Home advice

General safety and security tips

• DO fit a burglar alarm.
  • If you have one, keep it serviced once a year and use it when you are out.
  • If you haven't, do get one - it will normally reduce your home insurance premium and make your home more secure.
• DO keep your valuables safe.
  • DON'T leave jewellery and other valuables where they can be easily found.
  • Have a safe fitted.
  • DO buy an invisible UV security pen and mark your property with your name and address.
  • DO compile a photographic or video record of your valuables - it'll make things easier if you need to make a claim on your contents insurance.
  • DO get items valued professionally if you're unsure how much they're worth - this is particularly important for antiques.
  • For high value items that you only need occasional access to, why not pop them in a safety deposit box at the bank?
• DO fit locks to your windows.
  • A lock on each window cuts the chance of a break-in. They are cheap and easy to fit and will often reduce your home insurance premium too.
  • Remember to lock your doors and windows each night or when you go away.
• DO make sure your door locks are good and solid.
  • Mortise and cylinder locks are very secure - make sure your doors have them.
• DO fit motion sensitive exterior lighting.
  • Available from most DIY shops, exterior floodlighting with motion sensitive detectors (called PIR) will light up your garden and other exterior areas, warning off intruders.
  • Think about light sensitive lighting outside that automatically comes on after sunset.
  • Fit your security lighting out of the easy reach of an intruder - 2.5m (8ft) is a good rule of thumb.
• DO make an accurate assessment of the value of your possessions.
  • Make sure you have an accurate idea of the value of your possessions.
  • Overestimating the value will mean a higher contents insurance premium.
• Live in a Neighbourhood Watch area?
  • Let your home insurance provider know - it could well reduce your premium.
• Got a drive?
  • Lay down a gravel surface - the crunch will alert you to any people approaching!
• DO cancel the milk or papers when you go on holiday.
  • A pile of newspapers through the letterbox or milk left outside is a giveaway that your home is unoccupied - don't give burglars a chance.
  • DONT leave valuables on open view - particularly at Christmas!
  • DO use timer switches that will automatically turn certain lights on around your home.
  • DON'T leave packaging lying around - it shows you have new items inside.
  • DO ask a friend or a neighbour to check on your home periodically.
• DO keep any outbuildings or sheds locked.
  • DO fit - a strong padlock and fittings on any outbuildings or sheds will deter most opportunistic break-in attempts.
  • DO locks doors and windows
  • DO fit blinds to windows to hide attractive items from view
  • DO place high value portable items such as tools and electrical equipment within locked containers. Similarly, lock your mowers and bikes to the wall with a padlock and chain.
  • DO keep walls, hedges, fences and gates in good order.
  • DON'T let hedges and shrubs become so tall that they hide intruders by blocking the neighbours' view of the property

Intruder detection

• DO fit an alarm system - your home insurance premiums could be reduced if you have one.
• DO take professional advice before you fit one from your home insurance company, local crime prevention office or alarm installer.
• DO use a reputable security professional, preferably registered with the National Security Inspectorate (NSI) or Security Systems and Inspectorate Board (SSAIB)]
  • Maintenance contracts typically include an annual inspection to check your system is in working properly.
• DO make sure that all the occupants, including key holders, are aware of how to enable and disable the system

Fire prevention

• DON'T leave pans unattended.
  • Only fill a pan one third full when frying.
  • Place a wet towel over the pan if it overheats or catches fire.
  • NEVER throw water over a chip pan fire the effects can be devastating.
• DO keep toasters away from curtains.
• DO keep your oven and grill clean to stop fat and food deposits catching fire.
• DO keep a BBQ away from timber sheds, fences, canopies and any material that may catch fire.
  • Avoid fuel accelerants to get your BBQ going and let it cool before getting rid of the ashes.
• DO place a fireguard around your fireplace to catch any spitting embers.
• DO keep portable heaters away from soft furnishings or other flammable materials.
• DON'T overload electricity sockets - one plug per socket.
• DON'T leave your appliances on standby when you're not using them.
• NEVER leave candles unattended and always put them out before leaving or heading for bed.
  • Keep them on a surface that won't burn and away from anything that might - your television in particular.
• DO fit a smoke alarm and a carbon monoxide detector - they're cheap and the early warning of fire or dangerous gases may save your life one day.
  • Fit one per floor and remember to check and replace the batteries.
• DO buy a fire extinguisher or fire blanket to tackle minor fires.
  • Have a FETA accredited professional check your extinguisher once a year.
  • Use a dry powder extinguisher for electrical fires.
  • Use a CO 2 or foam extinguisher for fuel, paint or fat fires.
  • Use a water extinguisher for wood, paper or textile fires.
  • If a fire is serious, call the Fire Brigade by dialling 999.

Flood protection preparation

• DO ask your home insurance company for advice.
• DO listen out for severe weather warnings on to local radio and TV - that little bit of preparation time can make all the difference.
• DO check the Environment Agency Flood Line for the latest information on 01276 454725.
• DO keep a supply of sandbags and sand handy if you live in an area prone to flooding.
  • Place them against the base of your external doors to help stem the flow.
  • Block any airbricks with plastic sheeting - and don't forget to unblock them when the water subsides.
• DO move as much of your furniture and electrical kit upstairs as you can.
• DO lift rugs and curtains off the ground.
• DO turn electricity, water and gas off at the mains.
• DO make sure any outbuildings are secure.
• DO make sure you repair any broken or damaged fencing.
• DO park your car away from large trees if you can.

Flood protection - if you suffer damage

• DO make a record of the damage and call your home insurance company.
• DON'T remove or throw anything away until your home insurance company has given you the all clear to do so.
• DON'T appoint anyone to begin repairs until your home insurance company has given you the goahead.
• DON'T use any gas or electrical services until your suppliers have checked that all is well.

Subsidence and heave

• Subsidence is when the ground supporting your home sinks and heave is the opposite - when the ground expands and pushes upwards.
• It's usually caused by changes in the amount of water in the ground.
• Clay for example, is more likely to shrink in long periods of hot weather and cause subsidence while damage to drains by tree roots can cause heave.
• Trees can increase the likelihood of damage if they're too close to your property.
• Before you plant any trees or if you're having a house built, think about how big it will grow when fully matured.

Here's our handy guide to how far away from your home or outbuildings the most common types of tree should be:

Species	Mature height	Safe distance
Beech	20m (66ft)	15m (50ft)
Birch	14m (42ft)	10m (33ft)
Cherry	17m (55ft)	11m (36ft)
Elm	25m (81ft)	30m (99ft)
Hawthorn	10m (33ft)	12m (40ft)
Horse Chestnut	20m (66ft)	23m (75ft)
Lime	24m (79ft)	20m (66ft)
Maple	21m (69ft)	20m (66ft)
Oak	24m (79ft)	30m (99ft)
Pine	29m (95ft)	8m (26ft)
Sycamore	24m (79ft)	17m (55ft)
Willow	24m (79ft)	40m (132ft)

Subsidence and heave what to do if you find cracks in your home:

• DON'T be alarmed at every crack that appears most homes suffer minor cracks as the structure settles and shifts.
• DO contact your home insurance company when small cracks appear suddenly in plasterwork around weak points like doors and windows, especially after a long spell of dry weather.
• DO watch out for cracks wider than the thickness of a 10p coin that are narrower at the bottom - it could be caused by ground movement.

Spillages

• The dreaded red wine spillage on a pale carpet is a common cause of home insurance claims.
• DO keep bottles and glasses away from ledges and lay down a drop cloth or an old rug if you're having a party.
• DO keep some table salt handy - pour generously on the spillage immediately and it will quickly soak up a lot of the colour and moisture - then just hoover it up!