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The amount of savings depends on your carrier and the type of security system installed. Insurance companies tend to offer more significant discounts for professionally installed and monitored home security systems. However, some companies do provide some sort of discount for self-installed systems. Beyond security devices, there are many other ways to save on homeowners insurance. Either way, getting better locks fitted in is always a good thing. Read on to find out more about what types of locks are approved by most home insurance companies.
But remember, regardless of the lock on the door, if you get burgled via an open window or even an open door, your claim could be invalidated. So always practice common sense in your security whatever extras you decide to invest in. You may not get a payout if you left your back door open and an opportunist thief came in. Biometric door locks use personally identifiable information in lieu of a traditional key.
Night latches
Provided they work in conjunction with a mortice deadlock, your front door will be considered just as secure as a standard key-operated lock. All ground floor and accessible windows should have key operated window locks installed. These locks are usually fitted on the handle that opens and closes the window or at the bottom or top of the window frame. But the main thing about these locks is that they require a key; so when these windows are not in regular use or you are not at home, make sure to lock them with a key. Wooden doors are commonly found throughout residential properties.
They will warp and discolour over time, leaving you to re-paint and restore them to their original look, but they provide a good level of security, too. Wooden doors will traditionally have what is called a Yale lock with a nightlatch system. Quality industry approved locks properly fitted that offer a good level of security especially on ground floor doors and accessible windows. Smart locks that require pins or passwords to operate are only as secure as the way they are managed and maintained. It is very easy to find a code like 0000, which provides little security.
How much insurance can a home security system reduce?
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Bankrate’s 2021 study of homeowners insurance costs found that the average price for $250,000 in dwelling insurance is $1,312 per year. However, rates can significantly vary based on your state and the amount of coverage you need. Biometric locks can provide great convenience and keep unwanted individuals from picking your lock in a traditional sense. Still, software-based locks can still be hacked, although doing so requires a different set of skills and tools than for physical locks.
Types of door locks and home insurance explained
The security of any given smart lock depends on the quality of its hardware and software. If a biometric lock is easy to physically defeat, then it doesn't offer any greater security than a traditional lock. Additionally, if the software built into a digital lock has a defect, hackers might be able to take advantage of that error to unlock your door as if they were you. And since smart locks usually come with a physical key—in case you forget your PIN or the lock's power supply is cut off—any stranger with the key can gain entry. Many other factors go into determining your home insurance premiums.
As more modern houses are built with composite doors, these usually come with multi-point locks bolting at different point along the door offering a high level of security. If you have sliding patio doors with a multi-point locking system, it may also be necessary to add an anti-lift device to stop intruders lifting the doors off their rails to gain access. The main difference between a rim lock and a mortice lock is that a rim lock is mounted on the door while a mortice lock is set within a hole or pocket inside the door. Most people will have rim locks in the nightlatch form, where as soon as the door is closed, the lock is engaged. Yes, many home insurance policies cover broken door locks as a result of an attempted or successful break-in but will not cover a lock broken due to ‘wear and tear’. A door frame fitted with mortice deadlock star key locks makes drilling, hacksawing or lock picking difficult.
This represents an extremely secure option, as the middle, bottom, and top of the door are strengthened when locked. That said, they tend only to be installed in uPVC doors, as opposed to wooden ones. Inside this type of lock are five levers that move the deadlock into place when the key is turned. If you do have one, you should make sure that you keep the door lock apps updated, the passwords secure, and have a PIN enabled.
Also, make sure you have a BS3621 five-lever mortice dead-lock installed and double check it’s a brand that is specifically approved by your home insurance provider. Security system premium discounts are pretty standard, though, so be sure to shop around to learn more about carriers in your area that offer the best home insurance discounts. Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and, services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site.
For example, you might live in an area with a statistically higher than average rate of burglaries, fires or vandalism. Ultimately, not everything comes down to what type of lock your doors have, but still, it's good to have a secure lock, and if it's approved, then you could even save some money. UPVC doors are usually the most inexpensive option for front doors, plus they require minimal maintenance over a long period of time.
If you have modern, approved locks that are recommended by your insurer, then you may get a better deal and cheaper home insurance. You may be turned down or charged more for home insurance if you do not have adequate locks. Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. Both theft and vandalism are covered perils in standard home insurance policies. Since someone broke into your home and damaged your locks in the process, your home insurance will cover the damage.
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