In short:
- Start a couple of weeks early. A lock, gate or sliding door that's been "a bit stiff" is easier to sort out before you leave than after it fails.
- Know where every key is. If you can't account for one, change the keyed part of that lock before you go, not after.
- Read your insurance schedule. South African policies often require specific security measures to be in place and working, and long absences can affect theft cover.
- Lock away valuables and documents, and if you own firearms, the safe-storage rules still apply while you're gone.
- Brief whoever is looking after the house, including who to call if they get locked out.
Two weeks out: deal with the locks you've been putting up with
Most houses have one lock everyone has learned to "jiggle": a back door that needs lifting, a security gate that only catches on the second try, a sliding door that doesn't quite latch. At home you notice and compensate. While you're away, nobody does, and a door that looks locked may not be.
- Walk around and lock every outside door, security gate and window you'd normally lock when leaving. Note any that resist.
- Check that each lock actually holds: push and pull the door or gate after locking it.
- Look at the side gate, garage door and outbuildings, not just the front door.
- Check padlocks on gates and burglar bars for rust and stiffness.
ASSA ABLOY South Africa's care guide recommends lubricating key cylinders at least once a year, or whenever the key feels rough, with graphite powder, and checking the whole door, since faulty hinges and warped doors overload the lock. Our guides to sliding door lock problems and garage and side door locks cover the usual culprits. Anything that still sticks is worth having looked at before the week you leave.
Account for every key
A locked door is only as secure as the list of people who can open it. Before you go, make that list.
| Key holder | What to check |
|---|---|
| Household staff, gardener | Which keys they hold, and whether they'll need access while you're away |
| Former tenants, previous owners | Whether the locks were changed when you moved in |
| Builders, painters, installers | Whether keys lent during recent work have come back |
| Family and neighbours | Who holds a spare, and whether they know you're going |
| House-sitter | Exactly which keys, remotes and codes they'll get |
| Hidden "emergency" key | Remove it. A key under a pot or above the door frame is the first place anyone looks |
If a key is missing and you can't be sure where it went, change the keyed part of that lock before you leave. On euro-profile locks that's often just the cylinder; see anti-snap cylinders if you're upgrading anyway. If you're in an estate or complex, access tags, remotes and visitor arrangements are managed by the estate, so check their procedure for house-sitters too.
The week before: a lock-up-and-go plan
Santam's lock-up-and-go checklist and government festive-season safety advice cover much the same ground:
- Lock all windows, doors and security gates, and check that the alarm works before you leave.
- Tell your security company you'll be away and give them the number of someone local who can respond.
- Leave a lamp on inside rather than outside lights burning all day.
- Ask a neighbour to collect the post so an overflowing box doesn't advertise your absence.
- Keep your plans to people you trust, and don't post about the trip online while you're away.
- Switch off the geyser and unplug what doesn't need to stay on.
Valuables, documents and the safe
Santam suggests locking away valuables and personal documents, especially if someone else will be staying in the house. If you have a safe:
- Replace the battery before you go on an electronic lock, following the maker's manual. Liberty Safe recommends changing the battery regularly and notes that a weak one can light the keypad without the lock fully opening.
- Don't leave the override key next to the safe or in the obvious drawer.
- Make sure you know the code. Coming home to a safe you can't open is a poor end to a holiday. Our article on forgotten safe codes explains the options if it happens.
Firearms are a special case. The Firearms Control Regulations require a firearm that isn't under your direct control to be stored in a prescribed safe, and section 120 of the Act makes it an offence not to keep the safe's keys in safe custody. Don't leave keys or codes with a house-sitter who isn't the licence holder. See gun safe rules in South Africa for the detail.
Check your insurance conditions before you leave
Insurance is where a small oversight costs the most. Things to look for in your policy schedule:
- Security conditions. Private Property lists typical insurer requirements such as burglar bars on opening windows, security gates on external doors, extra bolts or gates on sliding doors, and a working alarm linked to armed response. If your policy names them, they need to be in place and working while you're away.
- Unoccupied periods. The same article explains that some home policies stop covering theft and burglary if the house stands empty for longer than the policy allows, giving more than 60 days a year as an example, unless the insurer agrees otherwise in writing. Tell your insurer in advance about a long absence.
- Water. Some policies expect the mains to be switched off when the house is empty.
- Letting the house. Santam notes that if you rent your home out while away, you must notify your insurer, and that many policies exclude theft or malicious damage in that case.
Policies differ, so treat this as a list of questions to ask, not a summary of your cover.
Briefing a house-sitter or staff member
Whoever looks after the house needs more than a key. Santam's advice is to explain your expectations, how the alarm works including any stay settings, and to remind them to keep every entrance locked. Add a short written note covering:
- which keys, remotes and codes they have, and which doors and gates they should use;
- the security company's number and your own;
- a neighbour who can help in an emergency;
- who to call if they're locked out or a lock breaks.
On that last point: before opening a door we ask for proof of ownership or residence. A house-sitter usually can't show that, so leave a signed note authorising them and make sure you can be reached by phone, so the technician can confirm with you. Our emergency lockout service runs 24/7, with an R250 call-out and a quote on site before any work starts.
Coming home
When you get back, take a slow walk around before you go in. Look at doors, gates, windows and burglar bars for signs of forcing. If something looks wrong, don't go inside: call SAPS and your security company first, and leave things as they are until they've seen it.
If you do find damage, our break-in repairs service secures doors and locks so the house can be locked again.
Getting it sorted before you leave
Our residential locksmith service covers the jobs on this list: freeing or repairing sticking locks, replacing locks or cylinders when keys can't be accounted for, and safe opening and repairs. We're a fully mobile locksmith in Boksburg, so we come to the house. There's an R250 call-out, the technician quotes on site before any work starts, and nothing is done until you agree. Payment is by EFT, cash or card.
Questions
Should I change my locks before going away?
Only if you can't account for every key, or a lock isn't working properly. If all keys are where they should be and the locks hold, there's no need. If one is missing, change the keyed part of that lock before you go.
Can you make a spare key for my house-sitter?
No, we don't cut keys or make spares. Give the house-sitter an existing spare, and keep a list of who holds which key so it can be collected when you're back.
What if the house-sitter gets locked out while I'm away?
They can call us 24/7. Because we ask for proof of residence before opening a door, leave them a signed note authorising them, and be reachable by phone so the technician can confirm with you.
Need a locksmith to look at it?
If this hasn't solved the problem, our residential locksmith service covers it. We're a mobile locksmith in Boksburg, so we come to your door.
Sources and further reading
- Santam: How to keep your home secure this holiday season, a lock-up-and-go checklist — lock windows, doors and security gates; check the alarm; tell the security company and leave a contact; lamp on; geyser off; lock away valuables and documents; don't advertise absence online; house-sitter briefing; notify insurer if renting out
- Vuk'uzenzele: Festive season safety tips — neighbours to collect post; outside lights off during the day; tell only people you trust; doors that lock properly and burglar bars
- Private Property: What you need to know about insuring an unoccupied property — theft and burglary cover may lapse after 60 days unoccupied a year; notify insurer in advance; typical security requirements; water mains
- ASSA ABLOY South Africa: Product care and maintenance (PDF) — inspect the whole door; lubricate cylinders at least annually with graphite powder
- Liberty Safe: Common problems with electronic safe locks — regular battery replacement; weak battery can light the keypad without opening
- Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000, section 120: Offences (Acts Online) — offence not to keep the keys of a firearm safe in safe custody