How to secure your home when you’re on holiday

Originally posted: 23 May 2022

Last Updated: 7th February 2025

One of the best things about jetting off on holiday is being able to completely unwind, creating the opportunity to truly disconnect and destress. 

So you can put any worry to rest whilst you enjoy your well-deserved break, make sure that your home is efficiently secured and protected before you leave with the ultimate holiday checklist. This way, you’ll be less likely to come back to any nasty surprises. Read on as we uncover how to secure your home during the summer holidays and when you find the time to get away.

1. Set up your alarm system

Investing in a home security system is a surefire way to heighten your home’s protection, so ensure that yours is set-up before leaving - whether this be heading off on holiday, or even popping out to the shops. With the opportunity to custom build your system, with cameras and alarms, alongside choosing whether to equip yours with a range of additional accessories, such as panic buttons and motion sensors, to heighten your home’s security, you can design something that best suits your property and requirements. 

If you decide to join the SimpliSafe Pro Premium professional monitoring plan, our monitoring centre will be alerted when your alarm is activated. They’ll then be able to visually verify whether someone has broken into your home by checking your Indoor Camera, and immediately alert the local authorities, if needed. This way, you can be sure that there are professionals who can act quickly in an emergency whilst you’re on holiday. 

Furthermore, did you know that home security systems act as a crime deterrent? Wannabe burglars will avoid homes they know to be secured with cameras and alarms, for fear of getting caught. 

2. Lock all entrances to your home

This one may sound obvious, but the excitement of going on holiday can sometimes lead homeowners to forget the basics. Before you leave, always make sure that you’re checking the integrity of all doors and windows, including their condition and sealant, as well as locking all entrances to your home.For an extra layer of protection, consider equipping doors and windows with entry sensors, which detects and alarms when they have been opened. 

3. Make your home appear occupied

Unfortunately, a house that appears to be empty could be the perfect target for burglars, so try to give the impression that it’s occupied when you’re away on holiday. This could include leaving lights on a timer, a radio on for background noise and your car on the drive. 

Furthermore, to minimise the risk of your home looking empty, you could leave your house key with a trusted neighbour, who’ll be able to tend to your bins or deal with any post that’s piling up, as well as just generally checking in. In the case that you will have multiple people entering your home whilst you’re on holiday, the SimpliSafe security system enables the user to set up extra PINs - this way, they’ll be able to arm and disarm your system with ease.

4. Turn your water off 

Nobody wants to come home from their holidays to a flooded house. Before leaving, we recommend turning off your water supply; to prevent water flooding from your pipes or appliances. 

If this isn’t possible, or you’d like a little extra flood protection all year round, consider installing water sensors around your appliances and water pipes, such as under sinks. These sensors will alert you to any water dripped onto them, helping you catch a flood before it happens. 

5. Unplug electricals and check smoke alarms 

Like a flood, no one wants to come home from their holiday to a fire either. Before jetting off, be sure to go around your home and turn off every switch that you can, as well as unplugging everything possible - to prevent a fire. You should also double-check that your smoke detectors are working efficiently and that they have ample battery power left for your time away. 

6. Keep valuables out of view

Whilst you’re away enjoying clear blue skies and warm seas, don’t leave your valuables in plain view - or you could be asking to have them stolen. 

Lock any expensive outdoor equipment, BBQs, tools and ladders away securely in your shed or garage. Consider installing glassbreak sensors on outdoor windows, so that you can be alerted should anyone attempt to burgle your belongings. You should also install outdoor cameras around the perimeter of your home so that you can keep informed of everything that happens on your property - inside and outside. 

For hiding valuables inside the home, you could use a safe or attic, or lockable cupboards and drawers, to keep them hidden. For bulkier items that can’t easily be moved, such as monitors or a TV, keeping your blinds closed can prevent anyone from peeking inside. 

7. Refrain from posting on social media 

As exciting as going on holiday is, try to refrain from posting about your holiday on social media - at least not until you get back. You can never trust all of your followers, and all it takes is one person to acknowledge that your home has been left unattended - which could lead to them breaking in. Although this is the absolute worst case scenario, there’s no harm in being extra cautious to ensure that nothing ruins your time away. Alternatively, make sure your social media profiles are private and only your nearest and dearest can see what you’re posting and where you are.

8. Check your home insurance 

Should disaster strike whilst you’re away, you may be reliant on your insurance to help you pick up the pieces. Make sure that, before you go on holiday, you thoroughly read through your insurance policy, ensuring it covers everything you need it to and that your home and belongings are covered during the time frame you are away. 

9. Report problems in the local area 

If something is bothering you in your local area, there is no issue in reporting it to the local authorities. Whether it be antisocial behaviour around the nearby park or street lights that aren’t working down your road, report it and push for a response. Unfortunately, you never know if these issues could impact your home security, especially whilst you’re away, so reporting is the best way to get ahead of the problem. 

10. Join your Neighbourhood Watch Scheme 

Joining your local Neighbourhood Watch Scheme is the best way to get proactive about protecting your community. Run by regular people, like yourself, your neighbours in the scheme will help keep an eye on your home and support you in reporting any concerns to the police or council. 

Keen to know more about the SimpliSafe home security system, and how it can protect your home when you’re away? Check out our blog for more home security tips, or get in contact with our team today to start building yours.