How to Make Your Rented Home Safer from Crime
Ideally, everytime a tenant moves out of a rental apartment or house, the landlord or manager should change the external door locks. This way, the keys that unlock the doors are held only by the new tenant and the landlord or manager. This isn’t to say that all former tenants are thieves. But, if the keys fall into the wrong hands, especially if they are labeled with an address, as they sometimes are, it could spell trouble for the new tenants.
If you’re moving into a new rental property, and the door locks weren’t changed, request that they are to make your rented home safer from crime. If your landlord balks at the idea, you may have to offer to pay for the new door locks in order to persuade him or her to change them. Granted, you don’t want to have to pay for something that should be provided, but, the new locks will give you and your family peace of mind.
Or, you can use the existing door locks and install additional deadbolt locks for added safety from crime. You can find easy-to-follow instructions here: How To Install A Deadbolt Lock .
No matter if the door locks on your rented home are new or not, you should have deadbolt locks installed on all of the external doors. Deadbolt locks surpass standard door locks when it comes to making your rented home safer from crime. The reason is, their bolts slide into the door frame for added strength.
As time goes on, and any of the door locks become broken or otherwise unusable, notify your landlord so he or she can repair or replace them.
Then, simply perform a tour of your house or apartment. Make sure all of the windows have working locks on them. If there are any missing or broken locks, contact your landlord immediately. Thieves prey on homes they can get into easily.
Of course, keep in mind that if you and your family don’t use the locks, then they can’t help make your home safer from crime.
Another way to make your rented home safer from crime is to install some type of security system. It used to be that you had to contract with a company like Brink’s Home Security or ADT to place a system into your rented home. That’s still a viable option. But, with the advancements in the electronics industry, you can now purchase wireless monitoring systems. The beauty of these systems is that they don’t need a complicated installation. Without the need to secure anything to a wall, your landlord or manager can’t complain. Plus, if you move into another rented home, you can easily move the system with you.
Whether you contract with a security company to install a monitoring system in your rented home, or you do-it-yourself, most systems include signs. These signs are either on posts that are stuck in your yard, or they are stickers that are applied to your window glass. They let John Q. Public know that your home is being monitored. It also lets would-be thieves know you’re wise about crime, and that your home won’t be an easy target to rob.
You can also purchase a couple of inexpensive timers to put on lamps in different areas of your rented home. That way, you can set the timers to turn the lights on and off when you’re not home. They will give your home the look that someone is there, even when the apartment or house is empty.
And finally, meet your neighbors. Talk to them about watching each other’s homes to make them safer from crime. People’s eyes and ears are two of the best defenses against crime. You may even consider starting a neighborhood watch. You can find out more information by visiting the National Neighborhood Watch Institute website.
