As a Riviera Home Owner security is obviously an important consideration, particularly if it’s a holiday home that will be unoccupied for long periods.

While it’s important not to underestimate security risks, even in rural areas of the French Riviera, where crime rates are generally low, you should avoid turning your home into a fortress, which will deter visitors as well as would-be thieves! Bear in mind that your home is generally more at risk from fire and storm damage than from burglary.

Generally, the minimum level of security required by French insurance companies is fairly basic, e.g. security locks on external doors and shutters on windows (small windows generally have bars rather than shutters). If the contents of your home are worth less than around €60,000, this will normally be all that’s required. However, as a Riviera Home Owner where burglary rates are thought to be one of the highest in France, many insurers insist on extra security measures, such as two locks on external doors, internal locking shutters, and security bars or metal grilles on windows and patio doors.

In remote areas of the French Riviera, it’s common for owners to fit two or three locks on external doors, alarm systems (see below), grilles on doors and windows, window locks, security shutters and a safe for valuables, although such systems are rarely required by insurance companies. The advantage of grilles is that they allow you to leave windows open without inviting criminals in (unless they’re very slim). You can fit UPVC (toughened clear plastic) security windows and doors, which can survive an attack with a sledge-hammer without damage, and external steel security blinds (that can be electrically operated), although these are expensive.

As a Riviera Home Owner whose property is unoccupied for long periods of time, the policy may specify that all forms of protection you have on doors and windows must be used, and that all other protection (e.g. shutters) must also be used after 22.00.

In a new home

If you’re a new Riviera Home Owner, it’s often wise to replace the locks (or lock barrels) as soon as possible, as you have no idea how many keys are in circulation for the existing locks. This is true even for newly constructed homes, as builders often give keys to sub-contractors. Plus, as a Riviera Home Owner who lets the property, it’s also wise to change the external locks or lock barrels periodically. If they aren’t already fitted, it’s best to fit high security (double cylinder or dead bolt) locks. Modern properties are usually fitted with special high security locks that are individually numbered. Extra keys for these locks cannot be cut at a local hardware store and you need to obtain details from the previous owner.

Being a Riviera Home Owner you may wish to have a security alarm fitted, which is usually the best way to deter thieves and may also reduce your household insurance. It should include external doors and windows, internal infra-red security beams, and may also include an entry keypad (whose code can be frequently changed and is useful for clients if you let) and even 24-hour monitoring. With a monitored system, when a sensor (e.g. smoke or forced entry) is activated or a panic button is pushed, a signal is sent automatically to a 24-hour monitoring station. The duty monitor will telephone to check whether it’s a genuine alarm (a code must be given); if he cannot contact you, someone will be sent to investigate.

For a property on the French Riviera an insurer may require you to have a particular alarm fitted – check before buying a system to make sure it is acceptable. More sophisticated security systems using internet technology are now available, including cameras and sound recorders linked to your computer or mobile phone. However, these are obviously more expensive, but as a Riviera Home Owner leaving your property vacant of extended periods of time, being able to access the security system remotely might be of benefit.

You can deter thieves by ensuring that your house is well lit at night and not conspicuously empty. External security ‘motion detector’ lights (that switch on automatically when someone approaches), random timed switches for internal lights, radios and televisions, even dummy security cameras, and tapes that play barking dogs (etc.) triggered by a light or heat detector may all help deter burglars. There are systems that allow you to control and manage remotely everything from the heating and lighting to the TV and hi-fi, etc. These systems have the added benefit of being able to warm your property and even boil the kettle just before you arrive for a winter weekend break! But as mentioned before – these don’t come cheap!

Dogs

A dog can be useful to deter intruders, although it should be kept inside where it cannot be given poisoned food. Irrespective of whether you actually have a dog, a warning sign with a picture of a fierce dog may act as a deterrent. If not already present, you should have the front door of your apartment or villa fitted with a spy-hole and chain so that you can check the identity of a visitor before opening the door. Remember, prevention is better than cure, as stolen property is rarely recovered.

If you’re a Riviera Home Owner and use the property only for vacations a few times a year you must firstly make sure your insurance company know this important fact. It is also wise not to leave anything of great value (monetary or sentimental) in the property when you are not there. When you do vacate your prperty for an extended period, it may be obligatory to notify a caretaker, plus the insurance company, and it’s a good idea to leave a key with someone in case of emergencies. If you have a robbery, you should report it immediately to your local gendarmerie, where you must make a statement (plainte). You will receive a copy, which is required by your insurance company when you make a claim.

When closing a property for an extended period, e.g. over the winter, you should ensure that everything is switched off and that it’s secure.

In case of fire

Another important aspect of security for a Riviera Home Owner is ensuring that you have early warning incase of a fire, which is easily accomplished by installing smoke detectors, although these aren’t as widely available in France as in the UK. For example; those that are available tend to be of the optical variety or part of a smoke detection system (where detectors are linked so that, if one is triggered, they all sound the alarm) and therefore more expensive than the ionisation detectors available in other countries for €10, which are quite adequate. In our region on the French Riviera, Castorama and Leroy-Merlin are two major retailers offering basic smoke detectors. These devices should be tested weekly to ensure that the batteries aren’t exhausted. You should also clean (e.g. vacuum) smoke detectors periodically to remove dust.