Put Home Security at the Top of Your Christmas List

The run-up to Christmas is one of the times of year when home security is worth a proper review, houses are fuller of valuable items, evenings are darker for longer, and many families are away visiting relatives. Most improvements that make a real difference are straightforward building work, better doors, secure windows, good lighting, rather than anything complicated, and they are worth doing regardless of the time of year.

Start with doors and locks

The front and back door are the most common points of entry, so they are the best place to start. A solid core door fitted with a British Standard compliant multi-point locking system offers considerably more resistance than an older door with a single mortice lock. On period properties in North London, it is possible to keep the original character of a front door while upgrading the lock hardware behind it, so a security improvement does not have to mean replacing a feature of the house. Check door frames too, a strong lock fitted into a rotten or poorly fixed frame gives away most of its benefit.

Windows and rear access

Ground floor windows and any window near a flat roof, extension roof, or drainpipe that could be used to reach an upper floor deserve particular attention. Key-locking window handles and laminated glass in vulnerable panels both add resistance without changing the appearance of the window. Side returns and rear gardens in terraced housing are common access routes for anyone trying to reach the back of a property unseen from the street, so a secure gate with a good lock is worth as much as anything fitted to the house itself.

• Fit British Standard compliant locks to front and back doors
• Check door frames are solid, a good lock in a weak frame offers little protection
• Add key-locking handles to ground floor and easily accessible upper windows
• Install PIR-triggered security lighting to the front, side return and rear garden
• Secure side gates and boundary fencing to prevent unseen access to the rear
• Consider a visible video doorbell or camera, which is a proven deterrent as well as a monitoring tool

Lighting and visibility

Good lighting around a property removes the dark corners that make a house an easier target. PIR-triggered lights on the front, side return and rear garden are inexpensive to fit and act as both a deterrent and a practical safety feature for anyone arriving home in the dark evenings of winter. Keeping hedges and shrubs trimmed so they do not obscure windows or doors from the street also makes a noticeable difference, since a house that is easy to see into and out of is generally left alone.

Practical habits alongside building improvements

No amount of building work replaces sensible habits, keeping valuables away from windows visible from the street, using timer switches on lights when away, and not advertising an empty house on social media before a trip. But building improvements, good doors, secure windows, gates and lighting, form the foundation that makes those habits effective, and they add lasting value to the property well beyond the festive period.

If you want to improve the security of your North London home before the darker months set in, get in touch with Hozea Construction for a free fixed-price quote on doors, windows, lighting or boundary work. Call 07969 378509 to arrange a visit.