Tips for Protecting your Rented Flat When You are on Holiday

 

Tips for Protecting your Rented Flat When You are on Holiday

If you’re planning on taking a break for a week or two, then it’s essential that your home is kept secure while you’re away. Renters might assume that this duty would fall on the landlord. While this is technically true, it won’t be much consolation if an incident does occur. There are a number of small steps you might take to reduce the likelihood and impact of a break-in. Let’s examine a few of them!

Insurance

Specialised tenant’s insurance will protect you in the event of a break-in. Make sure that you’ve gotten tenant’s contents insurance, which will cover your possessions, as well as damage to property.

Lights on timers

If it looks as though your home is occupied, then burglars might be dissuaded from attacking. It’s a tactic that’s long been used, and that’s easier than ever to implement, thanks to the advent of smartbulbs. You might even turn the lights on in the kitchen from halfway around the planet.

Stowing Valuables

The vast majority of burglaries are attacks of opportunity. The thief will see a chance to swipe something, and they’ll take it. By limiting the amount of high-value stuff on display, you’ll reduce the likelihood of it being spotted and taken.

Set up Security Cameras

Remote security cameras are more affordable than ever, and, since they don’t require threading wires beneath the floorboards anymore, they’re a good match for rental properties. Make sure that your porch is covered, along with the back-door. You can even check in on your home while you’re away.

Outdoor cameras are an important part of any home security measures and as an avocate for better home security our list of the best CCTV cameras, helps those that need to secure their property better, choose the best option for them.

 

 

Lock Up

It should be obvious that every door should be locked before you go away. The same applies to exterior gates.

Don’t post to Social Media

If you’ve got a sufficiently large following on social media, then you might start worrying about who’s reading. Announce your holiday plans in advance, and you’ll send a clear signal that your house is empty, and therefore vulnerable.

Get someone to collect your Post

If there’s a gigantic pile of letters and flyers accumulating on your doormat, then it’s a clear indication that you’re out of town. Have a volunteer pop over every so often to pick up the post. If you have a pet that needs looking after, then you might ask them to replenish food bowls and clear out litter trays in the process.

Change the Locks

Are you sure that previous tenants haven’t gotten copies of their keys made? How many previous tenants have their been? You might eliminate the uncertainty here by replacing the locks, or by getting new keys cut. You’re not duty-bound to provide your landlord with new keys, here – though if you want to keep them onside, you might let them know of what you’re doing. Bear in mind that your tenancy agreement might contain a clause limiting your freedom slightly, here; check it before you make irreversible changes.

 

Tips for Protecting your Rented Flat When You are on Holiday is a feature post