Going away? Check the handover, not just the alarm

Before leaving for your December break, make sure the person looking after your property knows more than the alarm code.

Check gates, door locks and outdoor lighting, and secure tools and ladders. Arrange an alarm test with your security provider and confirm who receives notifications. Give your house sitter clear instructions for arming, disarming and reporting faults.

For CCTV, test both live viewing and playback of a recent recording. Seeing a camera on your phone does not confirm that footage is being stored.

Leave a short contact list and agree who will attend if something needs attention. A clear handover helps avoid confusion while you are away.