door of your holiday home or second home should be the moment you start to relax, but sometimes, it’s the moment you realise your property has been broken into.

Unoccupied properties are particularly attractive to opportunist thieves, squatters and vandalism, with approximately 60% of burglaries occurring when no one is home. You can make use of a variety of security provisions whilst your home is empty as well as when it’s occupied by holiday let clients. Knowing which options suit your property, can help keep your home and belongings safe.

This handy guide to home security provides a few simple steps you can take to reduce the risk.

Barriers to entry

For most, the option of having a security guard on the front door is not an option so what’s the next best thing? Check entry and exit doors including patio and garage doors are secured with locks. If they are, consider changing the locks when you take ownership of the property, even if the property is brand new.

Door locks should only be opened with a key that grips securely into the frame; at Intasure a mortice deadlock, cylinder rim lock or multipoint locking system is sufficient. If you’re not sure about the door lock get in touch with your local locksmith for an inspection.

No windows of opportunity

Next check the windows; what is stopping a person getting in? They could be double glazed with locks or perhaps you’ve got shutters or metal grills over them in the style of southern Europe. Whatever it is, it’s important to check the windows for any weakness. Also, make sure that keys (and any valuables) are not left in view, on the window sill or left in the lock. It doesn’t take much for an intruder to smash the glass and reach in to unlock the door and access the property.

Lights, camera, action!

The very presence of a visible intruder alarm or CCTV system can act as a deterrent from the offset but make regular testing a priority to ensure you are continually protected. Security lighting can alert neighbours to anything suspicious plus if you let your property out, it can help your guests to feel safer at night.

If the worst happens…

The safety measures above all help to uphold security in a property that is not occupied throughout the year. But if the worst does happen, and you discover a break in, be careful not to touch anything to preserve any forensic evidence and call the police to report the crime as soon as possible. You’ll need a crime report number for when you are ready to make a claim.

Our claims team and network of loss adjustors are on hand 24 hours a day to support customers when the worst does happen. We work hard to make the claim process as hassle free as possible and resolve cases as quickly as possible.

To find out more about how Intasure can support you with holiday home insurance, please contact us.

*The opinions and views expressed in the above articles are those of the author only and are for guidance purposes only. The authors disclaim any liability for reliance upon those opinions and would encourage readers to rely upon more than one source before making a decision based on the information.