Keep your home secure while you’re away.
Get our top tips for making your house secure before you go on holiday. So, you can relax while you’re away.
Published: 15 May 2025
Make your house secure before you go
The last thing you want to worry about on holiday is your home. So, take some time to make your house secure before you go - carry out some basic checks, take some simple precautions. And then you can relax while you’re away.
Home insurance can help with the cost of repairs or replacements if the worst happens, but there are things you can do to reduce the risk.
And remember, it’s always best to check your policy documents to see exactly what you’re covered for.
Your home security to-do list
Tick off your home security to-do list before you set off.
Do some security checks
- Prevent leaks. To help prevent leaks while you’re away, turn your water off at the stopcock – it’s usually under the kitchen sink, near the gas meter or by the front door. In winter, leave your boiler on at a low temperature to stop your pipes from freezing.
- Switch everything off. Turn off your electrical items and household appliances at the sockets, unless they need to be kept on while you’re away.
- Make sure everything’s locked. Secure all doors, windows, garden gates, your shed and your garage, if you have one. And make sure things like tools and bikes are securely stored away. If you’re planning on taking your bike away with you, you might want to think about our Bicycle Cover add-on for Tesco Contents Insurance.
- Check and set your alarms. Make sure your smoke, fire and burglar alarms are working, and set your burglar alarm when you leave the house.
- Don’t broadcast about your holiday. Avoid posting updates about your holiday on social media, as it lets people know there’s no one home.
Check your home insurance
- Check your cover. Make sure your home insurance is up to date, and check what you’re covered for, so you’re prepared if something happens. And check your travel insurance before you go.
- Tell us about long holidays. If you have Tesco Home Insurance, and you’re going to be away from home for more than 60 days in a row, please get in touch to let us know.
Make your house look lived in
When your house is empty, it becomes an easier target for burglars. So, it’s worth taking simple steps to make it look like someone’s home.
- Leave lights on a timer. If you don’t have a smart home, place a couple of lamps in different rooms in your house and connect them to a timer. Set them to come on for a few hours in the evening, just as it’s about to get dark. And, in winter, get them to come on in the morning as well.
Ask someone to keep an eye on the place
Get a friend or neighbour to check on your house regularly. If they can do a few things to make the place look lived in and well-looked after, it’ll give you extra security - and peace of mind.
Things a neighbour could do for you:
- Water the plants and cut the grass. If you’re away for a while, especially in summer, your plants will probably need fed, and your grass might get overgrown - tell-tale signs that you’ve gone on holiday.
- Take in mail, newspapers and magazines. Would-be intruders could look through your letterbox to check for a pile of mail. If someone can pick up the post from your doormat, it’ll remove a big clue that you’ve gone on holiday.
Put your valuables somewhere safe
Whether you’re going away for a long weekend, or jetting off around the world, make sure you lock your valuables away in a safe place, or hide them somewhere they won’t be found.
Hide anything of value, like:
- Important documents - including bank statements, legal documents, birth certificates, driving licences, wills and house deeds.
- Jewellery and antiques - valuable items and meaningful items that can’t be replaced.
- Spare house keys - put them somewhere safe and secure.
- Your car - lock it in the garage if you can.
- Garden tools and equipment - lock them in the shed or garage, so they can’t be stolen or used to break in.
Home security isn’t just for holidays
Even when you’re not going on holiday, it’s important to put some basic home security measures in place. Get more tips and information in our guide - Home security advice.
Learn more about home insurance
Find the right cover for the place you call home. Choose Tesco Home Insurance and save money with your Clubcard.