Securing your second home

If you own a second home it could be that you have to leave it for long periods of time. This is especially true if you are using the property as a holiday home. Find out how to keep your second home secure while you away, as well as making sure it is covered with adequate Home Insurance.

Visiting your second home and finding that you have been victim of theft can be immensely distressing. The last thing you want to do is worry about how secure your second home and its contents are while you are away. That’s why we’ve come up with some tips and advice to help you to protect your home in the best possible way:

Before you leave the house

• Rule number one! When your home is left unattended all doors must be closed and locked, and door keys should not be visible from the outside.

Securing doors

• Your final exit door (the last door you use when leaving the house) must be fitted with either a mortice deadlock with at least five levers, or a lock conforming to British Standard (BS) 3621:1998 or a higher specification. If your final exit doors are double doors, the first closing door must also be fitted with key-operated security bolts mounted at the top and the bottom of the door, and these must be positioned vertically to enter the frame of the door.
• All other single exit doors (back or side doors that can be used to leave the house) should normally be locked from the inside before leaving the house. They must be fitted with a key-operated security bolt at the top and bottom, or a mortice deadlock with at least five levers, or a lock conforming to BS3621:1998 or higher.
• All French or double doors (other than the final exit door) must be fitted with key-operated security bolts at the top and bottom of the final closing door. If the doors are not rebated, locks need to be fitted to both doors. To lower the risk of forced entry, locks should be fitted vertically.
• Sliding patio doors must have an anti-lift device to prevent the doors being lifted off their running track when closed. Plus you should fit either two key-operated patio door locks on the inside of the doors at the top and bottom of the frame, or a key-operated multiple-point locking system with at least two locking points.

Securing windows

• All opening ground floor and basement windows and all windows which are accessible from roofs, walls, fences, balconies, landings, porches, drainpipes, trees or shrubs must be fitted with at least one key-operated metal lock. Or, if these windows are never opened, they must be permanently fixed shut.
• Louvre windows (parallel glass slats in a door or window, sloping outwards to throw off rain and admit air) must have their panes secured to their brackets by epoxy or glass bonding adhesive.

Other ways to reduce your risk of theft

Most burglars are opportunistic – so if they see that your home is left unsecured by an open window or has inferior locks they will be more tempted to break in. To reduce your chances of theft:

• Check around your house for security weak spots such as concealed entrances, poor lighting or easily opening doors and windows.
• Lock away garden tools and ladders that could help a thief break in, and lock sheds and garages too, especially if they adjoin your home.
• Security-mark your valuables with your postcode and house number and keep a photographic record of them. This will help if you need to make a claim on your Direct Line Home Contents Insurance.

Stay covered

Direct Line can help you with Home Buildings Insurance and Home Contents Insurance for your second home.

When your insured property is a second home, we do have a few special terms and conditions that you must observe to stay insured. As well as adhering to the security requirements, you need to be aware that terms and conditions will apply if you leave your second home unoccupied. You can call us on 0845 246 3564 for full details of these terms and conditions.

If you think you may be away from your second home for long periods of time and unable to visit, it’s a good idea to get someone to check up on your property for you. It is also wise to get someone such as a neighbour or agent to do this on a regular basis so you have absolute peace of mind.

Call us for a quote for Direct Line Home Insurance for your second home today.