Improving basic home security

kyttiekat on 09/01/2019 - 09:26
Last edited 09/01/2019 - 09:27

Hi all,

Seeking advice about home security while renting a unit.

TL;DR: Poor window security while renting on ground floor, what are some low cost options to improve this? (landlord not interested)

Our unit is on the ground floor, at the end of a driveway between two flats. It has a total of eight old casement style windows (where they swing open sideways, like a door), and each one is about 1.3m tall. Five of these windows have security bars on them, but the other three - two in the living room and one in the bedroom - have no bars at all.

I'm finding this very concerning in terms of security, since it appears very easy to climb in through the window, eg smash screen and climb in. In fact, when I got locked out of the house one time, this is exactly what I did myself! (window was already open though).

To make matters worse, we've recently bought a portable air conditioner and the exhaust hose must go out the living room window… Meaning the window is always open right now. :/

What are some options that won't break the bank? I don't want to ask the landlord to pay as they've already expressed financial struggle to us.

I've had a look at installing more security bars but the quotes are all >$400 plus labour, per window, and ideally we'd do all three windows. Or at least the open living room one! Waaaay out of budget though.

Any suggestions? Window alarms? Prominent cameras of some sort? Other options? Also worth noting that we have renter's content insurance, which I assume would be voided by the lack of security.

TL;DR: Poor window security while renting on ground floor, what are some low cost options to improve this? (landlord not interested).

Thanks for your thoughts!

Home & Garden

Comments

    • kyttiekat on 09/01/2019 - 09:42

      Oooh, interesting! Any idea if these need to be screwed in or something? Our window frame is metal.

      Hopefully it would deter thieves compared to the normal latch.

      • swapsey on 09/01/2019 - 13:30

        No need to drill a hole and screw these in, just use double sided tape. WCGW?

    • [Deactivated] on 09/01/2019 - 15:00

      In WA window locks are required by law on rental properties, so check the laws for your state and hit your landlord up.

  • HighAndDry on 09/01/2019 - 09:33
    +1

    (window was already open though).

    Closing and locking the windows before you leave the unit would be a great start.

    To make matters worse, we've recently bought a portable air conditioner and the exhaust hose must go out the living room window… Meaning the window is always open right now. :/

    Remove the hose and close and lock the windows?

    The two biggest security holes in your post are both self-inflicted.

    we have renter's content insurance, which I assume would be voided by the lack of security.

    Not really. Bars on windows are not required to make insurance claims.

    Honestly, unless you live in a terrible part of town, just having locked windows will be enough. That, and maybe have blinds/curtains so that potential thieves won't be able to see valuables inside your unit to steal from the outside.

    • kyttiekat on 09/01/2019 - 09:40

      When I climbed through the open window, it was only open because I was already home… Then accidentally locked myself out. We don't normally leave them open.

      As for the hose to the portable air con, it came with a window installation kit that was difficult to install. In this case, it's not practical to uninstall it and close the window each time we leave the house.

      I should look at the T&Cs on the insurance policy now, thanks for the reminder. :)

      • HighAndDry on 09/01/2019 - 09:48

        I'm actually now very curious how you installed the portable a/c hose into casement windows at all - every unit I've seen really only works with sliding windows.

        But do the casement windows open inwards or outwards? Because if they open outwards (like most such windows I've seen)… you might have issues even if you wanted to install bars/etc.

        • kyttiekat on 09/01/2019 - 09:58

          Yes you're supposed to install them with sliding windows… So it's been a real pain.

          Our current solution sucks, but we managed to prop the bar horizontally between the window frame, at the bottom of the window.It barely had anything to grip onto.

          The window is still open though obviously, which isn't great for cooling! It opens outwards, so yes it's more difficult.

          Ideally, we were thinking of using polycarbonate or plexiglass to build a screen as if the window was shut, like a sliding window but without the sliding (though the real window is still open). Not sure if that makes sense to you, but it turns out it's very pricey to do anyway. -_-

          Also we are useless at DIY and would need to pay for help.

          Some of the other windows already have bars on them, somehow.

          Wishing we had our own place! With no casement windows at all haha.

          • BuyoTheCat on 09/01/2019 - 10:34

            @kyttiekat: I got a Kogan portable aircon and it came with different mounting kits, include a plastic covers for swing out windows. you get velco to tape around the window and there is a zip to open a hole for the exhaust.

    • r4knxd on 09/01/2019 - 09:55

      Closing blinds or curtains does nothing to deter burglars and it only encourages spiders and other insects. Any burglar knows that every home has a TV etc and will break in regardless as they will want to search for jewellery and cash and possibly laptops.

      • HighAndDry on 09/01/2019 - 09:56
        +1

        What? No - most crimes are crimes of opportunity. Having curtains/blinds is the same idea as not leaving valuables in plain sight in your car. Every house might have a TV, but it might be a $2000+ OLED or a $200 10 year old Plasma.

      • kyttiekat on 09/01/2019 - 10:01
        +2

        Just curious, how do curtains and blinds attract spiders and insects?

      • BuyoTheCat on 09/01/2019 - 10:31
        +1

        Most break in petty crimes are opportunistic. If they walk by and see something good to take, they will. So it is best not to make anything visible from the outside.

    • r4knxd on 09/01/2019 - 09:57
      +1

      Re bars and locks on windows:
      1 bars on windows are a fire trap - just ask a fireman.
      You contents insurance policy covers you for theft - there is no requirement for forced entry - though the insurance company will give you a discount if you have alarms, deadlocks and window locks etc.

      • kyttiekat on 09/01/2019 - 10:03

        Thanks, that's really good to know about the policy! I remember being asked about the current security, but yes you're right, it was in regards to getting a discount rather than a requirement. Phewf!

        Good point about fires, too.

  • [Deactivated] on 09/01/2019 - 09:58
    +1

    Cheapest and best option - move

    • kyttiekat on 09/01/2019 - 10:00

      Yes… Hopefully within the year! Thus not keen to spend much.

      Our current place is amazing and pet friendly, which is rare here.

      • [Deactivated] on 09/01/2019 - 10:01
        +1

        Never sink in money to improve the place you are renting.

        The best case scenario, you're investing to enjoy short term and the owner keeps all that investment long term.

        If the install isn't done correctly, you may be liable to correct it.

        • kyttiekat on 09/01/2019 - 10:05

          That's what we figured too. Don't want to sink funds in, have to get approval beforehand, needs to be done properly and still be aesthetically pleasing and match the other windows too… Bleh.

  • [Deactivated] on 09/01/2019 - 10:18
    -1

    Homeless beggars who live in the area are the best security I've found. Just give them a couple of bob every now and then and they'll keep an eye on your place and report any suspicious activity to you. I've found they end up being cheaper too than what it costs to install and maintain a security camera and alarm system.

    • HighAndDry on 09/01/2019 - 10:51
      +2

      I feel like telling homeless beggars when you're out of the house and vulnerable to break-ins might not be the best idea.

  • try2bhelpful on 09/01/2019 - 10:46

    https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2015/08/how-to-secure-your-hom…

    They mention a window thingy called a Doberman that detects when a window has been broken and sets off an alarm.

    If you have windows/doors that you usually only open from the inside you can put down things like wooden poles on sliding door tracks to stop them being opened from the outside and are easy to remove to allow them to be opened from the inside. Replace window locks with deadbolt ones to stop people opening your window if they break in. Put in movement detection lights around the property, so would be house breakers can't work in the dark.

    There are wireless alarm systems that will contact you if they think someone has broken in.

    For air flow you can get locks that only allow partial opening of the windows. Wind out windows aren't very secure.

    Be aware that if you have bars on your windows they either need to be unlockable or you do risk you will get trapped in case of a fire.

  • ozssc on 09/01/2019 - 11:25
    +1

    Aside from window locks, etc, consider buying a Xiaomi Mijia 5 in 1 Smart Home Security Kit. It includes a Multifunction Gateway, Smart Socket, Wireless Switch, IR sensor and Window and Door Sensor. They cost about $60-70 delivered and you can set them up as an alarm. You can buy additional sensors in addition to Xiaomi lightbulbs and IP cameras. Using this, I can set it to activate at various times of the day/night and it alerts your phone, switches on lights, sounds an alarm, etc (i.e. configurable triggers/events). It's also portable so you can configure it for your next rental.

  • star-ggg on 09/01/2019 - 11:27

    you can buy alarm kits off ebay for $100

  • myusername on 09/01/2019 - 12:22

    one of these in your window?

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2583323/Man-23-fine…

  • TRAVELO on 10/01/2019 - 02:13

    Attempt 2. Find something off AliExpress. Cheap pricing and it works. Sensors, PIRs and controller. All wireless and easily temovable if you need to move. Check out a few youtube videos on the Kerui W20

    https://m.aliexpress.com/item/32960029949.html?trace=wwwdeta…

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