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After a burglary, the second shock is often the insurance settlement: what will be replaced, with what, and whether cash or a voucher is offered instead. The Financial Ombudsman Service publishes guidance for insurers, and a page for consumers, on how it looks at complaints about settling home insurance claims. This article summarises two of those pages, “Settling home insurance claims” (guidance for businesses) and “Home and buildings insurance” (for consumers). The Ombudsman says it follows the Financial Conduct Authority’s Dispute Resolution Rules and looks at the policy, relevant law, regulator guidance and good industry practice. It is describing how it approaches complaints, not creating rules for every claim, and the policy wording always matters. This is general information, not insurance or legal advice.

The starting point: indemnity

The Ombudsman says buildings and contents policies are generally policies of indemnity: they aim to put the policyholder back in the position they were in just before the loss or damage. Where a claim is accepted, the insurer decides how to settle it: by repairing, replacing, or paying cash for the cost of repair or replacement. The guidance says that policy terms usually let the insurer choose, but it expects the insurer to consider the specific circumstances of each customer and what is reasonable for them. It also says a reasonable settlement puts the customer into a broadly similar position to before, not necessarily an identical one.

Contents or buildings?

The consumer page explains that contents insurance covers possessions such as a TV, jewellery, furniture or clothes, in other words, items taken along when moving house, while buildings insurance covers the structure and permanent fixtures such as baths or fitted kitchens. It says buildings policies usually include outbuildings such as garages and sheds, but that the policy should be checked. The Ombudsman treats fitted carpets as contents because they are transportable, regards items such as fitted wardrobes, fitted kitchens and built-in appliances as buildings, and says free-standing furniture and appliances are contents. The guidance for insurers notes that replacement usually applies to contents claims because buildings are repaired, though sometimes part of a building is replaced, for example a front door that has been smashed in.

Replacement: exact match, reasonable match, new for old

• Exact match. The Ombudsman expects an insurer that settles by replacement to provide an item that is the same as the lost one, ideally an exact match. If that is impossible, for example because the item is no longer made, it says a compromise is needed.
• Reasonable match. Where an exact match cannot be found, it thinks the fairest solution is the closest equivalent that is broadly as good or better. It does not expect insurers to exhaust every option, and does not expect customers to accept something inferior. What is reasonable depends on what matters to the customer and what is available to the insurer.
• New for old. The guidance says most policies replace damaged items “new for old”, so a customer claiming for a ten-year-old item would be entitled to a new one.

Sets that no longer match

Where a stolen or damaged item is part of a matching set, the Ombudsman says most policies limit the insurer to the damaged item only. If a customer suffers a “loss of match”, it says it has often found fair compensation to be 50% of the cost of replacing the undamaged parts, though this depends on the circumstances, such as how much of the set is affected and how prominent the mismatch would be. It usually thinks compensation should be paid in cash.

Cash settlements

An insurer can settle with cash whether or not an item can be repaired or replaced, and the Ombudsman says the amount should reflect the cost to the customer of getting a repair done or replacing the item, and be enough to put them back in their earlier position. If a customer insists on cash when the insurer had offered a fair repair or replacement, the insurer may pay only what it would have cost the insurer to do that, which may be less than the customer would pay. The Ombudsman says that is fair only if the original offer was itself fair.

On VAT, it says it usually thinks it fair for an insurer not to include VAT in a cash settlement, on the basis that the customer may spend the money differently, but that insurers would usually be expected to pay VAT added to insured work once the customer has shown they paid it. Where the customer has a clear plan, such as a detailed estimate from a contractor that certainly charges VAT, it is likely to say VAT should be included.

Vouchers

The Ombudsman says an insurer may offer a voucher instead of cash, usable only with certain companies. The voucher must be for enough to buy a reasonably matched replacement, and the companies must be able to provide one. If not, it is not a fair settlement. It notes that vouchers are often used in jewellery claims, that insurers use them because they get a discount from the supplier, and that a customer who wants cash may receive only the insurer’s cost of the voucher, which can be much less than its face value.

Common questions

Where does security equipment fit?

Whether an item is contents or buildings follows the fixed-versus-removable test above. The site’s guide to telling your insurer about locks and alarms covers what to disclose at the start of a policy.

The bottom line

The Financial Ombudsman Service treats home insurance as indemnity: a fair settlement puts a burgled household back in a broadly similar position, through repair, replacement, cash or a voucher that buys a reasonable match. Its guidance on exact matches, matching sets, VAT and vouchers explains the points that most often cause disputes. The wording of the individual policy still sets the limits, so it is sensible to read the settlement terms before accepting an offer.

Sources

• Financial Ombudsman Service, “Settling home insurance claims”
• Financial Ombudsman Service, “Home and buildings insurance”

A dense, thorny boundary can make a garden harder to enter without a single camera, and the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) publishes practical advice on using planting for security. A tall hedge can also become a dispute with a neighbour, and in England the council has powers over evergreen hedges above two metres. This article summarises the RHS page “Garden Security Tips to Prevent Theft” and the government guide “High hedges: complaining to the council”, and it treats them together because a security hedge that grows too tall can become a complaint. Part 8 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003, which the guide explains, is shown on legislation.gov.uk as extending to England and Wales, and this article does not cover Scotland or Northern Ireland. It is general information, not legal advice.

What the RHS suggests for boundaries

The RHS says the first line of defence against garden theft is secure boundaries, particularly at the rear, where people are often less watchful. It says any measures must be reasonable in law and warns against barbed wire or other materials that could seriously injure an intruder, because an injured intruder may take legal action against the homeowner. The site’s guide to booby traps and DIY deterrents covers that legal point in more detail.

On fences, the RHS says they should be of solid construction and that planning permission may be needed for fences over 2 metres, so the local planning office should be asked. It suggests fixing 30 to 45 centimetres of trellis to the top of a 1.8-metre fence, because trellis will not support a person’s weight and the noise of it breaking is a deterrent. It also suggests growing thorny climbers such as roses up fences. In front gardens the RHS prefers low walls and fences of no more than 1 metre, which do not screen intruders from view, and it advises pruning overhanging branches and foliage from around windows and doors to keep the view clear. The site’s piece on front fences, walls and gates explains the height limits.

Thorny hedges

The RHS says hedges can make a very good barrier, that most conifers form a thick hedge that is difficult to get through and that thorny shrubs are the most effective. It lists these thorny plants as making a medium to large hedge of 80 centimetres to 1.8 metres:

• barberry (Berberis × stenophylla);
• hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna);
• holly (Ilex aquifolium);
• firethorn (Pyracantha);
• Scotch briar (Rosa spinosissima); and
• blackthorn (Prunus spinosa).

It adds that low-growing thorny shrubs can be planted at the base of fences and under windows and drainpipes. It also says gravel drives and paths make it impossible for an intruder to approach a property quietly, that gates should be kept shut and locked, especially those to the rear, and that two locks, top and bottom, with securely fixed hinges, are a good policy.

When a security hedge becomes a neighbour problem

The government guide says Part 8 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 lets councils deal with complaints about high hedges. Councils must decide whether the hedge’s height is having an adverse effect on a neighbour’s enjoyment of their home or garden, and if so can order the owner to take action. A hedge qualifies as a “high hedge” only if it meets these tests:

• it grows on land owned or occupied by someone else;
• it is made up of a line of two or more trees or shrubs;
• it is mostly evergreen or semi-evergreen;
• it is more than 2 metres tall, measured from ground level; and
• it is a barrier to light or access, even if there are gaps.

The guide says a semi-evergreen plant is one that keeps some live or green leaves all year round, and that it does not include privet hedges that lose all their leaves in winter or beech or hornbeam hedges that keep dead leaves in winter. It says single trees or shrubs cannot be the subject of a complaint, that councils cannot deal with root problems such as subsidence, and that a council can reject a complaint if the complainant has not taken all reasonable steps to settle the dispute first. Councils can set and charge fees for handling complaints. Anyone growing a thorny evergreen boundary should therefore keep it below 2 metres if it borders a neighbour’s home, or agree the height with the neighbour first.

Insurance and the value of garden contents

The RHS says the value of equipment, structures and plants in gardens often amounts to thousands of pounds, and that most household policies offer limited cover for garden-related items, so owners should check theft cover for gardens and outbuildings. It notes that items stolen from a building are more likely to be covered than those stolen from the garden, that buildings policies cover most structures such as sheds and greenhouses but are unlikely to cover decking, pergolas or raised beds, and that there is often no cover for plants, containers and statues.

Marking, anchoring and lighting

For valuables the RHS suggests proprietary land anchors, movement detectors under items such as statuary, electronic tagging and marking property with the postcode, ideally by engraving. It advises installing outside security lighting that comes on automatically, positioned so it is not a nuisance to neighbours or a distraction for road users, and CCTV set up so that it captures only the owner’s own house and garden, because footage of a neighbour’s garden or a public area brings data protection duties.

Common questions

Is a hedge over 2 metres illegal?

No. The guide says a council can act only on a complaint about a qualifying evergreen or semi-evergreen hedge causing an adverse effect. Tall hedges are not banned in themselves.

The bottom line

The RHS treats thorny planting, sound fences, gravel, locked gates and lighting as layers of garden security, with insurance cover checked separately. In England and Wales a hedge that is evergreen or semi-evergreen and higher than 2 metres can be the subject of a council complaint, so height should be managed. Any deterrent should stay reasonable in law.

Sources

• Royal Horticultural Society, “Garden Security Tips to Prevent Theft”
• legislation.gov.uk, Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003, section 66 (high hedges)
• Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities, GOV.UK, “High hedges: complaining to the council”

Home security usually means locks, alarms and cameras, but one of the most damaging attacks on a home involves no forced entry at all: a fraudster pretends to be the owner and sells or mortgages the property on paper. HM Land Registry, which registers property in England and Wales, publishes free advice on this risk and runs a free alert service. This article summarises two GOV.UK pages, “Protect your land and property from fraud” and “Property Alert” (updated 10 October 2025), and it covers England and Wales only. Scotland and Northern Ireland use different property registers. It is general information, not legal advice.

What property fraud is

HM Land Registry describes property fraud as fraudsters trying to “steal” a property, most commonly by pretending to be the owner and selling or mortgaging it without the owner’s knowledge. It says that from April 2023 to March 2024 it stopped 97 registered title fraud attempts on properties valued at a total of £58 million. That is the regulator’s own figure for attempts it stopped, not a count of all attempts.

Who is more at risk

The GOV.UK guide lists the situations in which a property is more at risk of fraud:

• the owner’s identity has been stolen;
• the property is rented out;
• the owner lives overseas;
• the property is empty;
• the property is not mortgaged; or
• the property is not registered with HM Land Registry.

It says a property will be registered if it was bought or mortgaged since 1998, and that the register can be checked if the owner is unsure. Owners must also tell HM Land Registry if register information is incorrect, for example after a change of contact address. The site’s guides to empty second homes and landlord security cover the physical side of two of these situations.

Option one: Property Alert

The service is free. GOV.UK says an owner can sign up to receive alerts if someone applies to change the register of their property, for example by trying to use it for a mortgage, and can monitor up to 10 properties. It also says a person can monitor the property of a relative and does not have to own a property to set up an alert. To sign up, a person creates an account, activates it through a verification email and adds properties using the address or title number.

The alerts are sent by email. Each tells the recipient the type of activity, such as an application to change the register or notice that an application may be due, who the applicant is and the date and time it was received. The page says an alert is sent each time there is significant activity, such as a new mortgage taken out against the property, and that not every alert means fraud. Anyone without an email address can telephone the Property Alert team.

The guide is explicit about the limit: signing up will not automatically block changes to the register or stop fraud. The owner has to decide whether the activity looks suspicious and act quickly, and the alert email says whom to contact. HM Land Registry gives an example of a landlord living overseas who received an alert about an application to register a mortgage of more than £300,000 that he did not expect. He contacted the property fraud line, and HM Land Registry investigated and prevented the application from being registered. Because his contact details were out of date, it advised him to update them.

Option two: a restriction on the title

A restriction is a stronger step. GOV.UK says an owner who thinks they are at risk can put a restriction on the title that stops HM Land Registry registering a sale or mortgage unless a conveyancer or solicitor certifies that the application was made by the owner. The conveyancer or solicitor may charge for providing that certificate when one is required.

• Company owners: fill in a request for a restriction and send it to the address on the form; GOV.UK says there is no fee.
• Private owners who do not live at the property: fill in a request for a restriction for owners not living at the property; no fee.
• Owners who live at the property: fill in an application for a restriction, which GOV.UK says costs £40.

Completed forms go to the HM Land Registry Citizen Centre, and HM Land Registry says it will tell the owner when the restriction is added.

If fraud is suspected

GOV.UK tells suspected victims to contact the HM Land Registry property fraud team, and to consider advice from Citizens Advice or an independent legal adviser. The property fraud team can be reached by email or by telephone on weekdays, excluding bank holidays, in office hours.

A short household checklist

• Check whether the property is registered, which the guide says it will be if it was bought or mortgaged since 1998.
• Keep the register’s contact address and email current.
• Sign up to Property Alert if the property is rented out, empty or owned from overseas.
• Consider a restriction if there is a specific reason to think the property is at risk.

Common questions

Does Property Alert cost anything?

No. GOV.UK describes it as a free service, and a restriction is also free for company owners and private owners who do not live at the property.

Will an alert stop a fraudulent sale?

No. GOV.UK says an alert will not automatically block changes to the register; the owner has to act on it.

The bottom line

Property fraud is a form of home security risk that locks cannot address. HM Land Registry advises owners in England and Wales to make sure their property is registered, keep contact details current, use the free Property Alert service and consider a restriction on the title where the risk is higher. Alerts inform an owner but do not block changes, so acting quickly on a suspicious one is the key step.

Sources

• GOV.UK, “Protect your land and property from fraud”
• HM Land Registry, GOV.UK, “Property Alert”

Many home insurance policies attach security conditions to cover: keep the alarm set when the house is empty, use approved locks, fit window locks, or keep valuables in a safe. A householder who breaks one of these terms can worry that any later claim will be refused, even when the security lapse had nothing to do with the loss. Part 3 of the Insurance Act 2015 limits what insurers can do in that situation. The relevant sections carry a UK extent marking on legislation.gov.uk. This article explains sections 10, 11 and 15 and the Explanatory Notes that accompany them. It is general information, not legal or insurance advice, and the wording of an individual policy always matters.

Warranties: suspension, not the end of cover

A warranty is a term that has to be complied with exactly, whether or not it is material to the risk. Before the 2015 Act, breaching a warranty discharged the insurer from liability entirely from the moment of breach. Section 10 abolishes that rule. Instead, under section 10(2), the insurer has no liability for a loss occurring, or attributable to something happening, after a warranty has been breached but before the breach has been remedied.

Three practical points follow from the wording of section 10:

• Cover can resume. Under section 10(4), the insurer remains liable for losses before the breach, and for losses occurring after the breach has been remedied where it can be remedied.
• What counts as remedied. In most cases, a breach is remedied when the insured ceases to be in breach, for example by repairing a broken lock or switching a lapsed alarm back on. Where a warranty required something to be done by a set time and that deadline was missed, section 10(5) treats the breach as remedied if the risk later becomes essentially the same as originally contemplated.
• Exceptions. The suspension does not apply if the warranty stops being applicable because of a change of circumstances, if compliance becomes unlawful, or if the insurer waives the breach.

The Explanatory Notes add that the Act does not change the definition of a warranty. Whether a security term in a policy is a warranty at all is a question of policy wording and general law.

Terms that are irrelevant to the loss

Section 11 is the provision most relevant to household security conditions. It applies to a term, express or implied, other than one defining the risk as a whole, where compliance would tend to reduce the risk of loss of a particular kind, loss at a particular location or loss at a particular time. If the term has not been complied with and a loss occurs, the insurer may not rely on the non-compliance to exclude, limit or discharge its liability if the insured shows that the non-compliance could not have increased the risk of the loss that actually occurred, in the circumstances in which it occurred.

The Explanatory Notes give a household example: where a property has been damaged by flooding, an insured is expected to be able to show that failing to use the required type of window lock could not have increased the risk of that loss, so the insurer should pay the flood claim. The notes also say a direct causal link between the breach and the loss is not required; the test is whether the non-compliance could have increased the risk of the loss that actually happened, not whether it caused the loss.

Where section 11 does not help

Section 11 works only where the security term is not irrelevant to the loss. If a policy requires window locks and a burglar enters through an unlocked window, a householder would have difficulty showing that the missing lock could not have increased the risk of that burglary. The Act protects against unrelated refusals; it does not remove genuinely relevant conditions. The Explanatory Notes also say section 11 covers more than warranties and can catch conditions precedent and exclusion clauses, provided they relate to a particular type of loss or a particular place or time. Terms defining the risk as a whole fall outside it; the notes give a requirement that a property is not used commercially as an example.

Sections 10 and 11 can apply together

Section 11(4) says section 11 may apply in addition to section 10. The Explanatory Notes explain this arises only where the term is a warranty, because section 10 applies only to warranties. A householder who breached a warranty could therefore face suspension of cover under section 10 while still arguing under section 11 that the breach was irrelevant to the loss suffered.

Why consumers cannot be contracted out of these rules

Section 15 provides that a term of a consumer insurance contract, or of any other contract, that would put the consumer in a worse position on matters covered by Parts 3 or 4 of the Act than the Act itself provides is to that extent of no effect. In practical terms, wording in a home policy that promises to void cover for any security lapse, regardless of relevance, cannot override sections 10 and 11 for a consumer. Section 15 does not apply to a contract settling a claim.

What householders can do

• Read the policy schedule and wording for terms headed conditions, warranties or security requirements, and note what they require.
• Keep records showing compliance, such as lock certificates or alarm servicing invoices. Background on lock standards is in the guide to BS3621 and insurer-approved locks.
• Fix or report any lapse quickly, since section 10 treats a remedied breach as restoring cover for later losses.
• Tell the insurer about material security changes when asked; the separate disclosure rules are covered in Telling Your Insurer About Locks, Alarms and Past Burglaries.

The bottom line

The Insurance Act 2015 turns security conditions from an all-or-nothing trap into a narrower rule. Breaching a warranty suspends cover until it is fixed, terms unrelated to the loss cannot be relied on, and consumer policies cannot contract out of either protection. None of this replaces compliance: a security term that is relevant to the loss can still defeat a claim.

Sources

• legislation.gov.uk, “Insurance Act 2015, section 10: Breach of warranty”
• legislation.gov.uk, “Insurance Act 2015, section 11: Terms not relevant to the actual loss”
• legislation.gov.uk, “Insurance Act 2015, section 15: Contracting out: consumer insurance contracts”
• legislation.gov.uk, “Insurance Act 2015, Explanatory Notes: Part 3, Warranties and other terms”

A knock at the door from police is unsettling, and a forced entry is worse. In England and Wales, officers searching a home are bound by a statutory code, PACE Code B, which sets out when they may come in, what they must tell the occupier, how much force is allowed and what happens to a damaged front door afterwards. This article summarises the version of Code B in force from 20 December 2023. It applies to England and Wales only; Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own arrangements, which are not covered here. It is general information, not legal advice.

Three ways police can lawfully enter

Code B describes police powers to search premises and to seize property found there. Broadly, entry rests on one of three foundations:

• A search warrant. A justice of the peace can issue a warrant for stolen property, drugs, firearms or evidence of serious offences. The application must be specific about what is sought and where, and if an application is refused, a further application for the same premises needs additional grounds.
• Powers without a warrant. Section 17 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 lets a constable enter and search premises for purposes including executing an arrest warrant or arresting someone for an indictable offence. After an arrest, other sections of the Act allow searches of the place of arrest or of premises the arrested person controls, subject in the latter case to written authority from an inspector or above.
• The occupier’s consent. Where possible, consent should be given in writing on a Notice of Powers and Rights before the search starts.

The Home Office notes that around 900 separate powers of entry exist across legislation, so other officials, such as trading standards officers, may hold their own powers under different rules.

Consent: what you are entitled to know

Before seeking consent, the officer must state the purpose and extent of the proposed search as specifically as possible. The person must be told they are not obliged to consent, that consent can be withdrawn at any time, including part-way through, and that anything seized may be produced in evidence. A search cannot begin or continue on the basis of consent given under duress or later withdrawn.

What officers must do at the door

Unless the premises are empty or alerting the occupier would frustrate the search or endanger people, the officer in charge must first try to speak to the occupier and explain the authority under which entry is sought. Where the premises are occupied, the officer must:

• identify themselves and show a warrant card if not in uniform;
• state the purpose of the search and the grounds for it; and
• identify and introduce anyone accompanying them, with a brief description of that person’s role.

Searches under warrant must take place within three calendar months of issue.

Force and forced entry

Reasonable and proportionate force may be used to enter if the officer in charge is satisfied the premises are those named in the warrant (or that the no-warrant powers apply) and the occupier has refused entry, communication is impossible, or the exceptions to speaking first apply. Once inside, searches must be conducted with due consideration for the property and privacy of the occupier and with no more disturbance than necessary. If premises are entered by force, the officer in charge must make sure they are secure before leaving, by arranging for the occupier or their agent to be present or by other appropriate means. For a household, that is the point where a broken door or lock becomes a security problem; a practical checklist for boarding up is in How to Secure a Broken Door or Window After a Break-In.

Paperwork you should receive

Unless impracticable, the occupier must be given a Notice of Powers and Rights. It must say whether the search is under warrant, with consent or under a power that needs no warrant; summarise the search and seizure powers; explain the rights of the occupier and of the owner of anything seized; explain that compensation may be payable in appropriate cases for damage caused when entering and searching; and state that the code is available at any police station. If the occupier is present, copies of the notice and warrant should be given before the search begins, unless the officer reasonably believes that would frustrate the search or endanger people. If nobody is home, copies are left in a prominent place, endorsed with the name of the officer in charge and the date and time.

Witnesses and seized property

A friend, neighbour or other person must be allowed to witness the search if the occupier wishes, unless the officer has reasonable grounds to believe their presence would seriously hinder the investigation or endanger people; the search need not be unreasonably delayed to wait for them. Questions asked purely to further the search, such as where a key is kept, do not require a caution. Officers may seize items covered by a warrant, and items subject to legal privilege may not be seized.

Compensation for a damaged door

Code B says compensation depends on the circumstances of each case. Compensation for damage caused when entering is unlikely to be appropriate if the search was lawful and the force shown to be reasonable, proportionate and necessary. If the wrong premises are searched by mistake, the code says everything possible should be done at the earliest opportunity to address any sense of grievance, with a strong presumption in favour of paying compensation. Photographing damage and keeping the Notice of Powers and Rights are sensible first steps, since the notice gives the address for a compensation application.

The bottom line

PACE Code B gives householders in England and Wales concrete expectations: a stated legal basis, identification, a written notice of rights, proportionate force, a secured property afterwards and a route to claim compensation in appropriate cases. It does not remove police powers, but it makes their exercise accountable. Keeping the notice and any warrant copy is the most useful record a householder can hold.

Sources

• Home Office, “PACE Code B 2023” (accessible version)
• legislation.gov.uk, “Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, section 17”
• Home Office, “Powers of entry”

A letterbox is a small opening in a door, but it can give access to the inside of a home. This article summarises the London Fire Brigade (LFB) public page “Reducing arson with letterbox protection” and LFB’s published “Arson reduction letterbox policy” (policy number 494, reviewed as current on 25 March 2024 and last amended on 13 June 2025). The service described is LFB’s, which covers Greater London. Other fire and rescue services in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland run their own arrangements, and this article does not describe them. It is general information, not personal safety advice; anyone at immediate risk should call 999.

What a fire-reduction letterbox is

LFB says letterbox openings in doors provide easy access to the inside of a property and, for some people, can mean an increased risk of deliberate fire attacks. It says special letterboxes are designed to reduce this risk, and that a fire-reduction letterbox can significantly reduce the risk from a deliberate arson attack by helping to contain any ignitable materials put through a letterbox. The page adds that it is still essential to have working smoke detection and to know what to do in the event of a fire, deliberate or accidental. The site’s article on smoke and carbon monoxide alarm law across the UK nations explains the alarm requirements.

Who LFB says needs one

LFB’s page says people who are vulnerable to this kind of attack often include victims of domestic violence, hate crime or intimidation, and invites anyone worried that they or someone they care about may be at risk to contact it. The policy gives a wider list of those deemed at risk or vulnerable: victims of domestic violence, hate crime (for example racist, transphobic or homophobic attacks), intimidation, revenge and gang violence or feuds. According to the policy, the need is usually identified after an arson attack attended by the brigade, from a home fire safety visit or through a referral from an external agency. LFB says its crews may recommend a special letterbox during a home fire safety visit or at an incident, that it also receives referrals from partner agencies, and that people can contact it directly.

Cost and speed

The LFB page says that, if the resident is eligible, the brigade will fit a fire-reduction letterbox for free. The policy states that the brigade funds letterboxes where vulnerable people are identified and meet the eligibility criteria, and that a home fire safety visit is carried out if the resident has not had one. It says all identified arson threats are treated as very high risk and receive a home fire safety visit within a specified 4-hour timeframe unless the resident cannot accommodate it, in which case a convenient time is arranged. The site’s article on sanctuary schemes covers a separate route by which councils can fund security measures for survivors of domestic abuse.

Cheaper options come first

The policy says that before a fire-reduction letterbox is considered, other ways to reduce the risk should be explored. These include securing the existing letterbox with a blanking plate, which prevents access except at times chosen by the resident, and sealing the opening entirely. It says that an externally mounted letterbox removes the risk of this type of attack. If neither option is appropriate and the door is suitable, provision of a fire-reduction letterbox should be considered. This ordering matters for anyone fitting their own: a lockable plate or a sealed opening removes the route altogether, while a bag contains what arrives.

How the approved designs work

The policy describes approved letterboxes from two suppliers. One consists of a fireproof bag and back plate, fixing screws and silicone sealant; the other comes with a fitting template, instructions, screws and silicone. In the first, posting mail from outside is unaffected once the bag is fitted, and mail is retrieved by opening a lid held by clips and Velcro straps. The policy says the bag must be checked at least once a month against the manufacturer’s instructions for damage and loose fixings, and replaced if glass fibre strands are broken, for example by a dog, or if the bag has been in a fire and remains blackened after cleaning.

Door suitability

The policy’s FAQ says the approved products suit wood and PVC doors, with one design also suiting MDF. It lists hollow doors and MDF doors as unsuitable for one design, and says the other cannot be used with vertical letterboxes or letterboxes at the bottom of the door, or on hollow doors unless there is a middle internal support bar that the fitting team has checked. Because door construction decides what can be fitted, the choice belongs to the fitter.

Common questions

Does a fire-reduction letterbox replace a smoke alarm?

No. LFB says working smoke detection is still essential.

Is the service available across the UK?

The service described here is LFB’s, for Greater London. Other services set their own arrangements.

Can I still receive post?

Yes. The policy says posting from outside is unaffected by the fireproof bag design, and mail is retrieved from the bag on the inside.

The bottom line

LFB provides free fire-reduction letterboxes in London to eligible people at risk of deliberate fire attacks, after considering blanking plates and external letterboxes. The device contains what is posted through the door but does not replace smoke alarms or personal safety planning.

Sources

• London Fire Brigade, “Reducing arson with letterbox protection”
• London Fire Brigade, “Arson reduction letterbox policy” (policy 494)

Garages are often assumed to be secure because they have a door and a lock, yet they hold bikes, tools, garden equipment and sometimes a connecting door into the house. This article summarises the Secured by Design (SBD) “Garage Security Advice” page and the England-only building regulations guidance in Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 1: Dwellings, which the GOV.UK page lists as the 2019 edition incorporating 2020, 2022, 2025 and 2026 amendments and forthcoming 2029 changes. SBD describes itself as the official police security initiative. The building regulations material applies in England only; Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate regulations and are not covered here. This is general information, not a survey or professional advice.

Why garages are targeted

SBD gives several reasons. It says older single-skin metal up-and-over doors with a single locking point offer poor security, because they are easy to open or bend. It says breaking into the home itself has become harder as door and window security has improved, and that people increasingly keep valuables in the garage, including cycles, e-bikes, motorbikes, garden equipment, freezers, fishing tackle and tools.

SBD distinguishes between detached garages near the house, often set back from the road and overlooked, and those at the rear of a property reached by a service road. The latter, it says, are more likely to be an easy target because they are often out of sight, with trees and high hedging at the back of gardens making things worse.

What SBD suggests for the door and lock

For a new garage door, SBD suggests replacing the old one with an accredited SBD product, available as up-and-over, sectional or roller shutter options in a range of materials with thermal insulation, and says it has more than 20 manufacturers of secure garage doorsets. It says a garage door from an SBD member company has met the Police Preferred Specification. For an existing door that is not being replaced, it suggests fitting a garage door defender to prevent the door being lifted, describing these as easy to fit and a visible deterrent. It also says that a locksmith registered with the Master Locksmiths Association can advise on and install garage door security.

Alarms, cameras and the driveway

SBD says that if a home has an alarm, connecting the garage to the system is worth considering, especially if the garage is attached to the house. It also suggests parking the car on a drive rather than in the street, closing driveway gates at night, and, where there are no gates, using a vehicle bollard as a visible deterrent. The site’s wider guide to shed, garage and garden security covers the wider picture, including outbuildings.

The internal door between garage and home

SBD notes that a garage connected to the home may have an internal door, and that care is needed over its type: a door certified for both fire and security is required to ensure both safety and security. The fire side of that requirement appears in Approved Document B volume 1, which applies to dwellings in England.

Paragraph 5.6 of the document says that if a garage is attached to or forms an integral part of a dwellinghouse, the garage should be separated from the rest of the house by fire-resisting construction, with a minimum of REI 30. Paragraph 5.7 says that where a door is provided between the house and the garage, one of two conditions should be met: the garage floor should be laid so that it falls away from the door to the outside, to allow fuel spills to flow away, or the door opening should be at least 100mm above the level of the garage floor. Diagram 5.1 shows the fire door between the garage and house as having a minimum fire resistance of E 30 S and being fitted with a self-closing device. The document’s table of fire door specifications lists a door between a dwellinghouse and a garage as FD 30 S (or E 30 S).

The practical point for homeowners is that this door has a fire function as well as a security function. It should not be propped open, and a replacement should be certified to the specification rather than chosen on appearance alone. The document is guidance for building work in England, so it matters most when a garage is converted or a door replaced, and a building control body or competent installer can confirm what applies to a particular property.

Common questions

Are all up-and-over doors weak?

SBD’s wording refers to the older single-skin metal type with a single locking point. It recommends accredited replacements in several designs, or a door defender as an interim measure.

Can I fit any door between the house and an integral garage?

Not if the building regulations apply. Approved Document B volume 1 gives a fire-resisting, self-closing door specification for England, and SBD says a door certified for both fire and security is needed.

Should the garage be on the alarm?

SBD says to consider connecting it, especially if it is attached to the house.

The bottom line

SBD says weak, older up-and-over garage doors are a common way in and suggests accredited replacements, a door defender, alarm coverage and secure parking. In England, the door between an attached garage and the house has to meet fire requirements under Approved Document B volume 1, and SBD says it should also be certified for security.

Sources

• Secured by Design, “Garage Security Advice”
• Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, “Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 1: Dwellings”, GOV.UK
• GOV.UK, “Fire safety: Approved Document B”

After a burglary, one of the most useful things a victim can hand to police and an insurer is a list of what was taken, with serial numbers. The Immobilise register and the CheckMEND second-hand database exist to make that easier. This article summarises what the services say about themselves on their own websites, together with Secured by Design (SBD) advice for householders. Because these are operators’ own descriptions, performance claims are attributed to them and are not independently verified here. It concerns the UK. This is general information, not a product recommendation.

What Immobilise is

Immobilise describes itself as a free online registration service that lets the public record ownership details of valued possessions. It says the information is held in a secure database accessible to the police and viewable on the Police National Property Database, which law enforcement uses to trace owners of lost or stolen property. It describes itself as a police-approved Secured by Design initiative and says it is certified to ISO 27001 for data protection. It states that the online service is free to use, while it also sells marking products such as kits, labels and a numbered keyring.

To register an item, the FAQ says a person creates an account and enters details such as make, model and serial number. It says almost anything can be registered, including smartphones, laptops, tablets, bicycles, musical instruments, sports equipment, jewellery and watches, provided there is a serial number, engraving or other unique marking, and a picture and description can be added. For items with no identifier, it says marking with a UV pen or an asset label can create a unique identifier that can then be registered.

Reporting an item lost or stolen

Immobilise says a registered item can be reported lost or stolen by logging in and flagging it, that status updates are immediately visible to police, and that flagging can help prevent items being traded through pawnbrokers or retailer trade-in programmes. It says it is linked with CheckMEND, the second-hand stolen property database. It also says that registered details can be downloaded as certificates of ownership to make insurance claims and police reports easier, and points to a “Report My Loss” service for loss report numbers needed for insurance.

These are the practical strengths of a register: a searchable record of identifiers that police can match to recovered property and a ready-made list for a claim. The site’s Home Inventory and Evidence Builder tool covers building such a list, and the guide to preserving evidence after a burglary covers what to do at the scene.

What CheckMEND does

CheckMEND describes itself as a device history check used by buyers and sellers of used electronics. It says a report can look at property history records and confirm item identity, show whether an item is or has been recorded as lost, stolen, counterfeit or cloned, whether insurance or warranty claims have been made against it, whether it is new, and for handsets any restrictions on international use. It says checks need at least one identifier: for phones, the IMEI number, which can be shown by dialling *#06#, and for other devices the serial number. CheckMEND lists categories including phones, tablets, laptops, computers, satellite navigation, cameras, bicycles, games consoles, audio equipment, watches and televisions. It says reports are delivered instantly, with a downloadable report as evidence of the result.

For a householder, this has two uses. When buying second-hand electronics or a bicycle, a check can show whether the item has been reported stolen. And when an item is stolen, the owner’s registration on Immobilise is how a report reaches that database, according to the operator’s description.

What a register cannot do

A register does not stop a break-in. The Greater Manchester Police statement quoted on the Immobilise home page says that items marked as registered are less likely to be stolen and that households displaying Immobilise stickers are less likely to be targeted by burglars. That is a police force’s view as reproduced on the operator’s site, and the page does not give data to support it, so it should be treated as an opinion. SBD’s holiday advice, by contrast, stresses the basics: SBD’s Technical Manager says that most burglars are opportunists who want to get in quickly, steal something of value and leave quickly, and that a secure home is a deterrent. Its advice includes good locks and bolts on all outside doors, removing keys from doors and windows, setting the alarm, using timer plugs, keeping valuables out of view of windows and locking them in a ground-anchored safe.

Registration also depends on what is written down. A serial number that was never recorded cannot be registered after a theft, and an item without any marking cannot be identified as belonging to a particular person.

A sensible routine

• Photograph the label or serial number on each device and record it once, in a list stored somewhere other than the house.
• Register the items that carry unique identifiers, and mark those that do not.
• If something is stolen, report it to police and flag it on the register so that the record is updated.
• Before buying a used phone, laptop or bicycle, use a check that looks at recorded loss and theft history.

Common questions

Does registering an item make it safe from theft?

No. The register supports identification and recovery. Prevention comes from locks, alarms and habits, as SBD’s advice describes.

Do I need a serial number?

Immobilise says registration needs a serial number, engraving or other unique marking, and that UV pen or asset label marking can supply one where none exists.

The bottom line

Immobilise and CheckMEND are record-keeping tools: a free police-linked register of ownership details and a history check for used goods, according to their own descriptions. They help police return recovered property and help owners support insurance claims, but they do not replace locks and alarms. Register serial numbers before anything is lost.

Sources

• Immobilise, home page and FAQ
• CheckMEND UK, home page and FAQ
• Secured by Design, “Ensure your home is secure whilst on holiday”

Padlocks, chains and ground anchors carry stickers with metal names: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Diamond. This article explains what those grades mean according to Sold Secure, the product-testing scheme behind them. All facts here come from Sold Secure’s own published pages (“About us”, “Sold Secure Ratings Explained”, “Pedal Cycle” ratings and “Why do we test?”), so they describe how the scheme presents itself; they are not an independent evaluation of it or of individual products. The scheme operates in the UK and the article is written for householders securing bicycles, sheds and garages. This is general information, not a product recommendation.

Who runs Sold Secure

Sold Secure says it was established in 1992 by Northumbria and Essex Police, with the backing of the Home Office, by combining two initiatives, Partnership Against Car Theft and Sold Secure. It says it is now owned and administered by the Master Locksmiths Association, a not-for-profit trade association, from a purpose-built laboratory in Rugby. It describes its work as assessing security products through manual attack testing, and says products that pass may carry its Approved quality mark. Its stated reason for testing is that manufacturers make many claims about security, and standard test specifications, developed with stakeholders such as police, insurers and industry bodies, give the public an understanding of how a product performs. The site’s explainer on Secured by Design covers a different police-backed scheme.

The four grades

Sold Secure says each grade shows how well a product resists specific threat levels and attack methods, and that products are certified according to how long they can withstand specific tools and common theft techniques such as bolt cropping or lock snapping, depending on the specification. It says not every specification has all four levels. Its general definitions are:

• Bronze: tested against a basic tool list, aimed at preventing opportunist crime, for a normal-risk environment.
• Silver: tested against an enhanced tool list, aimed at more determined thieves, for a higher-risk environment.
• Gold: tested against a dedicated tool list, aimed at dedicated attacks, for a high-risk environment.
• Diamond: the highest level, tested against a specialist tool list and aimed at the most destructive attacks that could include angle grinders.

It adds that not all product categories are tested to Diamond; the highest available rating for a smart lock, for example, is Gold.

Pedal cycle locks

For bicycles the scheme has its own page. It says pedal cycle products are rated Diamond, Gold, Silver and Bronze and describes the rating system as working like Olympic medals. Its pedal cycle definitions are:

• Bronze: a short attack with a single, easily concealed hand tool, suited to leaving a bike for a short time in a low-risk place such as a café or shop.
• Silver: an enhanced tool list, described as ideal for lower-value bikes in a medium-risk area such as a town centre.
• Gold: an extended attack with heavy-duty tools, suited to a high-value bike or a high-risk area such as a big city or university town.
• Diamond: an extended tool list including power tools and machine-based testing, for very high-value bikes in very high-risk areas.

The page says that for e-bikes, mopeds and scooters, a powered cycle rated lock is recommended, and that Pedal Cycle Diamond is equivalent to Powered Cycle Gold.

Sheds, garages and ground anchors

Sold Secure says a number of bicycles are stolen from insecure garden sheds or garages, and that it has tested ground anchors, shackles and security posts for this setting. Its approved product search lists specification categories that include ground anchors and security posts (Bronze, Gold and Diamond), padlocks and fittings (Bronze to Diamond), domestic buildings (Bronze and Silver), key safes (Silver and Gold), fencing and gates (Silver) and lock cylinders (including Diamond). One caution appears in its own text: extra cables that come attached to D shackles are described as accessories and are not covered by the approval, providing only minimal extra security for other items such as wheels. The guide to shed, garage and garden security covers wider layout and habits.

Insurance and the grade to buy

Sold Secure says that many insurers state that a Sold Secure rated lock must be used, and that it is a good idea to check with the insurer before buying because providers often specify the grade required. It says approved product information is circulated to Crime Prevention Officers, insurers, the media, the Home Office and the public, and recommends looking for the Sold Secure logo or checking its approved-product search when buying. The site’s article on BS3621 and insurer-approved locks covers the equivalent question for door locks.

What the grades do not say

The grade describes resistance to a defined list of tools for a defined time, in a laboratory. It does not describe how a lock is fitted, whether a bike is locked to something solid, or whether a thief will have tools beyond the list. A high-grade lock on a weak fixing is only as strong as the fixing.

Common questions

Is Diamond always the best choice?

Sold Secure says Diamond is the highest rating and recommends it for high-threat environments, while lower grades are described as suited to lower-risk places. The right grade depends on the value of the item, where it is kept and any insurer requirement.

The bottom line

Sold Secure’s Bronze, Silver, Gold and Diamond grades describe increasing resistance to defined lists of theft tools, and are run by a not-for-profit body owned by the Master Locksmiths Association. Householders protecting bikes, sheds and garages should match the grade to the risk, check the grade their insurer specifies, and remember the scheme’s own caution that accessory cables are not covered.

Sources

• Sold Secure, “About us”
• Sold Secure, “Sold Secure Ratings Explained”
• Sold Secure, “Sold Secure Bike Lock Ratings: Pedal Cycle Ratings Guide”
• Sold Secure, “Why do we test?”

Most articles about burglary law online describe England and Wales, but Northern Ireland has its own statute and its own police service. This article covers Northern Ireland only. It summarises the Theft Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 as published on legislation.gov.uk, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) “House Security” page and the nidirect page “Support services for victims”. The site’s article on what legally counts as burglary in England and Wales covers the Theft Act 1968, and its article on housebreaking in Scotland covers the Scottish position. This is general information, not legal advice.

The Northern Ireland definition

Section 9(1) of the Theft Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 says a person is guilty of burglary if either of two things is true. Under paragraph (a), the person enters any building or part of a building as a trespasser and with intent to commit an offence listed in subsection (2). Under paragraph (b), having entered a building or part of a building as a trespasser, the person steals or attempts to steal anything in it, or inflicts or attempts to inflict grievous bodily harm on anyone there.

The offences in subsection (2) for the entry-with-intent route are stealing anything in the building or part of it, inflicting grievous bodily harm on anyone there, and doing unlawful damage to the building or anything in it. Two points follow from the wording. A person who enters as a trespasser with intent has committed burglary even if nothing is taken, and a person who enters without permission and then steals has committed it even if they had no intention when entering.

Inhabited vehicles and vessels

Section 9(3) extends references to a building to an inhabited vehicle or vessel. It applies at times when the person who has a habitation in it is not there, as well as when they are. For householders this covers caravans, motorhomes and houseboats that are lived in, so an owner who uses one as a home has the same statutory protection as in a house.

Maximum penalty

Under section 9(4), a person guilty of burglary is liable, on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen years. That is a maximum, not what a typical offender receives; the actual sentence depends on the facts.

Aggravated burglary

Section 10 creates aggravated burglary. A person commits it if they commit any burglary and at the time have with them a firearm or imitation firearm, a weapon of offence or an explosive. The Act defines a firearm as including an airgun or air pistol, an imitation firearm as anything with the appearance of a firearm whether or not it can be discharged, a weapon of offence as any article made or adapted to cause injury or incapacitate a person or intended by the person for that use, and an explosive as an article made or intended to produce a practical effect by explosion. On conviction on indictment the penalty can be imprisonment for life.

What PSNI says about prevention

PSNI’s House Security page says a good many burglaries are committed by opportunistic criminals who use open or unlocked doors and windows for quick and easy access, and that good home security such as window and door locks is the best way to reduce the chance of being burgled. It advises checking all doors and windows for weaknesses, fitting mortise locks to front and back doors, fitting locks to downstairs or easily reached windows, keeping house and car keys away from doors and windows, and making sure any burglar alarm is properly installed and works. It says the easiest way for a thief to steal a car is now often to break into the house and take the keys, so car keys should be kept where they will not be easily found.

The page states that properties without security measures are ten times more likely to be burgled than those with simple measures such as quality door locks. That is PSNI’s own statement and the page does not give a source or date for it, so it is best treated as indicative. On keys, PSNI says never to give keys to workmen or tradesmen and to change locks if others may have copies; on selling a home, it says never to show people around alone and to ask the estate agent to send a representative with viewers.

After a burglary

PSNI says that anyone who has been burgled should call the police immediately on 999 and try to touch as little as possible to avoid disturbing forensic evidence, and that a local Crime Prevention Officer can give further advice. nidirect says that once a crime has been reported, the police will ask whether the person wishes their contact details to be passed to Victim Support NI, and that anyone who does not want their details passed on should tell the officer dealing with their case. Victim Support NI can be contacted directly before speaking to the police, and its help is free.

Common questions

Is entering an unlocked home still burglary?

The statute turns on entry as a trespasser, with the intent or later conduct described, not on whether a door was locked.

Does a caravan count?

Section 9(3) applies the burglary definition to an inhabited vehicle or vessel, so a lived-in caravan or boat can be within it.

The bottom line

In Northern Ireland burglary is governed by section 9 of the Theft Act (Northern Ireland) 1969, which covers entry as a trespasser with intent or theft or harm after entry, extends to inhabited vehicles and vessels, and carries a 14-year maximum, with life for aggravated burglary. PSNI recommends good locks and key discipline, and victims can report by 999 and be referred to Victim Support NI.

Sources

• legislation.gov.uk, “Theft Act (Northern Ireland) 1969”, sections 9 and 10
• Police Service of Northern Ireland, “House Security”
• nidirect, “Support services for victims”