Hello and welcome to this practical guide.
Choosing an intruder alarm is not only about selecting equipment. You must decide who receives the alarm notification, who responds, and what happens when you are unavailable.
For some properties, self-monitoring provides suitable protection. For others, professionally monitored alarms offer a more dependable response process.
The right choice depends on your property, occupants, contents, insurance conditions and level of risk.
What is a self-monitored alarm?
A self-monitored alarm sends an alert to your smartphone. This may be a push notification, text message, email or app notification.
You then decide what to do.
You may:
- Check the property using an app or integrated camera.
- Contact a neighbour or keyholder.
- Call the police or emergency services.
- Ask a contractor to attend.
- Ignore the alert if you believe it is a false alarm.
The alarm may also activate an internal or external sounder. However, there is no Alarm Receiving Centre handling the event on your behalf.
Self-monitored systems can suit people who live close to the property and can respond quickly. They can also provide useful control for homeowners, landlords and small premises.
Dragon self-monitored systems are available from £499.99 + VAT. Terms and conditions apply. The final price depends on the property, equipment, installation requirements and selected options.
What is a professionally monitored alarm?
A professionally monitored alarm sends signals to an Alarm Receiving Centre, often called an ARC.
The ARC operates around the clock. When it receives an alarm signal, it follows an agreed response procedure. This may include:
- Checking the type of alarm activation.
- Contacting nominated keyholders.
- Contacting a contracted response service.
- Assessing additional confirmation from the system.
- Escalating a confirmed event where the relevant requirements are met.
The ARC does not replace good system design or responsible keyholders. You must still provide accurate contact details and agree a suitable response plan.
Professionally monitored alarms are commonly selected for commercial premises, higher-risk homes, vacant properties and sites with strict insurance requirements.
Self-monitoring compared with professional monitoring
Cost and ongoing fees
Self-monitoring usually has a lower ongoing cost. You receive the alerts directly and may not need a continuing monitoring service fee.
You still need to budget for:
- Professional installation.
- App or communication services, where applicable.
- Battery replacement.
- Repairs and upgrades.
- Routine maintenance.
- Connectivity or SIM charges, depending on the system.
Professionally monitored alarms involve an ongoing service charge. This covers the connection to the ARC and the agreed handling of alarm events.
You should also budget for maintenance. A monitored system must remain operational and compliant. An installation that is not maintained may fail to meet insurance or police-response conditions.
The cheapest system is not always the most suitable. Compare the total cost over the period you expect to use the alarm.
Response when you are asleep, away or out of signal
Self-monitoring depends on you receiving and acting on the alert.
You may be:
- Asleep.
- At work.
- On holiday.
- Driving.
- In an area with poor mobile coverage.
- Unable to reach the property.
- Unsure whether the activation is genuine.
A professionally monitored alarm provides an independent response route. The ARC receives signals even when you are unavailable. It then follows the agreed procedure.
This is particularly important for holiday lets, rural properties, shops and warehouses that may be empty for long periods.
Modern signalling and the PSTN retirement
Older alarm systems may rely on traditional analogue telephone lines. The UK is retiring these services as communications networks move towards digital systems.
Do not assume that an older alarm communicator will continue to work correctly after a telephone service changes. Some systems may require an upgrade to modern signalling.
Current options can include:
- IP signalling through a network connection.
- Cellular signalling.
- Dual-path signalling using two independent communication routes.
- A suitable combination of network and mobile communication.
The correct option depends on the alarm panel, property, coverage, insurer and monitoring arrangement. Ask your installer to check the existing signalling before you renew a contract or change broadband or telephone services.
False alarm management and confirmation
False alarms create inconvenience. They can also affect confidence in the system and, in some circumstances, police response arrangements.
Self-monitored systems place the initial decision with you. You may receive a notification caused by:
- An incorrectly closed door.
- A pet or animal.
- A user error.
- A low battery.
- A power or communication fault.
- Poorly positioned equipment.
Professionally monitored systems allow the ARC to follow a defined process. Certain systems may provide additional confirmation through compatible devices or video verification. This can help identify whether an activation appears genuine.
Confirmation does not automatically guarantee police attendance. A police response depends on the system being correctly designed, installed, maintained and operated in line with applicable requirements. It may also require an appropriate ARC, a police Unique Reference Number and compliance with relevant standards and local police procedures.
Police response is never guaranteed. Response may be affected by false alarms, priorities, available resources and changes to police policy.
Insurance conditions
Check your insurance policy before selecting an alarm.
An insurer may specify:
- A particular alarm grade.
- Professional installation.
- Regular maintenance.
- Remote signalling.
- Dual-path signalling.
- An approved installer.
- A monitored system.
- An active police registration or Unique Reference Number.
- Evidence that the system was set when the property was unattended.
A self-monitored alarm may be acceptable for a lower-risk home. It may not meet the requirements for a commercial property, high-value contents or a property with specific policy conditions.
Ask your insurer or broker for the requirements in writing. Then ask your security contractor to design a system that matches them.
Read more about business security alarms and insurance compliance.
Who is responsible for responding?
With self-monitoring, you are responsible for deciding what happens next.
You must:
- Keep your phone available.
- Maintain your app connection.
- Keep keyholder details current.
- Decide whether to attend or contact someone else.
- Report suspected crime to the police.
- Arrange repairs when faults occur.
With professional monitoring, the ARC manages the agreed notification process. You remain responsible for:
- Providing suitable keyholders.
- Keeping contact information updated.
- Responding when contacted.
- Maintaining the alarm.
- Using the system correctly.
- Following your insurer’s conditions.
Monitoring supports your response plan. It does not remove the need for responsible property management.
Which option suits your property?
Small flat
A self-monitored alarm may be suitable for a small flat with nearby occupants, modest contents and no specific insurance requirement for professional monitoring.
A professional survey can identify the main entry points and confirm whether a wireless system is appropriate.
Family home
Both options may work for a family home.
Self-monitoring can provide app alerts and convenient control. Professional monitoring may suit a larger home, higher-value contents or residents who are regularly away.
Consider how someone would respond at night or while the family is travelling.
Holiday let
Professional monitoring is often worth considering for a holiday let.
Guests may not understand the alarm procedure. You may live some distance away. A monitored response provides a defined process when the property is empty or occupied by visitors.
Provide clear instructions and ensure keyholder arrangements are reliable.
Rural property
Rural properties may have longer response times and weaker mobile coverage. A survey should check network availability, power resilience and suitable signalling options.
Self-monitoring may be less practical if you cannot reach the property quickly. Professional monitoring can provide a more consistent first response.
Shop
A shop may need protection outside opening hours. Professional monitoring can support a response when staff are not present.
Check your policy for requirements relating to business security alarms, alarm grades and signalling.
Warehouse
Warehouses often contain valuable stock, plant or equipment. They may have multiple access points and long periods without staff.
A professionally monitored system, suitable detection coverage and planned maintenance may be more appropriate than app alerts alone.
Multi-site business
A multi-site business benefits from consistent alarm management.
Professional monitoring can provide a central response process across several premises. Your contractor can also coordinate maintenance, reporting and upgrades through a planned preventative maintenance arrangement.
Can you start with self-monitoring and upgrade later?
Yes, many customers start with self-monitoring and move to professional monitoring later.
This may happen when:
- The property becomes vacant.
- The contents increase in value.
- A business expands.
- Insurance conditions change.
- The owner begins travelling more frequently.
- A holiday let becomes a larger operation.
- A second property is added.
- A previous incident changes the required level of protection.
Plan for future requirements when selecting the initial alarm. A compatible system may be upgraded with suitable signalling, additional detection and a monitoring arrangement.
Do not assume every alarm can be upgraded. Ask about future compatibility before installation.
Choose the right protection for your risk
Self-monitored alarms provide direct alerts and convenient control. They can be a practical option for some homes and lower-risk properties.
Professionally monitored alarms provide a structured response through an ARC. They are often better suited to commercial premises, vacant properties, higher-value risks and insurance-led requirements.
Neither option replaces correct installation, maintenance and responsible use.
Dragon Security & Electrical Ltd provides security surveys, professional installation, maintenance and monitoring arrangements across North Wales and beyond. We use Risco Group alarm solutions where appropriate and tailor each system to the property.
For advice on home security systems, business security alarms or police-response alarms, call 01492 330330.
You can also contact Dragon Security & Electrical Ltd or view our security services.
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