• Your Safety

    Staying Safe at Home

Staying Safe and Secure at Home

Keeping your home secure is important for your safety and wellbeing.

There are many things you can do to help keep your home secure, and several that we can help with, as your landlords.

Lock changes

If you need to change your locks, this is your responsibility. Always use a trusted locksmith to change your locks. If you’re not sure who to use, we may be able to make a recommendation.

However, in high-risk situations, such as personal protection, a threat to life, or where the police have become involved, we’ll always take action.

Sheds

It’s your responsibility to maintain your shed, however, we can help out with shed repair if it could cause a health and safety problem.

If you’re a new tenant moving into a property with a shed in poor condition, we may be able to provide a replacement.

Rotary washing lines

In a single dwelling, you’ll need to provide your own rotary washing line. Linc will provide rotary lines for communal areas, and we’ll repair or replace these where necessary.

Doorbells

It’s your responsibility to maintain or fit a doorbell to your home.

Smoke alarms and batteries

We will provide smoke alarms and batteries. It is your responsibility to check the batteries every month, and we encourage you to change the batteries if you’re able to. If you need help, contact us.

Garden maintenance

It’s your responsibility to keep your own garden neat and tidy. However, if a tree or hedge becomes too large, is a protected species, causes issues to the structure of your home, or becomes a safety issue, we’ll assess how to deal with it.

We will maintain gardens in communal areas.

A secure garden gate helps protect both your home and your community.

Keeping gates closed and locked where possible:

  • Prevents unwanted access – making it harder for intruders to enter your property.

  • Keeps children and pets safe – reducing the risk of them wandering onto roads or neighbouring gardens.

  • Protects your belongings – such as garden furniture, bikes, or tools, by limiting access.

  • Supports your neighbours – a secure gate helps maintain the overall safety of shared outdoor areas.

  • Adds peace of mind – knowing your boundary is protected helps you feel safer at home.

By making sure your garden gate is properly closed and in good condition, you’re taking a simple but important step to keep your home safe and secure.

Aerials and Sky dishes

If you need a TV aerial or satellite dish in a single dwelling, it’s your responsibility to arrange for this to be fitted or maintained.

We’ll provide, maintain or repair aerials or dishes for communal areas where tenants pay a service charge.

Blocked Road Drains

If you notice a blocked road drain outside your home or in your street, please report it directly to your local council, not your landlord. Road drains and street drainage are the responsibility of the council, and they are the only authority able to arrange clearance and repairs.

To report a blocked drain:

  • Contact your local council’s highways or environmental services team.

  • Most councils have an online form or dedicated phone number for reporting these issues.

By reporting directly, you’ll help ensure the problem is dealt with quickly and effectively.

Hints and tips for security

  1. Use cameras to stay safe

Security cameras can help you see and hear what’s happening inside and outside your home. The latest easy-to-use smart security cameras can be viewed from anywhere on a smartphone, tablet or computer.

  1. Light up the front drive and garden

Intruders prefer to operate during darkness, so using lights in the garden at night can be a good way to deter them.

The most effective option is motion-activated security lights, which can be installed at the front or back of your home. Solar-powered garden lighting can help save on cost.

  1. Install a visual security alarm

Having a security alarm on the outside of your house can help to deter intruders. Some home insurers offer a discount on approved alarms, and you can even purchase imitation alarms to avoid a large cost.

  1. Keep your garden fence or gate in good repair.

If you have a garden gate, check that the hinges, bolt and padlock are secured.

Please let us know if you have any problems with your fences of gate so we can ensure they are secure.

  1. Safely store spare keys

Never leave spare keys under a pot or doormat in the front garden. A wall-mounted key safe with a reinforced body is a much better way to securely protect keys, especially if it’s in a discreet location.

  1. Check who’s at your door

Be wary of solicitors and unexpected visitors. Verify their identity before letting them into your home.

A smart video doorbell lets you view, listen and speak to visitors even when you’re not at home. They enable you to tell a delivery driver where to put a parcel whilst you’re away, and you can check who’s at your door before you answer it, or when you’re out

If you don’t have a smart door bell, a door chain lets you see and speak to someone outside without fully opening your door. Installing a door viewer or peep-hole can also help you see who’s there if you don’t have a front window.

  1. Secure your outdoor buildings

An outdoor building is often an easy target, so protect yours with secure windows and strong door locks. Also consider adding an alarm.

  1. Protect your bikes

Keep your bicycles safe by investing in a bike store. These require less space than a shed but are roomy enough for bikes and can be locked.

For extra security, lock the bikes up with a heavy-duty D lock or chain.

  1. Lock down garden valuables

It’s a good idea to anchor any garden furniture or outdoor ornaments to a patio or hard surface with wall and floor anchors and a padlock.

  1. Secure your car

If you have a garage, park your car inside to make it a less obvious target for thieves.

  1. Top-up gravel paths and driveways

If you have a gravel path, the noise of someone walking on it can alert you to people approaching your home before they arrive at your front door. Keep the gravel topped up so that it makes as loud a crunch as possible when walked on.

  1. Pick plants to deter intruders

Dense, thorny shrubs or hedges can be off-putting to intruders so consider planting them on, or around, your home’s perimeter to keep people off your property. Try osmanthus, pyracantha, chaenomeles, berberis or ilex. Trim shrubs and trees near windows and entrances so they don’t provide hiding spots for potential intruders.

  1. Keep valuables out of sight

Keep your valuables out of sight or locked away when you’re not using them. Invest in a safe to store your most important belongings.

  1. Think about where to keep your keys

Intruders are known to use magnets to ‘fish’ for house and car keys through a letterbox, so keep your keys away from the front door. Keyless cars could be stolen using a transmitter and amplifier. You can help prevent this hi-tech crime by keeping the keys in a metal key box to block signals.

  1. Look like you’re home, when you’re not

Empty homes are more likely to be targeted by thieves, so make your home look like it’s occupied while you’re out. Use timers or smart home systems to control low-energy lights, giving the appearance that someone is home even when you’re away.

Have a list of emergency contacts available for both family and neighbours.

16 Ensure your windows and doors lock.

Make it more difficult for intruders to enter through vulnerable doors or windows by improving their security.

  1. Emergency lighting

Have flashlights and emergency lighting to hand in case of power outages.

  1. Cancel deliveries before a holiday

Cancel newspapers or milk deliveries so they don’t pile up at your front door. Ask a friend or neighbour to check on your home whilst you’re away.

Don’t share your holiday on social media while you’re away, especially if your posts are public. Instead, wait until you get back.

  1. Photograph and mark your valuables

Take photos of your valuables and security mark them with your postcode and house number. This can help the police to recover stolen items and improve your chances of getting them back.

Photos can also make it easier to claim on your insurance.

Keep your home insurance up-to-date and make sure you have adequate cover for potential losses or damages. Regularly review and update your policy as needed.

Feel free to reach out to us

For customers living in a Pobl home:

Tel: 0330 175 9726
Email: info@codigroup.co.uk

For customers living in a Linc home:

Tel: 0800 072 0966
Email: contact.centre@codigroup.co.uk

If you have any concerns about your home based on the advice topics we support on our website. We’re here to help!