Last Updated on July 16, 2026 by Laurie Edwards
When you’re protecting your holiday home or holiday let, there are security measures you can take to safeguard your home away from home when it is left unoccupied. There are also steps you can take to mitigate the risk of theft and property damage if you let your property to guests (known as Short Term Rentals (STRs)).
With over half of all burglaries (59%) in the UK gaining access to properties through the front of the house, it makes sense to secure your front access points using the best methods available.1 And, with guests coming and going throughout the year, holiday homes face security challenges that long-term rentals simply don’t. Taking a proactive approach to security not only protects your investment but also gives your guests peace of mind during their stay. Here’s what every holiday let owner should consider.
Lock Down
Many insurers require a certain standard of locks used in property left unattended for certain time periods. If you overlook this aspect of securing your holiday home and fail to disclose the correct information regarding your locks to your insurance broker, you could face serious issues should you need to make a claim.
Call: 01237 429444
Or visit: boshers.co.uk/contact/
Fit secure window and patio door locks
While front and back doors usually being the most vulnerable points of entry, windows and patio doors need to be locked properly. Make sure all windows, especially ground floor or accessible ones are fitted with secure locks. Patio doors need to have additional security features like anti-lift devices or internal locking bolts. These are inexpensive upgrades that close off some of the most exploited weak points in a property’s defences.
When you’re choosing locking systems for your buildings, go for locks that meet British Standard BS3621.2 These will need to be installed on at least all main doors and windows. Insurers require locks to meet certain standards because they provide protection against a range of burgling methods, including:
- Lock snapping
- Prying open and lifting patio doors
- Lock picking/bumping
Security controlled keys
Managing keys for an STR property can be a daunting task, especially if you have multiple guests coming and going. An efficient key management system ensures that you can provide secure access to your guests while maintaining control over your property’s security. This might include being able to generate short-term codes or ‘digital keys’, offering you the ability to allow entry during set periods like a hotel does.
If you do use physical keys, it’s advisable to use keys which are ‘controlled’, meaning that a guest, or anybody else, is not able to make a copy without your knowledge. If they are not ‘controlled’, there could be multiple additional copies in existence that could be used to gain access and, for example, steal possessions.
What is a controlled key?
A controlled key, or a restricted or patented key, is a key that can’t be freely copied at a standard hardware store or local locksmith. These keys are heavily restricted and registered with the manufacturer, ensuring that duplicates can only be made for authorised individuals with proper identification and signature verification. Examples of controlled keys can be found here: www.lockshop-warehouse.co.uk/info/choosing-security-products/authorised-key-control-explained/
Taking these steps doesn’t just reduce the risk of theft or unauthorised access, it also forms an important part of meeting your insurer’s security requirements, helping to ensure that your Holiday Let cover works when you need it to. If you’re in any doubt about the type of locks and keys you need to use as a Holiday Home or Holiday Let owner, talk to us. The Boshers team have a wealth of experience in advising on home security in relation to your insurance coverage.
Change locks between tenancies or after a security breach
If you’ve had a long-term tenant move out before switching to short-term lets, you can’t know how many spare keys were made during a previous tenancy, and ex-tenants or their contacts could still access the property. Make sure you replace the locks before your first holiday booking and get controlled keys made for your property.
Similarly, if you ever suspect a key has been lost, stolen, or copied without permission, don’t wait; arrange a lock change as soon as possible to secure the property. With a constant turnover of guests, this is one area where it pays to be cautious rather than complacent.
Keep spare keys secure
Every landlord needs spare keys but storing them safely is crucial. Never hide spare keys under plant pots, doormats, or outdoor ornaments, as these are the first places a thief will look. Instead, use a high-security key safe or entrust them to a reliable locksmith who offers key-holding services.
Install a burglar alarm
A monitored burglar alarm works alongside good lock security rather than replacing it. An alarm that’s triggered the moment a door or window is forced provides an immediate, audible deterrent that can be enough to send a burglar elsewhere before they’ve had the chance to steal anything. Many systems can now also send instant alerts to your phone, meaning you, or a local key holder or property manager can respond quickly if you don’t live nearby.
For unoccupied periods between bookings, when a property may otherwise look empty and vulnerable, an alarm system is particularly valuable. Some insurers, including Boshers, recognise the reduced risk that comes with a properly installed and maintained alarm system, so it’s well worth checking whether fitting one could also help with your premium.
Strengthen the perimeter with boundary fencing and gates
Security shouldn’t stop at the building itself. Solid boundary fencing and secure gates create an important first line of defence, particularly for properties with gardens, driveways, or outdoor amenities like hot tubs and barbecue areas that guests and burglars could access. Fencing that’s sufficiently high, free of obvious footholds, and well maintained makes a property considerably harder to access than one with low or broken boundaries.
Where a property has off-road parking or a driveway, a lockable gate adds a further layer of protection for vehicles and outbuildings alike, and signals clearly that the property is well looked after and security conscious. For coastal and rural holiday homes and holiday lets where neighboring properties may be some distance away, strong boundaries and gates do much of the work that overlooked, built-up areas achieve naturally.
External buildings
Holiday homes often come with sheds, garages, or outbuildings that store valuable items like garden equipment, outdoor furniture, or bicycles. Make sure these are properly secured with high-quality padlocks, hasps, or ground anchors to prevent opportunistic theft.
Post(s) piling up?
Professional burglars often research homeowners’ movements via their social media accounts. Don’t post about your holidays and away-from-home activities until you return home. Another clue pointing to an unoccupied property is mail piling up. Cancel or divert your posts and parcel deliveries for the time you’re away to avoid it piling up by the front door.
If you’d like to discuss your Holiday Home or Holiday Let Insurance with the Boshers team, contact us today. Our experts can help source and arrange property insurance that covers all bases.
Call: 01237 429444
Or visit: boshers.co.uk/contact/
- https://www.get-licensed.co.uk/get-daily/break-in-breakdown/
- https://www.rjparkerlocksmith.co.uk/is-your-airbnb-or-holiday-let-secure-locksmith-advice/
