There’s no shortage of advice for keeping your property safe and secure, but the problem is that most of this advice is aimed at just that: “your” property. If you’re renting- as opposed to owning – when you live, then you’re normally at a disadvantage because most of the security aspects will be dependent on the landlord of the property, not on you. However, that’s not to say you have to just settle for whatever you end up with. Some aspects are in your hands, as we’ll see below.
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See What You Can Do
There’ll be limitations to what modifications you can make on your property, but that’s not to say you can’t do anything. The first thing is to speak to your landlord; they might be fine with your reinforcing your doors, adding extra security to your windows, and so on. However, we must stress that it is imperative that you run everything by them beforehand. Even if they’re happy with the changes you’ve made, if you make a mistake and cause damage to the property in any way, you might have trouble when it comes to getting your deposit back.
Consider Changing the Locks
You’ve got the keys to your property, and so does your partner. Alas, the people who used to live in the property might also have a set. While it’s highly unlikely that they’ll return and break in when you’re not home, that’s not a chance you’ll want to take, especially if you live in a part of town with a higher than normal crime rate. Again, you’ll want to run it by your landlord, but it is possible that you can add a lock and then change it back to the one that was there when you moved in when you decide to leave.
Camera Security
You won’t be able to add a complete home alarm system to the property, and even if you could, the expense of doing so would probably put you off anyway. However, you can add a security camera. These are inexpensive and high-quality; you’ll be able to see what’s going on outside just by looking at your computer.
Protecting Your Contents
Even with all the security in the world, there’s always a chance that something might go wrong with your rented property. And if it does, you’ll want to ensure that you’re protected should anything bad happen to your belongings. As such, it’s a good idea to check renters insurance providers and find a level of coverage that’s right for you. You hopefully won’t need it, but if you do, you’ll be glad you had the foresight to take out a policy!
Knowing the Neighbourhood
Finally, don’t underestimate just how valuable your community can be. If you get to know the neighbours, you’ll be adding an extra level of security, as there’ll be able to keep an eye on your property when you’re not at home. It’s better to have dozens of eyes watching your place as opposed to just you!