Being burgled can be an awful experience, especially for tenants, but also for landlords as if damage has been done to a rental property, it can be down to you to ensure that repairs are made as soon as possible. We have put together some safety tips for landlords and their property which will help keep tenants safe from burglaries and the property maintained.
Locks
Locks play a major role in securing our homes and offices as they secure doors and windows from unwanted access and intrusion. Making sure your properties locks are all in working order is a good start. Front and rear doors can always benefit from Mortice locks where possible. Newer PVC doors and windows should have multi-point locks installed if not already in place. This basic step should never be overlooked when securing your property.
Lighting
There are many security lighting options on the market, but the most common is motion-activated lighting. When installing this feature, be sure to place it in areas where other sources of light are scarce, i.e. street lights or neighbouring light sources. Also, try and place the light above 2m in height, making it more difficult to tamper with.
Natural Barriers
If you live in a rural property or a detached property with hedging, then you may consider what natural barriers you can take advantage of to secure your property. Simple things like thorny bushes can be a deterrent to intruders. One tip though, try not to completely enclose your property in hedging/trees as this would only help those looking to sneak in.
Alarm Systems
There is an abundance of alarm systems on the market today to suit all budgets. From remote monitoring to automated locking systems, every property can be secured. Consider your budget and the threat of intrusion in your area before investing in any heavy alarm systems.
Keys
We all have a certain hiding spot for our house keys if needs be, but this can be a gift for intruders. Particularly in a rental situation, you should always ask tenants not to leave keys under doormats or any other obvious hiding spots. Where possible, provide your tenants with an alternative spot of your choosing.
Holidays & Social media
Over the last decade, a worrying trend emerged whereby people would advertise the fact that they will not be home for a couple of weeks on social media. To more nefarious characters this was an invitation to break in and help themselves, safe in the knowledge they would not be disturbed. Where possible, you should always advise your tenants against this practice and if they do leave the property for holidays to let you know, so you can keep an eye on the property while they’re gone.
As usual, if you are a landlord seeking advice on any of the topics we have covered, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us here at KPM Group today. We have over 25 years of experience in property management in Ireland and would be happy to help in any way we can.
