How to Keep Your Home Secure - Money Expert

In 2018, insurers paid out £450 million inhome insurance claims resulting from theft. That’s why home insurers require you to properly secure your home with industry-approved locks as a condition of their coverage. Installing security systems like burglar alarms, security cameras, and motion-activated lights can reduce your insurance premiums. They’re sensible precautions anyway, protecting your family and valuables, and helping you feel more secure in your home.

Here are some other tips for keeping your home safe.

Lock up

While we may hold idyllic memories of neighbourhoods where no one bothered to lock their doors, those days have long passed. And trying to recapture them can invalidate yourhome insurance policy.

More than a third of burglars simply stroll through unlocked doors. Not only does this mean they can walk away with your possessions with minimal hassle, you typically won’t be able to claim on your home insurance for their replacement. Most home insurance policies only cover theft if there are signs of forcible entry.

To keep your home insurance policy valid, you’ll need to secure the doors and windows - and keep them locked, even when you’re asleep or just leaving the house briefly.

When youcompare home insurance, you’ll be asked to supply details about the locks fitted on your building’s doors and windows. If you’re using industry-approved locks, you can generally find cheaper premiums. It may be worth installing them to find discounts.

Which locks are industry approved?

The following locks are approved by the insurance industry and regarded as the most secure:

Other measures you can take with your doors and windows

Sometimes locks aren’t enough. Here’s how to boost security at doors and windows—the most common entry points for burglars.

Install a home security system

A burglar alarm can be one of the best ways to scare off and deter criminals. According to police statistics, homes without security systems are five times more likely to be burgled than homes with them.

You have several options for homesecurity systems, varying in level of security, surveillance and in price point:

You may even be able to get a discount on your premiums if you have one of these systems in place or install one. But the discount is unlikely to offset the cost of installing a state-of-the-artsecurity system, particularly if it has a monthly fee. However, insurers vary in which systems they approve and the level of discount they offer, so it’s worth it tocompare home insurance and shop around for quotes if you’re considering upgrading your home with a burglar alarm.