Many landlords are terrified when they find out their tenants are going on holiday.
Almost half of all UK burglaries occur when a home is unoccupied.
To put your mind at ease, here are four tips to secure your home while its unoccupied, regardless of the time of year.
1. Check the Locks
Your renters will be aware that they must secure their home by before they go away. However, an alarming percentage of break-ins happen through an unlocked door, so it’s a good idea to remind your tenants to double-check that the doors are locked before they leave.
It’s also common for burglars to break in through windows, so ensure your renters have the keys to everything, including all windows, side gates and sheds. Before they go away, ask your tenants to lock anything that needs to be locked and to notify you if a lock isn’t working.
2. Check Your Insurance
Landlord insurance is a great way to protect yourself against rent-related difficulties, such as break-ins. However, some insurers will refuse to cover you if the property is left unoccupied for an extended amount of time (which is usually more than 14 days). Also, some insurance companies require you to notify them when your tenants are on holiday.
Before your tenants go on their holiday, double-check your insurance, and consider upgrading if you won’t be covered for the duration of their stay.
3. Ramp up your Security
A house with adequate security tends to be more appealing to tenants. Consider increasing your security measures if you’re concerned about break-ins.
Outdoor lights, visible burglar alarms and smart security cameras are excellent deterrents for protecting your property while your tenant is away. These security measures may even be able to lower your insurance prices, which is a plus!
4. Provide a Checklist
Providing your renters with a pre-holiday checklist is one of the best things you can do to help them to prepare for their trip.
Include everything you want them to do before they depart, such as shutting any windows and notifying you of any damaged locks.
Not only will your checklist be beneficial to your tenants, it will also provide you with assurance that everything has been taken care of.
Are You a Landlord That Needs More Renting Advice?
Protecting yourself as a landlord is always important, especially when your tenants go on holiday and the property is left empty.
For more advice on how to protect your property, we are your local experts in the rental market. If you want to make renting easier, give us a call.
