Essential Security and Safety Checks Before Leaving Your Home Unattended

We’ve all experienced a time when we have been pulling out of the driveway for a weekend getaway, in the middle of a work day, or even on a plane at 32,000ft, only for a sudden, unsettling thought to pop into your head. “Did I turn off the oven?” “Did I lock the back door?” “Did I set the burglar alarm?”

Leaving your home unattended, whether it’s for a quick trip to the shop, a long day at work, or an extended holiday, can be stressful if you haven’t taken the proper precautions. An unsupervised home can quickly become vulnerable to burglaries, water leaks, electrical faults, or even pests.

Taking a few minutes to run through a quick, systematic checklist before you walk out the door can save you significant stress, expense, and potential disaster. This isn’t just about security; it’s about safeguarding your peace of mind and the physical integrity of your property.

Here is your comprehensive checklist of essential security and safety checks to perform before leaving your home unattended.

Security and Access Checks

The first line of defence is ensuring your home is secure against intruders. This goes beyond just locking the front door.

• Check all entry points: Ensure every single door and window is not only closed but fully locked. This includes basement windows, side doors, garage doors, and sliding glass doors. Thieves often look for the easiest, most obvious entry point.
• Secure valuables: For extended trips, consider moving high-value items (laptops, jewellery, specific documents) out of sight and into a secure location, like a bolted safe or a hidden spot.
• Stop deliveries: If you are leaving for more than a couple of days, pause mail and newspaper deliveries. A pile of flyers and packages is a clear sign that the house is empty. If you can’t pause deliveries, you can ask a trusted family member, friend or neighbour to visit your home to deal with the post.
• Set the burglar alarm system: Double-check that your home security system is armed and functioning correctly. If you have smart locks or cameras, confirm they are active and connected.
• Tidy the garden: Put away any tools, ladders, or gardening equipment that a burglar could potentially use to gain entry to your home.

Fire and Electrical Safety Checks

Electrical faults and appliances left running are major causes of house fires. Minimising potential ignition sources is crucial.

• Unplug non-essential electronics: Unplug small appliances and electronics like toasters, coffee makers, hair straighteners, chargers, and TVs. This not only saves some energy but removes a potential fire hazard from power surges or faulty wiring.
• Check the stovetop and oven: This is the most common anxiety trigger! Double-check that all burners or induction hobs, and the oven are completely switched off.
• Set lighting timers: Use smart plugs or mechanical timers to turn interior lights on and off randomly at night. This gives the illusion that someone is home. Avoid leaving a single light on 24/7, as this is a tell-tale sign of an empty house.

Water and Plumbing Checks

Water damage from burst or leaking pipes can cause more structural damage and expense than almost any other home incident.

• Turn Off the main water valve (extended trips): If you are leaving for a week or more, it is highly recommended to turn off the main water supply to your home. This prevents catastrophic flooding from a burst pipe or appliance malfunction (like a running toilet or faulty washing machine hose).
• Check taps and toilets: Ensure all sink and bathtub taps are completely off, and no toilets are running or leaking.
• Empty the washing machine/dishwasher: Confirm the washing machine and dishwasher cycles are complete and the doors are slightly ajar to prevent mildew build-up.
• Clear the drains: Make sure there are no slow drains or standing water in sinks or bath tubs.

Kitchen and Waste Checks

Neglecting perishable items can result in foul odours, mould, and attract pests upon your return.

• Empty the refrigerator (extended trips): If you’re going away for a long time (several weeks), remove all perishable items, especially milk, meat, and vegetables.
• Take out all rubbish: Empty all bins (kitchen, bathroom, office) and take the rubbish out to the designated outdoor bins. Don’t leave any food waste inside the house.

Inform Your Contacts

Finalising your travel plans should include setting up a communication chain for emergencies.

• Notify a trusted neighbour or friend: Give a trusted person a key and your itinerary. Ask them to check on the house periodically, retrieve any stray flyers, water indoor plants, and generally make the home look “lived in.”
• Provide emergency contact details: Ensure your house-sitter, neighbour, and your alarm company (if applicable) have your mobile phone number, and the contact information for an emergency plumber or electrician.

Home Safety Checks

By making this checklist a routine, you replace that moment of mid-trip panic with confident reassurance. A few minutes of proactive checking is a small price to pay for genuine peace of mind, allowing you to fully relax and enjoy your time away from home.

With modern burglar alarm systems, CCTV, access control and fire alarm systems, you can remotely monitor your home wherever you are. Learn more about home safety measures from a home security and alarm system expert.