Home security systems by property type
A terrace, a bungalow, a listed cottage and a house with electric gates are entered in completely different places, and each has its own practical limits on what can be fitted. These pages work through the entry points that matter on each property type and what we would specify because of them.
01634 944161All 80 guides
- AshfordTerraced houses: weak points and what to fitEmpty through the working day, with neighbours close enough to hear a siren but not always to see the rear. This page works through the entry points that matter on terraced houses and what is worth fitting because of them.
- BexleyheathSecurity for semi-detached homes: entry points and optionsTypically a family home empty between the school run and early evening. This page works through the entry points that matter on semi-detached homes and what is worth fitting because of them.
- BridgeDetached houses: where they are actually enteredLarger plot, more elevations, and long periods where no neighbour has line of sight to any of them. This page works through the entry points that matter on detached houses and what is worth fitting because of them.
- CharthamProtecting a bungalow: what to fitOften occupied during the day, with every room at ground level and reachable from outside. This page works through the entry points that matter on bungalows and what is worth fitting because of them.
- CrayfordFlats and apartments: weak points and what to fitIndividual flat security sits inside a communal building the resident does not control. This page works through the entry points that matter on flats and apartments and what is worth fitting because of them.
- East FarleighSecurity for period and listed homes: entry points and optionsBuildings where the fabric itself limits what can be fitted, regardless of what the security case says. This page works through the entry points that matter on period and listed homes and what is worth fitting because of them.
- FordcombeNew-build homes: where they are actually enteredHanded over with basic developer provision and an estate that is still partly a building site. This page works through the entry points that matter on new-build homes and what is worth fitting because of them.
- HallingProtecting a home with a driveway: what to fitThe vehicle is the most valuable item on the property and it sits outside all night. This page works through the entry points that matter on homes with driveways and what is worth fitting because of them.
- HollingbourneHomes with outbuildings: weak points and what to fitDetached structures holding high-value tools and bikes, usually protected by a padlock and nothing else. This page works through the entry points that matter on homes with outbuildings and what is worth fitting because of them.
- Kingston upon ThamesSecurity for HMOs and shared houses: entry points and optionsMultiple unrelated occupiers, frequent turnover, and a front door used by people who each hold a key. This page works through the entry points that matter on HMOs and shared houses and what is worth fitting because of them.
- LooseHoliday lets: where they are actually enteredShort stays, remote handover, and gaps between bookings when the property is empty and obvious. This page works through the entry points that matter on holiday lets and what is worth fitting because of them.
- MottinghamProtecting an empty property: what to fitUnoccupied for months, often with the insurer's cover conditional on how it is secured and checked. This page works through the entry points that matter on empty and probate properties and what is worth fitting because of them.
- PemburyHomes with electric gates: weak points and what to fitThe gate is the first line of security and the most common point of failure. This page works through the entry points that matter on homes with electric gates and what is worth fitting because of them.
- RobertsbridgeSecurity for rural and remote homes: entry points and optionsNo passing footfall, long response distances and often poor broadband. This page works through the entry points that matter on rural and remote homes and what is worth fitting because of them.
- SidcupHomes with home offices: where they are actually enteredWorking hours spent at home, with business equipment and business data in a domestic building. This page works through the entry points that matter on homes with home offices and what is worth fitting because of them.
- StaplehurstProtecting a student let: what to fitFull occupancy in term time, completely empty over the holidays, with high-value electronics throughout. This page works through the entry points that matter on student lets and what is worth fitting because of them.
- TestonHomes with elderly residents: weak points and what to fitOften occupied all day, with callers at the door who may be genuine, mistaken or deliberately deceptive. This page works through the entry points that matter on homes with elderly residents and what is worth fitting because of them.
- Vinters ParkSecurity for homes with frequent deliveries: entry points and optionsParcels left in porches, behind bins and with neighbours while the household is out. This page works through the entry points that matter on homes with frequent deliveries and what is worth fitting because of them.
- WinghamHomes with pools and garden buildings: where they are actually enteredDetached garden structures with plant rooms, equipment and their own supply, used seasonally. This page works through the entry points that matter on homes with pools and garden buildings and what is worth fitting because of them.
- AshfordProtecting a converted property: what to fitOne building, several households, and a security arrangement that was never designed as a whole. This page works through the entry points that matter on converted and split properties and what is worth fitting because of them.
- BexleyheathCoach houses: weak points and what to fitUsually a converted outbuilding standing apart from the main dwelling, occupied as a separate letting or an adult family annexe, so its schedule rarely matches the main house. This page works through the entry points that matter on coach houses and what is worth fitting because of them.
- BridgeSecurity for maisonettes: entry points and optionsTwo-storey flats stacked within a small block or over a row of shops, usually reached by a private stair shared with only one or two other households. This page works through the entry points that matter on maisonettes and what is worth fitting because of them.
- CharthamDormer bungalows: where they are actually enteredA bungalow footprint with usable rooms built into the roof space, so first-floor windows exist where a plain bungalow would have none. This page works through the entry points that matter on dormer bungalows and what is worth fitting because of them.
- CrayfordProtecting a town house: what to fitThree or more storeys on a narrow footprint, often with a garage or living space at ground level and bedrooms spread across upper floors, so the building is tall rather than wide. This page works through the entry points that matter on town houses and what is worth fitting because of them.
- East FarleighEnd-of-terrace houses: weak points and what to fitOne exposed flank wall in addition to the usual front and rear, giving an end house a side elevation that the rest of the terrace does not have. This page works through the entry points that matter on end-of-terrace houses and what is worth fitting because of them.
- FordcombeSecurity for link-detached homes: entry points and optionsTwo houses joined only by a garage or single-storey link, giving the appearance of a detached house while sharing a structural connection with the neighbouring property. This page works through the entry points that matter on link-detached homes and what is worth fitting because of them.
- HallingVictorian villas: where they are actually enteredSubstantial period houses, often divided into flats or retained as single dwellings, with high ceilings, deep bay windows and service areas originally meant for staff rather than the family. This page works through the entry points that matter on Victorian villas and what is worth fitting because of them.
- HollingbourneProtecting an Edwardian semi: what to fitSlightly later and often larger than their Victorian counterparts, with wider hallways, side access to the rear, and box or bay windows at the front. This page works through the entry points that matter on Edwardian semis and what is worth fitting because of them.
- Kingston upon Thames1930s semis: weak points and what to fitInterwar suburban semis with a front and back garden, a side driveway or passage, and a layout that has often been extended into the roof or to the rear over subsequent decades. This page works through the entry points that matter on 1930s semis and what is worth fitting because of them.
- LooseSecurity for 1960s estate houses: entry points and optionsMass-built post-war estate housing, typically with a small front garden, an integral or attached garage, and standardised layouts repeated across the street. This page works through the entry points that matter on 1960s estate houses and what is worth fitting because of them.
- Mottingham1980s cul-de-sac homes: where they are actually enteredEstate housing arranged around closes and turning heads, with driveways facing inward and rear gardens often backing onto open ground, footpaths or other closes. This page works through the entry points that matter on 1980s cul-de-sac homes and what is worth fitting because of them.
- PemburyProtecting a park home: what to fitSingle-storey residential park homes, often on a managed site with defined pitches, typically occupied full-time by owners rather than as holiday accommodation. This page works through the entry points that matter on park homes and what is worth fitting because of them.
- RobertsbridgeStatic caravans: weak points and what to fitHoliday or seasonal accommodation, often left empty for extended periods outside the main season, sitting on an open pitch with limited natural surveillance. This page works through the entry points that matter on static caravans and what is worth fitting because of them.
- SidcupSecurity for houseboats: entry points and optionsPermanently or seasonally moored residential vessels, exposed on the waterline to anyone walking along a towpath or adjoining mooring, with limited separation from public access. This page works through the entry points that matter on houseboats and what is worth fitting because of them.
- StaplehurstBarn conversions: where they are actually enteredFormer agricultural buildings converted to residential use, often standing in isolation with a long private track for access and few if any immediate neighbours. This page works through the entry points that matter on barn conversions and what is worth fitting because of them.
- TestonProtecting an oast house conversion: what to fitFormer hop-drying kilns converted into distinctive round or cowled residential buildings, often retained as a striking feature within a wider farmstead or small development. This page works through the entry points that matter on oast house conversions and what is worth fitting because of them.
- Vinters ParkFarmhouses: weak points and what to fitWorking or former agricultural dwellings, typically set within a wider holding including yards, outbuildings and open land, occupied continuously but with activity spread across a large curtilage. This page works through the entry points that matter on farmhouses and what is worth fitting because of them.
- WinghamSecurity for smallholdings: entry points and optionsA dwelling combined with land, outbuildings and often livestock or equipment storage, with the household's attention divided between the house and a working area some distance from it. This page works through the entry points that matter on smallholdings and what is worth fitting because of them.
- AshfordGated development homes: where they are actually enteredIndividual houses or flats within a private, controlled-access development, where residents rely partly on communal gate or barrier security in addition to their own front door. This page works through the entry points that matter on gated development homes and what is worth fitting because of them.
- BexleyheathProtecting a riverside home: what to fitHouses with a garden or terrace directly onto a river, stream or waterway, giving an additional boundary that differs from a standard fenced garden and is often used for access by walkers or by water. This page works through the entry points that matter on riverside homes and what is worth fitting because of them.
- BridgeCoastal homes: weak points and what to fitHouses at or near the coastline, some occupied year-round and others as holiday or second homes left empty for extended periods outside peak season. This page works through the entry points that matter on coastal homes and what is worth fitting because of them.
- CharthamSecurity for corner-plot houses: entry points and optionsHouses positioned at the junction of two roads or a road and a footpath, giving two public-facing elevations rather than the usual one, along with reduced boundary privacy on that additional side. This page works through the entry points that matter on corner-plot houses and what is worth fitting because of them.
- CrayfordHomes with integral garages: where they are actually enteredHouses where the garage forms part of the main structure, usually with a direct internal connecting door into the hallway, utility room or kitchen. This page works through the entry points that matter on homes with integral garages and what is worth fitting because of them.
- East FarleighProtecting a home with a detached garage: what to fitHouses with a separate garage structure standing apart from the main dwelling, often at the side or rear of the plot, holding vehicles, tools and equipment away from the immediate household routine. This page works through the entry points that matter on homes with detached garages and what is worth fitting because of them.
- FordcombeHomes with workshops: weak points and what to fitHouses with a dedicated workshop building or converted outbuilding used for hobbies, trade work or equipment storage, sometimes holding tools and machinery of considerable individual and combined value. This page works through the entry points that matter on homes with workshops and what is worth fitting because of them.
- HallingSecurity for homes with annexes: entry points and optionsA main house with a self-contained or semi-independent living space for a relative, lodger or separate letting, often with its own external door but sharing a boundary, driveway or garden with the main dwelling. This page works through the entry points that matter on homes with annexes and what is worth fitting because of them.
- HollingbourneHomes with basements: where they are actually enteredHouses with usable below-ground rooms, whether original cellars retained for storage or living space, or full basement conversions, adding a level that sits partly or fully below the surrounding ground. This page works through the entry points that matter on homes with basements and what is worth fitting because of them.
- Kingston upon ThamesProtecting a loft-converted home: what to fitHouses with a converted loft space used as an additional bedroom, office or living area, adding a floor above the original roofline and typically served by dormer or rooflight windows. This page works through the entry points that matter on loft-converted homes and what is worth fitting because of them.
- LooseHomes with bifold doors: weak points and what to fitHouses, often with a rear extension, where a wide bifold door system has replaced a smaller conventional door, opening the rear elevation onto the garden across most of its width. This page works through the entry points that matter on homes with bifold doors and what is worth fitting because of them.
- MottinghamSecurity for homes with conservatories: entry points and optionsHouses with a largely glazed conservatory or garden room extension to the rear or side, often used as a living space in warmer months and sometimes left less used, and less watched, during winter. This page works through the entry points that matter on homes with conservatories and what is worth fitting because of them.
- PemburyHomes with solar panels: where they are actually enteredOften occupied through the day but the roof itself is unwatched, and the inverter and isolator switches sit in a garage or side return nobody checks daily. This page works through the entry points that matter on homes with solar panels and what is worth fitting because of them.
- RobertsbridgeProtecting a home with an EV charger: what to fitVehicle and charger sit outside overnight on a driveway or frontage that is otherwise unmonitored once the household is in bed. This page works through the entry points that matter on homes with EV chargers and what is worth fitting because of them.
- SidcupHomes with hot tubs: weak points and what to fitThe garden area around the tub is used seasonally and often left running unattended between uses, drawing power and standing exposed at the rear of the plot. This page works through the entry points that matter on homes with hot tubs and what is worth fitting because of them.
- StaplehurstSecurity for homes with garden rooms: entry points and optionsUsed as an office, gym or occasional guest space, often unoccupied for long stretches during the working day even when the main house has people in it. This page works through the entry points that matter on homes with garden rooms and what is worth fitting because of them.
- TestonHomes with log cabins: where they are actually enteredSimilar to a garden room but often used more casually for storage or hobbies, and less likely to be checked daily than a room used for work. This page works through the entry points that matter on homes with log cabins and what is worth fitting because of them.
- Vinters ParkProtecting a home with stables: what to fitYard and stable block are visited at set times for feeding and mucking out, leaving long unattended periods overnight and during the working day. This page works through the entry points that matter on homes with stables and what is worth fitting because of them.
- WinghamHomes with large gardens: weak points and what to fitExtensive grounds mean long unwatched boundaries and multiple approach routes that a single camera or sensor set cannot realistically cover. This page works through the entry points that matter on homes with large gardens and what is worth fitting because of them.
- AshfordSecurity for homes with shared driveways: entry points and optionsAccess is used by more than one household, so activity that would look suspicious on a private drive can pass unquestioned here. This page works through the entry points that matter on homes with shared driveways and what is worth fitting because of them.
- BexleyheathHomes behind shops: where they are actually enteredResidential space sits above or behind commercial premises with different opening hours, so the two halves of the building are exposed at different times of day. This page works through the entry points that matter on homes behind shops and what is worth fitting because of them.
- BridgeProtecting a flat above a shop: what to fitReached via a separate street door beside or behind the shop frontage, often the only entrance and shared by every flat above. This page works through the entry points that matter on flats above shops and what is worth fitting because of them.
- CharthamGround-floor flats: weak points and what to fitAt street or garden level, so windows and doors are within easy reach without climbing, unlike every other flat in the same block. This page works through the entry points that matter on ground-floor flats and what is worth fitting because of them.
- CrayfordSecurity for top-floor flats: entry points and optionsReached only via the communal stair or lift, with no ground-level openings, but the roof space and any balcony introduce their own access questions. This page works through the entry points that matter on top-floor flats and what is worth fitting because of them.
- East FarleighPurpose-built blocks: where they are actually enteredMultiple flats behind a single communal entrance, with shared responsibility for the systems protecting everyone rather than any one household controlling them. This page works through the entry points that matter on purpose-built blocks and what is worth fitting because of them.
- FordcombeProtecting a converted house flat: what to fitA single house split into several flats, so original room layouts, shared hallways and repurposed doors do not always match how the security of each unit was actually thought through. This page works through the entry points that matter on converted house flats and what is worth fitting because of them.
- HallingRetirement flats: weak points and what to fitResidents may have reduced mobility or hearing, so both the communal entrance and any in-flat alarm need to work for people who cannot always respond quickly. This page works through the entry points that matter on retirement flats and what is worth fitting because of them.
- HollingbourneSecurity for sheltered housing: entry points and optionsIndependent living with some support, typically involving communal facilities and regular visits from wardens, carers or support staff who need reliable access without compromising security. This page works through the entry points that matter on sheltered housing and what is worth fitting because of them.
- Kingston upon ThamesSocial housing tenancies: where they are actually enteredTenanted under a landlord who typically retains responsibility for fabric and fittings, so tenants often cannot make changes without the landlord's involvement or approval. This page works through the entry points that matter on social housing tenancies and what is worth fitting because of them.
- LooseProtecting a private rental property: what to fitLet by a private landlord, often through an agent, with responsibility for fabric and security split between landlord obligations and what a tenant is permitted to change themselves. This page works through the entry points that matter on private rentals and what is worth fitting because of them.
- MottinghamSecond homes: weak points and what to fitStanding empty for long periods between visits, sometimes weeks or months, with no daily routine to make an absence obvious to neighbours. This page works through the entry points that matter on second homes and what is worth fitting because of them.
- PemburySecurity for serviced apartments: entry points and optionsUsed by a changing sequence of short-term occupants, so access needs resetting between every stay without relying on physical keys being returned reliably. This page works through the entry points that matter on serviced apartments and what is worth fitting because of them.
- RobertsbridgeHomes under renovation: where they are actually enteredPartly or wholly unoccupied during works, with tools, materials and fittings on site and normal doors and windows sometimes removed entirely. This page works through the entry points that matter on homes under renovation and what is worth fitting because of them.
- SidcupProtecting a self-build home: what to fitConstructed over an extended period, often with the owner closely involved and visiting the site outside formal working hours, while the site itself stands unattended much of the time. This page works through the entry points that matter on self-build homes and what is worth fitting because of them.
- StaplehurstHomes with inherited CCTV: weak points and what to fitPurchased or let with an existing camera system left by a previous owner or tenant, of unknown condition, coverage or ongoing access. This page works through the entry points that matter on homes with inherited CCTV and what is worth fitting because of them.
- TestonSecurity for homes with no broadband: entry points and optionsOccupied normally but without a fixed internet connection, ruling out any security system that depends on a home Wi-Fi network to function. This page works through the entry points that matter on homes with no broadband and what is worth fitting because of them.
- Vinters ParkHomes with poor mobile signal: where they are actually enteredOccupied normally, but weak cellular coverage limits the reliability of any system that depends on a mobile signal for notification or backup connectivity. This page works through the entry points that matter on homes with poor mobile signal and what is worth fitting because of them.
- WinghamProtecting a multi-generational home: what to fitSeveral generations of one family under one roof, with different routines, mobility levels and access needs that a single simple system may not accommodate well. This page works through the entry points that matter on multi-generational homes and what is worth fitting because of them.
- AshfordHomes with classic cars: weak points and what to fitVehicle stored on the property, sometimes daily-driven but often kept in a garage and only moved occasionally, making any change in its position or condition significant. This page works through the entry points that matter on homes with classic cars and what is worth fitting because of them.
- BexleyheathSecurity for homes with boat or caravan storage: entry points and optionsVehicle or vessel stored on the property between uses, often for extended periods, and typically positioned wherever space allows rather than where it is best overlooked. This page works through the entry points that matter on homes with boat or caravan storage and what is worth fitting because of them.
- BridgeHomes with long access tracks: where they are actually enteredSet back from the public road by a private track, meaning the property is not visible from passing traffic and the approach itself is the first point worth monitoring. This page works through the entry points that matter on homes with long access tracks and what is worth fitting because of them.
- CharthamProtecting a home with a flat-roof extension: what to fitGround-floor extension roof sits within reach of upper-floor windows, quietly creating a step-up route that did not exist before the extension was built. This page works through the entry points that matter on homes with flat-roof extensions and what is worth fitting because of them.
Other guide libraries
Choosing home security systems for the whole property
The guides on this page work property by property, but most households in Kent are really choosing a combination: a home alarm system for the doors and rooms that matter, cameras covering the drive, side gate or rear access, and sometimes door entry where a building has a shared entrance. A home security system works best when those parts are planned together, so the alarm, recorder and remote viewing are set up for the way the household actually uses the house.
Wisetech installs and repairs burglar alarms, CCTV, access control and WiFi for homes across Medway, Kent and South East London, generally within around an hour of our Chatham base. If you already have a system fitted by another company, we can survey it, repair what is worth keeping and take over its servicing, rather than starting again by default. See burglar alarms, home CCTV installation and alarm servicing for each part in more detail.
What decides the cost of a home alarm system
Home security system cost depends on how many entry points need protecting, whether the alarm is wired or wireless, how many cameras and how much recording are needed, and how much of any existing equipment can be reused. We do not publish a single figure because two houses on the same street can need very different systems. A free survey comes first, followed by an itemised written quotation, so you can see what each part is for before agreeing anything.
If you are searching for a home alarm system near you, call 01634 944161 and you will speak to the engineer who does the work, not a call centre. Landlords can also ask about upgrading alarms and door entry between tenancies.
Using These Guides: Common Questions
What they cover and where an engineer is needed