Home and family
Your home before a trip: five checks
Before leaving, check five areas: entry points, alarms and recordings, your support contact, household systems and information about your trip. Each has its own numbered section below.
Doors, windows and home access.
Walk through the property and check doors, windows, gates and outbuildings. Confirm who holds the spare key and whether they will actually be available while you are away.
- Do not leave keys under a mat or in another predictable place.
- Give a house contact only the access needed for their task. Recover the key or end access afterwards if it is no longer needed.
Alarms, notifications and recordings.
Check that alerts reach the right person. If you have cameras, find and replay footage from an agreed test. Live view does not prove recording works.
- Agree alarm testing with the monitoring provider if you use one.
- Confirm the next response if you miss an alert, with the provider or your nominated contact.
Your support contact and response arrangements.
Give a trusted person necessary numbers, their permitted tasks and a way to reach you. Distinguish a household fault from a suspected break-in.
- A neighbour should not enter to check whether an intruder is still inside. Stay outside and contact the police if there are signs of a break-in.
- An immediate threat to life or health requires a call to 112 without waiting for your reply.
Water, power and household equipment.
Check what must remain running and follow manufacturers’ guidance for periods away. Do not disconnect all power without considering alarms, heating and other essential systems.
- Explain where the main water valve is and when your house contact can safely use it.
- Have leaks, damaged wiring or faulty equipment addressed by the appropriate professional before departure.
Information about your absence.
Share exact dates only with people who need them. Limit public announcements that the home is empty. Arrange mail and deliveries.
- Do not publish photos of keys, codes or screens showing security details.
- Review points 1 to 4 before leaving. Each unresolved issue needs an owner and an agreed way forward.
Further informationPolish Police: preventing home burglaries ↗