Protect Your Rental Property: Essential Security Tips for Landlords

As a landlord, it’s essential to prioritise security. During the year ending September 2023, there were over 180,000 residential burglaries in England and Wales – that’s roughly 493 burglaries every day.

Tenants have a right to feel safe and secure in their homes. Securing your rental property not only looks after your tenants but also reduces the risk of you having to cough up for repairs following a break-in. Research indicates that the average cost to fix damage caused by a break-in or attempted break-in is £846, while the average value of goods stolen during a home burglary is £2,856.

It’s also been found that private renters are 63% more likely to be targeted by burglars than owner-occupiers. Given these statistics, can you confidently say that you are doing everything you can to secure your rental and property and the tenants who call it home?

We’ve put together this guide to help landlords understand more about their security obligations and the steps they can take to transform their property from a sitting duck to a secure fortress.

Are landlords responsible for rental property security?

Landlords have responsibilities when it comes to keeping their rental properties secure. However, the property’s ongoing security requires the landlord and tenant to work together to minimise risk – after all, it is in both parties’ best interest to do so.

Landlords are required by the law to provide tenants with a property that is safe and secure.

If you’ve not maintained a secure property and there’s a break-in, then your landlord insurance may not hold up, and you could be held liable for the damage or even sued by your tenant. This means if any of the property’s doors or windows become damaged or faulty, you’re responsible for getting them repaired pronto, as this could compromise the house’s security.

However, if you’ve done your part in maintaining a safe and secure property, but your tenant has gone out and left the door unlocked, then they could be held liable if there is a break-in.

Keeping a rental property secure requires a joint effort between landlord and tenant.

Is the landlord or tenant responsible for paying for damage caused by a break-in?

Most burglaries involve forced entry unless a door or window has been left open or unlocked. To gain access to the property, the criminal may smash a window, break a lock, or damage a door. The cost of repairing this damage can vary, but it usually costs hundreds of pounds.

So, who foots this bill? Yes, you guessed it, it’s the landlord. Usually, the landlord can claim for the cost of the damages on their building insurance. However, the landlord is not liable to cover loss or damage to the tenant’s belongings. The tenant will need to claim this from their own insurance provider.

Why is security so important in rental properties?

I’m sure you prioritise security in your own home, and it should be no different for your rental property. Landlords have a duty to provide tenants with a safe and secure living environment, offering peace of mind and safeguarding both the tenant and their belongings.

Prioritising security can also protect landlords against legal action. If your rental property is burgled and it comes to light that security was unsatisfactory, then your tenant could have grounds to sue you.

A safe and secure rental property is also an excellent selling point. When tenants feel safe and cared for, they are more likely to stay longer and recommend your services, reducing tenant turnover and helping you maintain your reputation as a reputable landlord.

Finally, investing in security for your rental property now can help minimise your expenses in the long term. A secure property is a less appealing target for opportunistic criminals, minimising the risk of your property being damaged during a break-in or attempted break-in and helping you avoid being hit by an unexpected repairs bill.

A guide to securing your rental property

Now that we understand why a secure rental property is so important, let’s explore what steps you can take to enhance its security and deter opportunistic thieves.

Windows, doors, and locks

Even if you choose not to invest in any specialist security equipment for your rental property, it’s important to ensure you’ve thoroughly addressed all the basic security measures.

• Upgrade to high-quality windows, doors, and locks – Modern and robust fixtures can act as a deterrent and provide more resistance against forced entry.
• Use the most suitable locks – Fit external timber doors with five-lever mortice locks and PVC-u external doors with a three-point multi-locking system.
• Add window locks – Fit secure internal window locks to windows that are easily accessible from outside.
• Install a door chain and peephole – Add a door chain and peephole to help tenants feel secure when answering the door and prevent intruders from barging in.
• Add deadbolts – Deadbolts provide an extra line of defence in resisting forced entry.
• Locks on internal doors – In houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), fit locks to internal doors to secure individual rooms.
• Secure the perimeter – Remember to fit suitable locks to gates, sheds, and other outbuildings.

Security equipment

In addition to securing the property’s windows and doors, landlords can demonstrate their commitment to tenant security by installing security equipment. Although this requires an initial investment, it acts as a significant deterrent to opportunistic thieves. Over time, this not only helps landlords to save on costs but also reduces stress and inconvenience for them and their tenants.

• Security lighting – Most burglaries occur at night, so installing outdoor motion sensor security lighting can helpdeter criminals by making it harder for them to hide and approach the house undetected.
• Burglar alarm – Having a visible burglar alarm installed is another effective way of deterring criminals from targeting your rental property. If there is a break-in, the alarm will also alert the tenant, neighbours, and authorities quickly, potentially reducing the cost of the break-in.
• CCTV – Installing CCTV cameras can help protect the premises against suspicious activity, potential break-ins, and theft. Make sure the cameras only point within the boundaries of the property so that they don’t impede anyone else’s privacy.
• Window sensors – Window sensors can be installed on windows that are easily accessible from outside to sound an alarm and send a notification if a window is opened unexpectedly.

Landlord rental property security best practices

Beyond kitting out their rental properties with robust doors, windows, and security equipment to guard against break-ins, there are various other best practices that landlords can adopt to secure their investment and protect their tenants.

• Perform a security audit – Performing regular security audits can help you identify and rectify potential vulnerabilities before criminals exploit them.
• Maintain windows and doors – Damaged or badly maintained windows and doors can make a rental property an easy target for burglars. Regular inspections and maintenance will keep your rental property’s doors and windows in good condition and improve security.
• Change locks between tenants – While you are not legally obliged to change the locks on your rental property between tenants, this simple step can improve tenant security and peace of mind.
• Trim hedges and shrubs – Overgrown shrubs and hedges can provide burglars with plenty of places to hide and help a break-in to go unnoticed by neighbours and passers-by. Keep shrubs and hedges trimmed back to improve your property’s visibility and make it more difficult for burglars to approach the property unnoticed.
• Landlord insurance – Make sure the landlord insurance you take out is comprehensive and covers theft and burglary so that you are protected financially if your rental property is damaged during a break-in.
• Provide tenants with security advice – Even with robust doors and windows and advanced security equipment, you cannot control how seriously your tenants take security. The best approach is to equip tenants with security advice and tips for preventing burglaries. Either provide security tips and advice verbally or on a printout or digital document when tenants first move in.

Rental property security advice for tenants

You and your tenants both share responsibility for keeping your rental property safe and secure. Gently reminding tenants of the importance of maintaining good security habits and providing them with useful tips and advice can help them safeguard against burglaries. It can be helpful to put the information down in a paper handout or digital document that tenants can refer back to if they need to. Let’s look at some top security tips to give tenants.

• Always secure the property – Even if the tenant is only popping out for ten minutes, they should always close and lock the windows and doors. If you have installed security equipment like a burglar alarm, remind tenants to always activate it when they leave the house.
• Keep valuables out of sight – Most thieves are opportunistic. Advise tenants to tidy valuables away and be wary about leaving them in plain sight of windows or doors.
• Inform your landlord if the property is going to be vacant – Ask tenants to inform you if they are going away for a long weekend or on holiday so that you can check in on the property.
• Don’t post on social media about going away – Advise tenants that if they’re going away, they should not post on social media about their trip until they are back home. Publicising online that your property is unattended makes a burglar’s job simple!
• Use timers to turn lights on and off when away – If tenants are going away for a couple of nights or work night shifts, using a timer to switch their lights on and off can help to create the illusion that someone is home and deter burglars.

We hope that landlords can use the tips and advice within this article to safeguard their investments and create secure living environments for their tenants. While rental property security is a responsibility shared between landlord and tenant, it is the landlord who must maintain the condition and integrity of the property’s windows, doors, and locks and lead by example by prioritising security. Being committed to maintaining high levels of security for your rental property not only minimises the risk of a burglary but is also an important aspect of managing a reputable and successful rental business.