Police and Fire Service Home Security & Fire Safety Checklist Student Accommodation Security Checklist A Self Assessment Guide for Landlords
This checklist contains all the standards needed to make sure your rental property reaches the security standards set out by the Exeter University SHARE Scheme. These standards are current minimum levels recommended by the Police. We understand that it can be a challenge and an expense to secure properties, but in case you think it s not worth doing consider the following: Students will be a victim in approximately 15% of all burglaries in Exeter. The average burglary costs a home owner over 550 in additional measures and repairs. The average burglary results in over 1000 worth of goods stolen or damaged. This is without loss of earnings or time spent organising repairs or insurance claims.
Perimeter Is the front of the property visible by passersby or neighbours? Is there a rear fence, wall or hedge? Side gate or rear gate. Is there lighting covering the front of the property? Front Door Front Door large plants or trees covering windows. Hedges should be a maximum of 1m high in the front garden. The rear boundary must be at least 1.8m high. Attach thin gauge trellis or ship lap panels to increase the height of boundaries that are below this size. This is especially important if the back garden has a service alleyway to the rear or side. Gates should be a minimum of 1.8m high. Must be strong, solid construction. Must be lockable but open able from the inside without a key to allow fire escape, e.g. Brenton bolts top and bottom. Front Entrance If no street lighting: Install anti vandal low energy bulkhead light controlled by a dusktil-dawn (light sensor) switch. Frame must be strong and in good condition without excessive repairs from old locks or damage / splitting. Solid cored 44mm+ thickness. Strong construction including panels, no gaps or splits. Hung on 3 robust hinges. UPVC: Good condition, frame well secured to building, no cracks or splitting. If glazing panels over 1ft x 1ft in either the door or the panels around the door. Must be 6.8mm thick laminated glass OR reenforced with Polycarbonate sheets fixed to the inside of the glass. 1x 5 lever mortise escape lock to BS 8621* standard fitted to the lower 3rd of the door. 1x deadlocking escape rim latch / night latch to BS8621* standard fitted to the top 3rd of the door. Letter box defenders should be fitted to prevent keys being turned through letter box. UPVC: Euro cylinder 5pin lock with a thumb turn release. Multi point locking mechanism with at least 5 locking points. Key operated locks will be permitted if spare keys are kept in a break Letter box defenders should be fitted to prevent keys being turned through letter box.
Rear / Side Entrance Door 44mm+ thick solid wood construction, in good solid condition with no splits, rot or gaps. Hung on 3 sturdy hinges. If glazing panels over 1ft x 1ft glass must be 6.8mm thick laminated glass OR re-enforced Polycarbonate sheets fixed to the inside of the glass. Door Patio Door French Door Windows 1 x 5 lever mortise sash lock to BS8621* fitted in the centre of the door. 2 x mortise rack bolts fitted internally inside the door locking into the top and bottom areas of the door frame. These must be fitted with thumb turn releases on the inside of the door to allow fire escape. Must have an anti lift device fitted OR additional push button locks top and bottom. must use a 5pin cylinder with a thumb turn release. If additional push button locks are needed or the main lock is not a thumb turn. Place spare keys for all locks in a break glass point near to the door. Must have 1x 5 lever mortise escape lock to BS 8621* standard fitted to the middle of the door. Each additional leaf should be fitted with 2x mortise rack bolts installed in the inside of the doors locking into the top and bottom of the frame. These must be operated by thumb turn releases secured to the door. If glazing panels over 1ft x 1ft glass must be 6.8mm thick laminated glass OR re-enforced with Acrylic sheets or Polycarbonate fixed to the inside of the glass. All ground floor, and any accessible first floor windows must have window locks. Consider snap locks which automatically engage. Keys should be kept close to windows but out of view and signed. Frames and windows must be strong solid construction without splits or rot. Acceptable standards for ground floor windows are either: double glazed 6.8mm laminated glass Acrylic / Polycarbonate re-enforcement to the inside of the window.
Garden Shed Security Lighting Garden Staple and hasp lock and secure padlock. Hinges secured with at least 2 Mushroom headed bolts per hinge. Energy efficient anti-vandal security lights controlled either by a dusk-til-dawn or PIR switch. Providing an even illumination around ground floor doors and windows. Items that may assist a burglar Ensure that items such as spades are locked away. Ladders are secured and bricks and rubble are not available in the garden. Other Security Items Is there a garage? Can you see into the property easily? Burglar Alarms Install a garage defender lock or Extra-Stop bolts. Make sure any back doors to garages are secured to the same standards as back doors as listed above. Net curtains fitted to the ground floor windows will stop thieves looking in easily. Is there an alarm fitted? Alarms should: Comply with British Standard 4737/BS EN 50131 for hard wired systems. Or BS 6799 Class VI for a wire free. Serviced yearly. MUST: Have 2 registered Keyholders with the Devon & Cornwall Police who can respond within 20 mins Have noise limited to 20 min sounding.