Who is Responsible for Property Security, Landlords or Tenants?

Thankfully only a small percentage of properties in the Humberside area are burgled each month, but what happens if one of your rental properties is targeted? While there is no minimum security requirements for landlords to adhere to, it is usual to expect that landlords install the following:

• five lever mortice lock for external timber doors or a three multi-point locking system for PVC-u external doors,
• window locks attached to windows easily accessible from outside but not attached to designated escape windows,
• door chains, and
• in a shared property (such as a block of flats), additional security to the main entrance door.

You may be required to have these security measures in place in order to obtain buildings insurance or for your tenants to have contents insurance. Additionally landlords may install burglar alarms, defender alarms, CCTV and security night-lights and spy-holes, all of which will make the property more desirable for tenants. If a landlord does not want to install these additional items, with your permission, a tenant may elect to pay to have them installed themselves.

Landlords do have a responsibility to keep their property in good repair so if any damage occurs to the building as a result of a burglary then the landlord is usually responsible for making it good again. There are a couple of instances when this is not the case, i.e. if the tenant has been negligent or took action that in some way led to the break-in, or made the damages worse (e.g. leaving gates or windows unlocked), or if the tenant neglected to take the required action according to the lease such as securing a police report and notifying the agent or landlord of the break-in in a timely manner.

Your building’s insurance should cover the cost of any repairs to the property and your tenant’s contents insurance should cover the things that belong to them that have been stolen or damaged.

Of course it is better to deter thieves than to repair the damage they have caused and additional security advice is given in previous posts Keep Your Property Safe at Christmas and Home Security for Landlords.