Sound security measures are essential to keep your holiday home safe while it's empty as well as when it's occupied by guests.

Keeping your holiday homes in Snowdonia secure whilst you aren’t there is not always easy – but always important. If you have a ‘holiday home’ it’s quite obvious you won’t always be there. This means it can be easier for someone to break into the property whilst no one is there.

Here we have devised a list for holiday home owners to consider helping keep their holiday home or lodge secure during times when there is no one there.

1. Change the locks: When you become a proud new owner of a holiday home, you should get the locks changed to avoid break in’s from people who have copies of the keys. Also, if you switch management companies and cleaners for your home, you should switch the locks to avoid them accessing your property.

2. Check your insurance policy: Some insurance policies require certain fittings, locks and alarms to be fitted to cover you. Also, some insurance companies will state a maximum vacancy period, for example; if your property stands empty for more than 30 days, the insurance may become void.

3. Ensure all windows are secure: Make sure they all have locks and that the keys are not left somewhere visible, like on the ledge/ windowsill.

4. Don’t leave the curtains permanently closed when there is no one staying there. Likewise, consider investing in a timer switch that will turn your lights off and on accordingly to make the property look engaged.

5. Use your neighbours: Your neighbours are best placed to keep their eyes on your property, especially when it is empty. It can be highly beneficial if you can get a neighbour to keep an eye on your property and maybe pop in every now and then to ensure everything is ok.

6. Install security lights: these are a great way to deter unwanted visitors during the night. The light will not only alert neighbours, but also put your guests at ease when they hire out your holiday home.

7. Keep tools and ladder locked up away: these are all things that can aid someone in breaking into your property, so ensuring that they are hidden and locked away is important.

8. Ask guests to respect and use any security measures: If you require doors and gates to be locked, windows secured etc, then make sure you tell the occupants of these measures. Also ask them to keep their valuables away from clear view of windows.

9. Safe: Fit a safe in your holiday home where guests can leave valuables and passports, along with other valuable items. This should be left out of sight.

If you consider the points inside of this article, you will be content in knowing your holiday home is well prepared for any risk of a break in. If you become an owner at a lodge park such as Park Wood in Snowdonia, you will be content in knowing that the park has excellent security facilities and the community will very much look out for one another, as subletting is currently not permitted.