How to keep your
property secure
Every year the vacant property
team hears of many crimes and problems associated with empty
properties:
- Vandalism and property damage
- Theft of Plumbing, Boilers and Roof Flashings
- Rubbish Dumping
- Fire
- Property Taken over and Rented to Innocent Tenants
- Fraudulent Mortgages and Loans Raised on the Property
- Property Deeds Changed into Someone Else's Name
- Squatters
- Drugs, Crime and Cannabis Factories
Avoid the risk
Insurance companies charge more for insuring empty
properties and usually insist on special security measures.
The best way to avoid all of these problems is to arrange for the
property to be occupied.
Second-best is to ensure that the property looks occupied as much
as possible and is properly secured:
- Contact your insurer and local police about security
advice
- Have net curtains, curtains or blinds in place
- Have lights and radios on timers
- Have a neighbour or cleaner regularly visit to remove mail,
catalogues and telephone directories from view
- Keep the front of the property and garden clean and tidy
- Read the Land Registry guide - ' how to safeguard against
property fraud ' and follow the advice given
Last resort - where it is known in an area that a property is
vacant, security screening or boarding up may be the only way to
keep intruders out. However this is not 100% secure. It also
advertises the fact that the property is empty.
Useful websites
Crime Prevention and Security Advice
Squatters