Security Steps to protect your vacant property from squatters

What is squatting and is it legal?

Although the government are constantly trying to close loopholes that make squatting technically legal, squatting usually comes with activity that is very black-and-white criminal.

To squat legally, aside from other laws that must be adhered to, squatters must not enter the property by force – a rules squatters often ignore.

All too often, squatters break doors, windows or locks to gain access to a vacant property against the owner’s wishes – here are a few steps you can take to ensure your home remains protected against this kind of activity.

1. Fitted Alarms. Fitting alarms is one of the first steps you should take to prevent illegal breaking and entry into your property. Alarms can usually detect motion where there shouldn’t be any and alert the relevant contacts – it’s recommended that you employ professional security services to respond to your alarm if it goes off, a they can get an emergency response team to your vacant property.
2. CCTV. Although CCTV cannot physically prevent intruders from breaking into your home, it can be a useful tool in the prosecution of crime as it can show police who entered your property and whether they did it legally or not.
3. Security Mobile Patrols. This is proven to be a highly effective addition to your arsenal against squatters. A professional security mobile patrol will periodically make their presence known around your property – this not only allows them to spot anything suspicious, but it gives would-be squatters a clear message: we’re watching this property.

These three tips are some of the most effective tried and tested methods of beating squatters, and here’s why:

1. Squatters target ignored properties. If potential squatters can see that you’re not paying any attention to your property, this is a green light for them to target it as they believe they will not be caught
2. Squatters check for security. If a squatter believes you have no adequate measures of security in place they are likely to target your property. Active security patrols periodically at the premise will send out a clear red-light and tell them that the property is being watched.

Cost and reward

The small cost of hiring a professional security company can be greatly rewarding. Luckily, the different levels of security measures you can take out can suit your budget – whether you want simply somebody to remotely monitor CCTV and alarm systems installed at your vacant property, or if you want all the bells and whistles such as a 24/7 guard at the doors – meaning whatever kind of property you want to protect against squatters, there is a professional security solution to meet it.