Home Security Checklist
Need help with your home security but don’t know where to start?
With National Home Security Month, we’re helping you make your home your castle. We’ve compiled a simple checklist to help you identify any weak points and visualise vulnerabilities, making your home as safe as possible.
Gateways
- Install gate at the front of the property
- Install gate at the rear of property (where applicable)
- Secure all gates with a weatherproof, robust padlock
- Cannot be easily climbed on to access other parts of the home
Outbuildings
- Hasps and weatherproof padlocks
- Key operated window locks
- Stand-alone, battery-powered alarm
- Individual items secured with anchors and cables
- Mark all property in sheds, garages and outbuildings with surname and postcode
External boundaries
- Floodlighting at the front, side and rear of the property
- PIR detector
- Visible alarm box
- CCTV camera
- Trim hedges to limit hiding places
- Gravel driveway
- No valuables visible from the street
Main entry & exit doors
- External timber doors secured with a mortice lock and/or nightlatch that meet British Standard BS3621
- TS007 Kitemarked cylinder in PVCu or composite doors
- TS008 Letterplate restrictor on the front door
- Digital door viewer on the front door
- Door chain
- Smart door lock
- Can you see who’s at the door without opening it?
Room interiors
- Smoke detector
- Carbon monoxide detector
- PIR detector
- All windows have at least one, key-operated window lock
- Home safe securely bolted to the floor or wall
- Personal attack alarm
Alarms
- Install alarm
- PIR detectors
- Remote key fob
- Panic button
- Door contact and magnet
- Remote access via a smartphone app
- Easy fit power switch (Smartphone alarm only)
CCTV & IP Camera
- Internal & external
- Infrared LED night vision
- HD camera quality
- Recordable hard drive
- Remote access via a smartphone app
Home security when away
- Cancel mail deliveries
- Leave lights on a timer
- Relative/friend/neighbour to check on the property
- Smart alarm or CCTV systems that can be remotely accessed and controlled via a smartphone
- All windows and doors shut and locked
- Don’t ‘check-in’ or post images with location tags on social media
