How to Secure a Rental Home

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The very nature of rentals means there may be times when a property lays dormant throughout the year. So, ensuring safety is paramount. Here are some tips to help you do so.

 

Windows

This is one of the most vulnerable areas of a property, especially windows on the ground floor. Modern UPVC has key locks. Ensure that the keys are available when you let the property and remind your tenants to keep the windows locked when not around or at night. If a window can be accessed via a shed or flat roof, then it is a security risk.

 

You should fit some locks if the house has older wooden windows, especially sash windows. There is a wide range of options when it comes to locks, including lockable sash stops and window latches. Talk to a locksmith if you have doubts.

 

You should upgrade to modern UPVC windows if the current windows aren’t in a good condition or they are single glazed. The new window is going to be more secure and it is also going to improve the energy efficiency of the property.

 

Continuous hinges may help in some situations and can offer more security, safety and strength for high traffic areas. They’re tamper proof and also designed elegantly.

 

If you decide to upgrade to new windows, ensure that the installer has provided you with a FENSA certificate. This stands for Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme and it proves that the product installed has complied with Building Regulations.

 

Exterior Lighting

Burglars and vandals hate light more than anything. The basic thing every homeowner does is install security around the property. You can easily get a motion sensor light from a DIY store. Go for LED lights because they usually last longer. If you are going to install the lights at the rear of your property, make sure they don’t point directly to your neighbor’s home.

 

Exterior lighting is going to keep your property safe from intruders and this is going to make your tenants feel safe. Make sure you have light in dark areas like around the garage and near the bines. The goal here is to avoid having any lighting dead zones on your property. You want tenants to feel safe when they come home alone late in the night.

When you decide to fit new exterior lights, make sure you get feedback from your tenants. Ask them where they think more light is needed.

 

CCTV

This might seem like overkill especially on a small property, but if you have a lot of HMOs, it can be a great investment. The CCTV systems will help in verifying visitors before they enter the building. CCTV will also help in monitoring communal areas, which will help with petty vandalism and other antisocial behavior problems.

When you have a CCTV installed, you will have evidence when there is a break-in. you need to be careful when it comes to CCTV systems because tenants have the right to quiet enjoyment of the property. Your goal is to make them feel secure and safe without feeling like you are breaching their rights. When fitting the system, make sure that you’re not breaching any rules.

 

Security Cameras

You can buy home security cameras from your local store or online on retailers like Amazon. The cameras will help to monitor the rear and front entrances, sheds, gardens, driveways, bike stores, and garages. Home security cameras act as a good deterrent, but in case of anything, you can give police the footage, which might help with arrest and conviction.

The cameras are connected to the property’s Wi-Fi network. The footage is recorded the uploaded to a cloud server. You can set up alerts so you can receive them on a remote device like a smartphone. This is a good option when you have an empty property and don’t live close to it. When someone enters your property, you will know, then take appropriate action.

 

If the camera needs to be put outdoors, make sure you choose outdoor cameras because they can withstand harsh weather conditions. The camera needs to have a resolution of 1080p or you might end up with grainy images. The camera needs to have a good field of vision so it can capture images and videos at night. Most of the cameras are motion-sensitive, which means they aren’t going to record anything till there is movement. It is also a good idea to get cameras with sound detection capability so that you can know whether someone is there even when they are out of range of the camera.

 

You need to be careful when it comes to Cameras because your tenants have a right to enjoy the property. You want them to feel secure and safe without breaching any of the rules. The last thing you want is to be involved in a legal tussle when you were trying to keep your tenants safe. Make sure you take this advice.

 

Video Doorbells

This is another home security gadget to have. The tenants can use it to monitor visitors in shared spaces and HOMOs and add an extra layer of security for vulnerable and nervous tenants. It is also a good option for those with empty properties and who want to monitor visitors.

 

Choose between wired and wireless models. You can install wireless video doorbells on your own because they use batteries, but are not that reliable compared to wired ones because batteries deplete quickly. If your property already has a wired doorbell, you can easily upgrade to a wired video doorbell easily because it is not hard – all you need to do is connect the new device to the wires.

 

There are features you need to look for, and this include motion-sensitive camera, high-definition video, cloud storage for footage, and if the device works with devices like Google Voice and Alexa. Other useful features are facial recognition software and color night vision, this will help avoid recording footage of cars and dogs. Some have a pre-buffer feature that will record the image before the doorbells are activated.

 

There are crossover features that video doorbells have with home security cameras, but home security cameras don’t alert you when someone is on your door.

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