Welcome. Use this checklist to prepare your property for shorter days, longer nights and periods of reduced occupancy.
Autumn is a useful time to review your security before winter weather arrives. Check the physical condition of your property. Test your electronic systems. Update your contact details. Arrange planned maintenance where required.
This guide covers homes, businesses, holiday properties and commercial premises across Conwy, Denbighshire, Gwynedd and beyond.
Home security checklist
Check exterior lighting
Inspect lights at the front door, driveway, side paths, rear garden and garage.
Confirm that:
- Motion sensors activate correctly.
- Timers match earlier sunset times.
- Lights do not create glare for neighbours or CCTV cameras.
- Fittings are secure and free from water damage.
- Bulbs and LED units provide consistent illumination.
- Vegetation does not block the light or create concealed areas.
Use lighting to support visibility around entrances and paths. Avoid positioning lights where they shine directly into a camera lens. A professional installer can coordinate lighting and CCTV for better night-time images.
Review doors and windows
Check every external door, including side, rear, garage and porch doors.
Look for:
- Loose hinges.
- Damaged frames.
- Stiff or worn locks.
- Gaps around the door.
- Faulty handles or multipoint locking points.
- Unused doors that are not included in your alarm system.
Lock doors fully whenever you leave the property. Do not leave keys in obvious outdoor hiding places. Keep spare keys with a trusted person or use an appropriate secure keyholding arrangement.
Check ground-floor windows and any windows accessible from a flat roof, balcony, wall or outbuilding. Confirm that locking points engage correctly. Do not fit security measures that prevent a designated fire escape from opening safely.
Test the intruder alarm
Set and unset the alarm according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Test each relevant zone if your system allows this.
Check:
- Door and window contacts.
- Motion detectors.
- Panic buttons.
- Key fobs and remote controls.
- Internal sounders.
- External bell-box operation.
- Mobile app notifications.
- Monitoring or keyholder alerts.
Alarm batteries can weaken without an obvious failure. Arrange a battery check if the system reports a low-power warning, produces repeated alerts or has not been serviced for some time.
A RISCO system can provide a practical option for domestic properties when designed and installed to suit the building. Dragon can advise on upgrades, servicing and system takeovers.
Inspect the external bell box
Make sure the bell box is visible, secure and not damaged.
Remove leaves, cobwebs and other obstructions. Check that building work, new signage or vegetation has not hidden the unit.
The bell box should form part of a wider security system. It should not replace reliable detection, secure doors, suitable lighting and correct alarm maintenance.
Check garages, sheds and outbuildings
Do not overlook buildings away from the main property.
Inspect:
- Garage doors and locks.
- Shed hasps and padlocks.
- Garden offices.
- Workshops.
- Bin stores.
- Detached stores.
- External gates.
- Roofs and windows.
Keep ladders, tools and other equipment away from fences and easily accessible windows. Include valuable outbuildings in the alarm or CCTV design where appropriate.
A standalone detector may be suitable for some sheds or garages. Other properties may benefit from integration with the main intruder alarm or a monitored system.
Review CCTV night settings
Check that cameras produce usable images after dark.
Review:
- Night vision operation.
- Infrared reflection from walls or windows.
- Motion detection areas.
- Recording schedules.
- Storage capacity.
- Camera time and date.
- Remote viewing access.
- Lens cleanliness.
- Obstructions from branches or hanging baskets.
Make sure cameras cover entrances, gates, driveways and other important areas. Avoid pointing cameras unnecessarily towards neighbouring homes or public areas. Use suitable signage and manage recordings responsibly.
A Dahua CCTV system can support clear day-and-night monitoring when the camera type, position, lighting and recording settings are correctly specified.
Set timers before holidays
Review timers for:
- Hallway lights.
- Living-room lamps.
- Porch lighting.
- Radios.
- Smart plugs.
- External lighting.
Update schedules as daylight hours change. Use realistic patterns rather than leaving one light on continuously.
Before leaving a property empty, close and lock doors and windows. Set the alarm. Secure outbuildings. Ask a trusted person to check the property if you will be away for an extended period.
The Police.uk leaving-home checklist provides additional general advice.
Business security checklist
Complete a daily lock-up check
Create a written closing procedure. Assign responsibility to named staff.
The procedure should confirm that:
- External doors are locked.
- Windows are closed and secured.
- Stockrooms and offices are checked.
- Unoccupied internal areas are secured where appropriate.
- Gates and shutters are closed.
- Waste and combustible materials are stored securely.
- CCTV is recording.
- The intruder alarm is set.
- Security lighting is active.
- No unauthorised person remains on site.
Keep fire safety requirements in mind. Fire exits must remain available for escape. Security improvements must not obstruct emergency routes or conflict with your fire risk assessment.
Review access control
Check who has keys, fobs, cards and alarm codes.
Remove or disable access for:
- Former employees.
- Contractors who no longer work on site.
- Temporary staff whose access has ended.
- Lost or unreturned fobs.
- Old user accounts.
Update access permissions when staff roles change. Avoid shared codes where individual user credentials are available. Record changes so your business has a clear audit trail.
For larger premises, smart access control can help manage staff, visitors, contractors and restricted areas. Dragon can advise on access control alongside business security alarms, CCTV and electrical services.
Inspect gates, fencing and yards
Check perimeter security before storms and heavy rain.
Look for:
- Loose gate posts.
- Damaged hinges.
- Weak padlocks.
- Gaps under fencing.
- Broken fence panels.
- Overgrown vegetation.
- Dark areas beside buildings.
- Unsecured loading bays.
- Poorly lit car parks.
Make sure vehicle and pedestrian gates close correctly. Review who holds keys or access credentials for gates and service areas.
Confirm CCTV coverage and recording
Business CCTV should support the needs of the premises. Review cameras at:
- Main entrances.
- Staff entrances.
- Loading bays.
- Car parks.
- Rear yards.
- Plant areas.
- Cash-handling areas.
- Stockrooms.
- Perimeter gates.
Check image quality during daylight and darkness. Confirm that footage is recording and that the system clock is correct. Review user permissions and change passwords when required.
If lighting, building layout or business operations have changed, the original CCTV design may no longer provide suitable coverage. A professional survey can identify blind spots and poor camera angles.
Update keyholders and emergency contacts
Contact details must remain current.
Review:
- Primary keyholders.
- Secondary keyholders.
- Alarm monitoring contacts.
- Site managers.
- Landlords or managing agents.
- Maintenance contractors.
- Insurance contacts.
- Out-of-hours emergency numbers.
- Police and fire service liaison details where relevant.
Tell your alarm provider when a keyholder changes. Confirm that each listed person understands the alarm response procedure and can attend the premises when required.
Never publish alarm codes or sensitive access information in an open staff document.
Planned autumn and winter maintenance
Arrange a professional service before a small fault becomes a larger problem.
A planned maintenance visit may include:
- Alarm panel inspection.
- Battery testing.
- Detector testing.
- Bell-box inspection.
- CCTV lens and housing checks.
- Recording and remote access checks.
- Cable and power supply inspection.
- Security lighting checks.
- Gate and access control checks.
- Review of system faults.
- Review of keyholder information.
Keep records of service visits, faults and remedial work. These records can support internal management, landlord responsibilities and insurance requirements.
Dragon also provides maintenance and support for existing systems, including installations completed by another contractor. A system takeover can help when documentation is incomplete, a previous provider is no longer available or equipment needs upgrading.
When to request professional advice
Contact a specialist if:
- Your alarm repeatedly reports faults.
- Batteries fail sooner than expected.
- CCTV images are unclear at night.
- Cameras no longer cover key access points.
- You cannot identify who has system access.
- A property layout has changed.
- You have added an extension, shed or office.
- Your business is changing opening hours.
- A holiday property will remain empty.
- Your current equipment is obsolete.
- You need integration between alarms, CCTV, lighting or access control.
Dragon Security & Electrical Ltd supports homes, landlords, businesses and organisations across North Wales and beyond. We provide professional advice, installation, monitoring, servicing and planned maintenance for home security systems, business security alarms and wider security and electrical requirements.
For Security Systems North Wales, CCTV, intruder alarms UK, access control or maintenance support, contact Dragon on 01492 330330 or visit the Dragon Security & Electrical contact page.
Start your autumn review early. Test the system. Secure the property. Update the contacts. Arrange maintenance before winter conditions arrive.