Home Security and Home Insurance Requirements

When you take out a policy for your home with any insurer they will usually ask you to ensure that the security of your home meets their requirements.

Why is it important to meet my home insurance provider’s requirements?

When assessing your home security it is important to consider which steps you should take to ensure you are meeting the requirements set by your home insurance provider. This is important as failure to meet these terms and conditions could result in your home insurance policy being invalidated should the worse happen. 

The Crime Prevention Website gives the following as examples of the requirements the majority of home insurance providers will ask a policy holder to meet *:

*Please be aware the examples given may differ to your own policy, therefore before making any changes to the security of your home it is advised to check your current policy for any requirements set by the insurance provider.

Final exit door i.e. your front door – The majority of policies will require that your final exit door (i.e. the main external door you use to access your home such as your front door) should have the following fitted:

• Is fitted with a mortice deadlock with at least 5 levers; or is fitted with a lock conforming to BS3621: 1998 or to a higher specification.

• Additionally where a door is double-leaf, the first closing leaf must be fitted with top and bottom key-operated security bolts.  Bolts must be positioned vertically so as to enter the framework of the door, not the opposing leaf.

Single external doors (such as a porch door) – A single external door should be fitted with one of the following:

• Fitted with key-operated security bolts at the top and bottom.

• Fitted with a mortice deadlock with at least 5 levers.

• Fitted with a lock conforming to BS3621: 1998 or to a higher specification

French/Double doors – French or double doors should be fitted with two key operated security bolts at the top and bottom of the final closing door or, if not rebated, to both doors.  The bolts must be positioned vertically, so as to enter the top and bottom of the door frame, not the opposing leaf.

Sliding Patio Doors – In order to adhere to your home insurance policy, sliding patio doors should be fitted with an ‘anti-lift device’ such as the ERA Patio Door Bolts in order to prevent the doors from being lifted off their running tracks by an intruder when they are closed. They should also have either of the following fitted:

• Fitted with two key-operated patio door locks on the inside of the doors at the top and bottom of the frame.

• Fitted with a key-operated multiple locking system having at least two locking points.

Windows – All opening ground floor/basement windows and all windows that are accessible from another part of the exterior such as a roof, wall or balcony must have at least one key operated lock fitted. 

How Safe is Your Neighbourhood?

Unfortunately we are all aware that break-ins do happen but are you aware of the type and frequency of crime that occurs in your local area? 

Whether you are moving home or are currently a homeowner, it is important to consider the security risks that may pose in your local area so that you may protect yourself against the possibility of a break-in.  

Emergency locksmith Keytek™have developed a ‘How Safe is Your Neighbourhood?’ Crime Statistics Widget which can be found at www.keytek.co.uk/crime-stats/national/. Simply visit the URL, input your Postcode or Town into the dedicated field and click ‘Find’, which will then take you to a map hosted by Police.UK (www.police.uk) that highlights specific areas where various levels of crime have taken place, from anti-social behaviour through to burglary.

 

The majority of burglaries are premeditated; although if the opportunity is there an intruder may act on it i.e. leaving a ground floor or easily accessible window open. Many home insurers will advise taking preventative measures to protect your home and to adhere with your home insurance requirements; this can often be found in the small print of your home insurance documents. 

Some General Advice...

The majority of Insurance Companies may specify that your property must be fitted with British Standard locks on your doors and windows – so what are British Standards?

• In order for any lock to be classed as a ‘British Standard’ lock they must have been through rigorous testing including strength, durability and of course security, these products are also re-assessed and re-tested to ensure you have complete confidence in the safety, quality and reliability of the locks you have installed in your home. 

So how do I know if my lock is a British Standard lock? 

• On the face of any lock that is a ‘British Standard’ lock you will see the British Standard Kitemark image, this may also be accompanied by BS: 3621 2007 (mortice locks) or BS: TS007 (Euro cylinders) which are the current British Standard required for Insurance purposes.

Home Security Tips...

Keytek™ have put together the following list of ‘Home Security Tips’ so that you may best prepare yourself against a break-in.

• Store bins and ladders away from the property as these can be used to access 1st floor windows.

• Never leave any valuables where they can be seen by a burglar i.e. in view of a window!  

• Don’t discuss any holiday plans on any types of open forums i.e. Facebook or Twitter. Posting details of when you will be away from your property will let any of your followers know that your home is potentially vulnerable.

• Keep out any unwanted guests – it is always a good idea to have a spy hole or door chain fitted as additional security.

• It can be a good idea to leave a light on or on a timer, especially during the darker evenings and if you are spending a night or week away from your home! Leaving a television or radio on is also a good alternative to leaving the lights on. Security products such as a light with a timer can be purchased in most DIY stores and online. 

• If you are going to be away for a long period of time ask the Royal Mail to hold your mail with their ‘Keepsafe™’ service - they will do this for up to 2 months. It is recommended to ask the Royal Mail to hold your letters as this avoids a pile up of post inside the front door which could be an invitation for an intruder as they will be able to see you’re away.  

• Store all sets of keys away from the front door! Whatever time of year it is, it’s always a good idea to have a key hook fitted internally away from the front door. Having a key safe fitted externally to your property may be a preferred. 

• A letterbox cage/guard is also recommended as intruders will often use the letterbox to retrieve keys stored inside the house; this type of theft is referred to as ‘Key Fishing’. 

• Lights with sensors in the garden and front of your property will help to deter an intruder as they tend to be more confident when working in the dark. 

• Use a UV pen to mark any valuables so if the worse does happen it may help to make recovery easier.

• Check the locks on any gates or sheds and upgrade/replace if necessary. Make sure anything that can be used by an intruder to gain entry to your property, i.e. garden tools, are safely locked away.

• When leaving the property always remember to lock any doors and windows. The majority of intruders will use an unlocked door or window to gain entry to a house.

More security advice and tips can be found on a dedicated page www.keytek.co.uk/security-tips/

 

As part of this security advice homeowners are also encouraged to join or start a Neighbourhood Watch scheme in their local area. The Neighbourhood Watch works closely with the community to bring neighbours together who want to look out for each other, creating strong, friendly, active communities where crime and antisocial behaviour are less likely to happen. 

To find your local Neighbourhood Watch, or for information on how to start a Neighbourhood Watch scheme, please visit www.ourwatch.org.uk/

New Year Security Resolutions – Time to be more security conscious...

As part of your New Year’s resolution for 2014 it may be worth thinking about being more security conscious when it comes to the security of your home. 

 

When considering how you may want to upgrade the security of your home it is always a good idea to think like a potential intruder. The majority of intruders will look for the best opportunity to break into a property, some will even scope out a property prior to breaking in. Therefore it is important to think about how you can ensure that your property appears as if it is occupied at all times and that there isn’t anywhere external to your home anyone could hide i.e. high hedges or bins. 

Which advises that you ask yourself the following questions:

• Is it obvious when you're on holiday or away from the home? For example, are your curtains always shut or is there lots of unopened post?

• Are windows and doors left open, even if they're not easily accessible?

• Do your windows and doors have visible locks?

• How well lit is the outside of your home?

• Is there a spare key that’s easily visible, or easy to find, such as underneath the plant pot or above the ledge on the door?

• Are the lights on or off all the time, making it look like you're away?

• Do you have high walls and hedges, which could give burglars protection from being seen?

• Is accessing your house noisy for a burglar? For example, is there gravel?

• Are there any ladders lying around that a burglar could use?

• What equipment do you keep in your shed and garage? What is its value and can it be used to help someone break in?

• How secure is the shed or garage? Is it always kept locked with high-quality padlocks and security locks?

Additional Security Measures

How many of us actually use additional security in our homes? According to figures by Which only 38% of Which members had extra locks fitted to their doors and 32% use a door chain. 

As well as having an extra lock or door chain fitted it is also advisable you have the following fitted to your door:

• Spy-hole – Keep out any unwanted visitors! A spy-hole offers 180 degrees of vision allowing you to identify callers before opening the door.

(Image source)

• Hinge Bolts –Mortice fitted hinge bolts are designed primarily for outward opening hinged wooden doors. These offer added protection against forcing the door hinges and are automatically engaged when the door is closed.

• Mortice Bolts – These are suitable for side and back doors as well as French doors. These are fitted to the top and bottom of the door and the bolts are not visible from the outside.

• Letterbox guard/cage – These can be fitted to prevent ‘key fishing’ i.e. a burglar using props such as a coat hanger or fishing rod to hook keys on the inside of the door (Aviva).
  
  
  
  

Other additional security measures you may want to consider...

• Security lights - Lights with sensors in the garden and front of your property will help to deter a burglar as they are more confident when working in the dark.

• Key Safe - A Key Safe is a secure box where you can safely and securely store your keys without having to hide them or to rely on a neighbour or family member to look after them.  

• Leave a light on a timer on if when you are not at home as it will act as it will look like the home is occupied. Other products on the market such as ‘Fake TV’ also act as a good deterrent as these products make it look like someone is watching TV.

• Upgrade the locks on any garages or sheds and if there is a window fit a curtain to ensure a burglar cannot see what is inside.

When having any additional security fitted to your home it is always a good idea to call an accredited locksmith. An accredited locksmith will be able to do a security and insurance compliance check on your home and they will be more than happy to upgrade your home security for your peace of mind in 2014.

If you missed our ‘The 12 Security Tips of Christmas’ over the Holiday period then read them again here for further security advice and tips.

November the month you are most likely to be burgled

It has been recently reported by the Daily Mail that November is the month that you are most likely to be burgled!

According to Victim Support around half a million burglaries take place each year in England and Wales, although crime overall has fallen considerably over the last few years, in fact BBC News in October of this year reported that crime had fallen by 7%, burglary still remains a common crime that affects a large percentage of the population. A recent study by LV= Home Insurance highlighted the fact that in the month of November a home in the UK is burgled every two minutes.

Burglary is largely an opportunistic crime, many home insurers will advise taking certain security steps to insure your home isn’t ‘easy pickings’ as according to Home Insurance Guide.co.uk, “burglars are looking for a home that gives them the easiest way of committing their crime undetected, with the fewest obstacles to negotiate.” The majority of burglars will not even use force to gain entry to a property, two out of ten burglars according to the Home Insurance Guide.co.uk, in fact 73% of burglars use doors to gain entry and in 3% of cases the door was open (Tesco Compare).

A burglary cannot only affect a victim financially, but it can also affect how safe you feel in your home after the burglary has taken place, some may even think they are at fault if they had forgotten to secure a window or door to their home, which can be distressing and traumatic to some especially if an item of sentimental value has been stolen.

When having any type of lock upgraded or replaced for security or insurance purposes we always recommend that you contact a locksmith who can carry out a full home security and insurance compliance check as part of the service for your peace of mind.

So don’t get caught out this November by watching our home security tips video.