Top tips and advice on protecting your home with alarms, locks, CCTV systems and security upgrades.
Whether you've just moved into a new home; had your keys lost or stolen, or simply want to boost your home security, knowing how to change a lock is one of the most useful DIY skills a homeowner can have. This step-by-step guide walks you through everything you need to know - from choosing the right lock to knowing when you need to call in a professional.
Storms are becoming more frequent and severe, bringing high winds, heavy rain, and even flooding. While we can’t control the weather, there’s plenty we can do to protect our homes from damage before the worst hits. A little preparation goes a long way, and by acting early, you can save yourself stress, expense, and disruption when the next storm arrives.
At Christmas time, the chances are that you have more high-value objects than normal to tempt burglars. Here’s how you can deter them.
Carbon monoxide is one of the biggest risks to a person’s health within the home. It is estimated that nearly one person a week tragically loses their life to carbon monoxide poisoning in the UK, and many more suffer from serious illness as a result of it. One of the reasons that CO is such a dangerous hazard is because it doesn’t smell of anything and it is colourless, which means that it is hard to detect.
Whether you live in a mansion or a cabin, your home should be your castle; your safe place. Over the past couple of weeks we have looked at home security and basic steps that you can take to make your home as unattractive and inaccessible as possible to potential burglars. Your house is most at risk when it is empty, so it stands to reason that a lot of house invasions happen while the owners are on holiday.
At Christmas time, the chances are that you have more high-value objects than normal to tempt burglars. Here’s how you can deter them.
We look at what carbon monoxide is, the risks, and how you can keep yourself, your family and guests safe.
Our trusted locksmith can help, whatever the task at hand, offering reliable support and professional expertise.
Common home security questions covering alarms, locks, surveillance systems and safety tips.
Most insurers want to see five-lever mortise deadlocks on external doors, key-operated window locks, and ideally a monitored alarm - some require these as a condition of cover. CCTV and smart doorbells are increasingly valued too.
Check your policy documents or speak to your insurer directly - inadequate security can affect both your premiums and whether a claim gets paid out.
Off-the-shelf systems are sold as DIY-friendly, but professional installation gets you proper camera positioning for actual coverage, everything integrated correctly, and reliable connectivity.
If your alarm needs to meet insurer requirements or NSI/SSAIB standards, professional installation is usually a must. A good installer will also assess your property's specific weak points rather than just fitting a standard kit.
Yes - consistently, according to research. A dummy box offers some deterrent, but a working monitored system with a visible bell box is significantly more effective. Burglars mainly target properties that look easy to enter quickly and quietly - anything that signals risk or delay helps. Combine a visible alarm with motion-activated lighting and CCTV and you're covering the main things that make a property look like a harder target.
A combination of things working together is what really makes the difference. A visible alarm, motion lighting, and CCTV remove the cover burglars rely on.
Strong door and window locks matter too - most break-ins involve forcing a door or window, not anything sophisticated. When you're away, timer-controlled lights that make the house look occupied are simple but genuinely effective.
Don't touch anything until the police have been - you want to preserve the scene. Call the police and get a crime reference number, which you'll need for your insurer. Report it to your insurer as soon as you can.
Photograph any damage before anything gets moved. Once the police have attended, get a locksmith or security professional out to make the property secure - especially if any doors or windows were damaged.
Security-wise, it depends more on the lock's mechanism than whether it's smart or not. Most smart locks use the same deadbolt mechanisms as conventional ones and just add keypad, fingerprint, or app control on top.
The real benefits are practical - you can give temporary access without cutting keys, see who's come and gone, and set it to auto-lock. Look for Sold Secure or BSI Kitemark accreditation, and make sure it's properly installed - a good lock fitted poorly doesn't offer much.
There's no set schedule, but there are clear triggers: moving into a new property, losing a set of keys, a relationship breakdown where someone had a key, or after a break-in. Outside of those situations, a quality lock will last many years without needing replacement unless it's showing signs of wear.
Stiffness or keys becoming difficult to turn are worth getting looked at rather than ignoring.
Often repaired, actually. The most common problem - a multipoint lock that won't engage properly with the frame - is usually down to the door dropping slightly on its hinges. Adjusting the hinges often sorts it without touching the lock at all. The euro cylinder (the part the key goes into) can be replaced cheaply and quickly on its own if that's the issue. A full mechanism replacement is only needed if the internal gearbox has failed. A locksmith can work out which part's the problem and fix just that.
If you have a question in relation to TrustATrader specifically, please check out the TrustATrader FAQs, with separate lists tailored to consumers and tradespeople. Alternatively, get in touch with our team. We're happy to help!