How to secure your home when on holiday

Holidays are a time for escape, relaxation and fun, not for stressing about your home's safety as you head to the airport, train station or port.

By following our simple steps to enhance your home security, you can feel at ease knowing you’ve done everything possible to keep your home safe while you’re on holiday.

EASY AS HACK 

Installing home security measures like a smart video doorbell can deter burglars and help reduce your insurance premiums.

tips on securing your home

It’s a great idea to increase your security measures whilst you’re away on holiday. UK homes are 2.1 times more likely to experience burglary than non-residential properties, according to government statistics.^[1] What’s more, the summer and Christmas breaks often signal an increase in burglary rates.

Discover how easy and affordable it can be to protect your belongings when you’re away with our home security tips, including potential savings on your insurance premiums.

how to make your house look occupied

Burglars are more likely to target an empty house than an occupied one, as it offers an easier target. But you don’t need to splash out to make the house look as if someone’s present and therefore more secure when you’re away.

You can consider these home security measures:

• Set automatic timers for lights to appear in the evening – it makes it seem like people are home. But make sure they go off and on at different times, and when it’s dark, so the timings seem genuine.
• Put a radio or TV on a timer – to make your house seem occupied.
• Get a Fake TV simulator – a device that mimics your TV’s light pattern
• Buy a few smart lightbulbs you can switch on remotely – they’re a bit more expensive than regular bulbs, but handy to control from a smartphone.
• Avoid closing all curtains and blinds – it’s an obvious ‘we’re away’ giveaway.
• Leave at least one car parked on your drive – to make it look like someone is home.
• Mow the lawns – especially if you do so regularly. You don’t want anything to look out of the ordinary.
• Cancel the milk and don’t order other deliveries while you’re away – a pile on your doorstep clearly indicates no one is at home.
• Hide any water and pet feeders from view – they’re another giveaway that the home’s occupants are absent.

help of neighbours

Trusted neighbours can help create the illusion that you are at home, even when you are on holiday.

Here are some ways you could get your neighbours to make everything look normal:

• Allowing them to park their car in your driveway
• Giving them spare keys, so they can remove letters from the letterbox (another signal to burglars that you’re out)
• Asking them to put bins out ready for collection and take them back
• Getting them to open and close the curtains as they come and go

Joining a Neighbourhood Watch scheme^[2] is another way to help each other stay vigilant and improve home security.

Alternatively, you could ask a friend you trust to house-sit for you. However, first check that your insurance policy covers them for accidental damage.

If a friend is unavailable, you could hire a sitter from a reputable house-sitting company. You must ensure that a sitter is genuine. Ask for and check their references, and get a DBS check a copy of their passport and public liability, professional indemnity and employers’ liability insurance. You should also refer this to your insurer, as they may have specific requirements or wish to add endorsements to your policy.

lock up

A simple way to secure your home while on holiday is to lock all windows and doors before you go. For your peace of mind, please don’t rely on someone else to lock up. It’s always best to double-check before leaving - no one wants to be halfway down the motorway wondering if the front door was left open.

To avoid such last-minute regrets, jot down a list the night before you head off on your trip and check off every item in turn:

• Shut all windows, doors and garden gates – locking or double-locking each one, if possible
• Secure any sheds, garages or outbuildings – prevent criminals from using your ladders and other tools to break in (they prefer not to bring their own)
• Lock away technology and physical documents in a secure cabinet or box, including company information if you run a business from home
• Move your car documents and anything that can identify you (or your clients) to less obvious places than the hall cupboard

Leaving doors or windows open may void your home insurance policy, as some providers only cover burglary claims showing signs of forced entry.

hide your valuables

Don’t leave any valuables on display, especially near windows that burglars can see and try to steal. Hide your belongings, such as laptops and jewellery, out of sight or lock them away.

That advice also applies to suitcases in the car – pack them as close to the time you’re leaving as possible, not leave them overnight for potential criminals to clock.

Note that hiding places for your spare key, whether it’s a fake stone or buried in a plant pot, are common knowledge to thieves. Before you go on holiday, remove the key and lock it up inside your home.

Using a marker pen to mark your property and adding an e-tag to your valuables can help to track them down if you return home to a burglary.

get a home security system

Installing a home security system equipped with alarms and cameras can help keep your home safe and give you peace of mind while you’re away.

It’s a longer-term burglar deterrent you may want to consider, and they are less expensive than they once were. Installing one may even reduce your home insurance premiums.

Some systems have motion detectors that alert you to unusual activity around your home and sirens that sound if a thief passes a sensor.

Smartphone doorbells with a camera, such as a wired Ring doorbell, alert you when someone is at your door, enabling you to communicate with them and address any concerns.

A fake or real CCTV security system that’s visible from the outside of your home may be enough to deter burglars. For improved assurance, we suggest considering genuine security cameras with recording capabilities.

secure your doors

It’s not just the locks on your doors that can dissuade burglars when you’re on holiday. To ensure complete peace of mind, your doors must be made from robust materials.

If your home has hardwood or uPVC doors, they may be more vulnerable to break-ins. Consider upgrading to more robust options such as modern composite or galvanised steel doors. These choices can significantly enhance your security and offer better protection during a break-in.

Burglars can also gain access by lifting patio doors from their frame, so equip yours with an anti-lift device if it doesn’t have one.

Check that the door frame and hinges are sturdy, too. To support their greater weight, heavier doors need sturdier hinges and frames. You can also fit door bars to reinforce the frame against someone trying to force it open.

avoid advertising your absence on social media

It’s natural to want to share the highlights of your holiday with everyone, but please be mindful of what you choose to post on social media.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. While it may seem like a harmless photo of you relaxing on a beach, it could inadvertently reveal valuable clues to a potential thief about your identity and that your home is unoccupied, posing a risk to your home’s security.

Don’t risk a burglary by advertising your absence. Wait until you return home to post your holiday snaps.

check your home insurance

Prevention is always better than a cure or a claim. Review your home insurance to make sure you are covered when you’re away on holiday, and the policy is valid.

Taking the time to organise your insurance can provide you with added peace of mind, allowing you to enjoy your holiday fully.

what should i do if i return to a burgled home?

If your worst nightmare comes true and you return from holiday to discover a burglary, you’ll want to know what steps to take.

Here’s what to do immediately:

• Phone the police on 101 (or 999 if a burglary is in progress)
• Don’t touch anything
• Call your insurance provider
• Report missing bank cards to your bank or building society

Learn more about what to do if you’ve been burgled.

what to do if you are going on an extended trip?

If you’re off on an extended break, it’s essential to let your home insurance provider know that your home will be unoccupied for a longer period, as this could impact your cover. Every insurer would have a different definition of extended holiday. Review your home insurance policy or call your insurer to understand their interpretation and to see if they have any requirements. Checking with them can help ensure you’re entirely protected.

Depending on the timeframe, you may need to consider other insurance policies such as ‘away from home’ cover, to ensure any laptops, phones, jewellery and gaming devices you might take with you are insured.

Learn why Ageas home insurance has the cover you need.

Sources 

[1] ONS - Crime in England and Wales

[2] Our Watch