How to keep your holiday rental secure

Many holiday homes are located in rural areas, sometimes far from other neighbours, which can often leave the property open to potential attacks. So, what can be done to protect your property from any unwanted visitors?

If you’re in the position to own a holiday rental property, our expert team have provided some top security tips on how you can keep your holiday home secure all year round.

Tip 1 – Be smart with the locks

When securing your property while it’s unoccupied, a good place to start is at the front door.

Many burglaries take place via access through the front door, and with different guests coming and going each week it’s important for your entrance space to be kept secure.

Smart locks allow you to lock, unlock and monitor your door from anywhere at any time of the day or night. All controlled through a handy smartphone app, it’s possible to monitor the comings and goings of visitors to your rental with the addition of a smart lock.

And, with a flow of people staying at the property, ensuring the key is in the correct place ready for the next guest can be quite stressful. With a smart lock, you simply need to provide a keycode to your new guest, allowing them to use their mobile device to access the property.

Tip 2 - Be smart and secure

When owning a rental property, it can be difficult to find the time to visit the property at a time when it’s unoccupied, particularly during the holiday months with guests staying one after the other.

But a property with no lights on, and no sign of security measures in place, can signal to burglars that it’s been left empty, making it an easy target.

However, with smart security you can keep a check on your property remotely, so you can quickly check in whenever you need to. Smart home products and smart security devices allow you to control and monitor your home security from anywhere at any time, simply through a smartphone. These handy gadgets allow you stay in control of the security of your property from anywhere, giving you peace of mind at any time.

You could also consider using smart plugs to remotely control lights around the property. By using a smart plug, you can switch any lights on and off remotely or set up a schedule for them to come on when no one is staying. This gives the impression that the property is occupied and can act as a deterrent against unwanted attacks.

Another smart security product to consider for your rental property is a smart alarm system, allowing you to arm, disarm or part arm your alarm from anywhere via your smartphone app. A smart alarm gives you the control to ensure your property is armed when no one is staying in the holiday rental.

Additionally, installing a security camera at the front or back of the property lets you check on any unusual activity when the property is left vacant. The remote functionality allows you to review footage and receive alert notifications on your smartphone, so you can check on your rental property from anywhere.

Tip 3 – Maintenance is key

The appearance of a rental property can give signals to potential burglars as to whether it is occupied or well looked after.

A property which isn’t well maintained could signal that the security measures aren’t up to scratch, making it an easy target.

When the holiday rental isn’t occupied for a long period of time, we would recommend visiting the property or arranging for a trusted individual to check in on a regular basis.

When reviewing the property, check for any areas which could have weather or water damage such as the doors and windows. Loose or weak windows can provide opportunities for thieves to break into the property, so making sure any access points to the home are kept up to scratch is essential.

Maintaining the garden and any outdoor spaces and fixing any damages will also help to keep the property looking well looked after and give the impression that it’s lived in.

To find out more information on how to protect your holiday rental all year round or to view our range of security solutions, explore our website.