We will shortly have a second home. Hopefully not for too long but it will be over winter, and is in an area that will be too far away to visit regularly.
What do people recommend for security? Will we have to get a second internet subscription or will anything work without? And what is most suitable and reliable for a technological incompetent?
(We will of course sign up with local gendarmes as well)
Thereâs a few internet based simple security systems available, eg Ring that you can install and monitor yourselves, or more sophisticated, expensive and professionally monitored systems eg verisure. Best thing is a good neighbour.
Thereâs relatively little of value in our house, and my biggest fear is squatters. We just lock up carefully after turning everything off, but we do have steel shutters on the ground floor.
Will you be locking up and leaving the power on?
Thatâs what we have here so have not bothered with anything - not a shutter, not multiple locks - and what we do have we sometimes forget. Just turn everything off and go unless in winter.
New place is 750m from next house, and we donât know them yet. Hopefully will be getting some occasional checks from someone in the SF network.
The question of internet, and therefore power - does Ring need that? Looked at it onkine and nice pictures but a bit meaningless to me!
I would be very surprised if your insurer would allow no shutters and may have a list of minimum requirements so check with them. Usually anything over 30 days unoccupied would have restrictions.
Most definitely⊠there are quite a few of us not too far away!
IIRC we were expected to have ground floor shutters.
This is our current house, which weâve been in for 20 years with no insurance issues. Not at all worried about this one. Itâs the new one - which does have shutters.
Yes, the Ring does need power and Internet. In our case, both protected from temporary power outages and lightning caused surges by small UPSs.
We use Eufy. Can look in on any camera via app whenever you want, as well as getting alarms if âintruderâ is spotted. No monthly fee necessary. Add almost as many cameras as you wish. Cameras are connected by wireless to hub. Camera batteries are re-chargable and last about 6 months between charges.
Our insurance requires shutters closed whenever property is unoccupied for 36 hours or more.
Not sure if this is helpful?
I would like to add its not satisfying watching someone taking possesions compared to seeing them not able to get in. The money should be spent securing the openings of the buildings first.
Very much worth doing!
Coming late to this thread⊠the only thing I would mention is that our Insurers insist they are kept notified re the various properties we own
ie RĂ©sidence Principale ou RĂ©sidence Secondaire
and they do (or did) have certain guidelines about how each property should be secured depending on its designation
EDIT just for info to the world in general:
our insurers also insist they are kept aware of any changes to the property ie change of use/additional bedroom etc⊠bathroom whateverâŠ
For external use you can get small solar panels for the ring camera, they are about the size of an iPad and they work great.
It means you donât need a power supply to the camera, but obviously you still need internet.
Old French homes are relatively secure .. Mine built in 1952 has steel shutters on all the windows all 3 floors..except the 5 tiny ones on the ground floors and these have iron bars. Before leaving every autumn I close the water valve inside the house and on the ground outside . Empty the plumbing ..It can get frozen in Bretagne ,and turn off he electricity ..actually I Have a Load of circuit breakers so if I needed a live circuit I could . There is little of value in the house except the house itself.
In 25 years there was only one attempted break in ..via the leanto shed .. I feel somehow insulted that they found nothing there worth taking.
So basically I lock it up and try not to think about until itâs time to travel.
Iâm just looking at a cellular security camera for our second home, powered via solar panel/battery, doesnât need an Internet connection as it uses 4G data sim card, connects to smart phone to monitor alarms. Anyone got any experience of these camera.
This is my first post but have been lurking for well over a year now enjoying the info on here.
Yes, we have 1 and it does work very well, even in winter when there isnât always much sun. The only downside is the sim card, the cost per month started at âŹ4.99 a month but has now increased to âŹ6.99. I believe this is for unlimited data (or possibly 20GB/month) The phone app works really well too. Hope this may help.
Thanks for the feedback Sasha, can I ask which sim card you use?