Intruder Alarm

Welshblondie

Hi All,

I am a single female who travels a lot with work so often my home is left unoccupied so have decided to get an intruder alarm fitted, so looking for some advice.

I don't know whether to have a NSI approved one, although heard very bad reports about ADT so I won't be touching them or I have had a quote from an electrician to fit a Yale HSA6400 alarm. Are the ADT type ones a bad idea given the expensive monthly contracts and poor customer service I've heard regarding serveral companies, Will the Yale one do sufficiently, or are they pointless?

I would appreciate anyone's advice or experience on intruder alarms as I'm being indecisive!

Xeorix

So I've contacted my home insurance about this, and they have said they give a bigger discount for NSI approved installers. Bear in mind that I asked them about a non NSI one and they still gave me a discount of £60 a year. I've had a few quotes and the fitters have said they don't bother telling their home insurance, as if you forget to set it and you have a break-in, you're not covered.

Think about what you want from your alarm. Have you ever ran around to your neighbours if the alarm is going off?
You might be better looking at something like a Risco Lightsys2, so you can get notifications of if there are break ins etc. I've had a number of quotes for "dumb" and "smart" alarms on perimeter protection. I need 7 sensors, and they're always coming in at around £700

Risteard

You need an alarm installed to BS EN 50131. It will also have to be correctly maintained to comply with the Standard.

bouicca21

The main decision I had to make about an alarm was whether it would just ring or would notify someone. If it is nacoss approved you should get a discount on the insurance though in my case that's almost exactly offset by the cost of annual maintenance (which is required by the insurance company). The discount also depends on having adequate locks on doors and windows.

I suppose a lot depends on the area you live in and how risk averse you are. Financially I don't think my burglar alarm can be justified, as I live in a low crime area. But I have been burgled in the past and it was a horrible experience that I never want to repeat.

Risteard

bouicca21 wrote: »

that's almost exactly offset by the cost of annual maintenance (which is required by the insurance company).

It's required by the BS EN 50131 Standard.