Securing your rental when your tenants are away

Mon 03 Aug 2026

With holiday season upon us it’s likely your tenants will be packing up and heading off for a break of their own this summer. But the season also marks one of the peak times for burglaries as a result.

While it’s important to respect tenant privacy, there are measures you can take to ensure peace of mind for both yourself and your tenants while they are on holiday.

Review security fittings

Doors and windows should have quality locks installed to prevent break-ins at any time. This should include five lever mortice deadlocks on doors and window locks on both ground and subsequent floors.

Security alarms, CCTV or even smart doorbells can be effective visible deterrents and will also provide video or audio warnings of intruders. Although days are longer in the summer, motion-activated sensor lights can be useful for when the sun goes down.

Encourage your tenants to let you know when they are away

Your tenants have a right to enjoy quiet enjoyment of their rental, which means that they don’t have to tell you they are off chasing the sun. However, by fostering an open and trusted relationship, you can encourage them to let you know when they are away. You could even include it as part of your tenancy agreement. You can offer to keep an added eye on the property, but they don’t have to accept.

Request an emergency contact

You will have both shared details at the start of the tenancy, but tenants may have different emergency contact details while they are away. Again, while you can’t force them to share such details, they could be useful if anything were to happen and you need to get in touch.

Remind tenants to undertake basic security measures

You must be careful not to overstep the mark in terms of respecting the privacy of your tenants but in the rush to pack and the excitement at getting away, they might appreciate the reminder to lock all doors and windows, set burglar alarms and to keep vulnerable items out of sight – a laptop at a desk for example.

Supplying timers for lights and radios can help them give the appearance that someone is home late in the evening.

Keep an eye on the property

With the permission of the tenant, or if you are making routine visits to the area, you are allowed to keep an eye on the property and any obvious problems – such as broken windows, signs of forced entry, or post piling up. However, you aren’t allowed to enter the property without the tenant’s permission, so those contact details will be handy.

What to do in an emergency

Should you spot a problem, contact your tenant immediately and secure the property if required. However, you can enter only if it’s necessary to prevent further damage or loss or with the tenant’s consent.

Extended holidays

Some tenants may be lucky enough to be off for a longer-than-usual break. If so, it’s worth checking the terms and conditions of your landlord insurance policy. It may have specific conditions for the property being left unoccupied for periods longer than 30 days, for example, and you may need to notify your insurer or arrange temporary cover.

Tenants going on holiday can also offer the ideal opportunity to undertake maintenance on the property that could otherwise prove disruptive while they are living in it, such as redecorating. However, once again tenant permission is required.

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