The True Price of Safety

In order to determine the true price of safety, we have pulled together data on the following:

Average house price across the UK (with and without an alarm)
Average burglary cost across the UK
Burglary statistics
Alarm prices
Data pulled from each factor has been evaluated against each other, to reveal how much it costs to protect your home as opposed to what is at stake if you choose not to.

Keeping yourself, your loved ones and home safe is a priority. We all go through the nightly ritual of double-checking that all doors and windows are locked before we go to sleep. However, sometimes, a little extra protection is needed. On average, 34 burglaries take place per hour and 63% of these happen to households without a basic security system. You may wonder if securing your home is worth the hassle or price tag. However, we often don’t recognise the severity of what could be on the line by choosing not to protect our homes.

Being burgled doesn’t only cause financial difficulties but it can also be a harrowing experience. It’s often forgotten that break-ins can have an emotional impact, as an intruder has broken into a place that you consider a safe haven. Enhancing your home security is the best way to reduce the chances of becoming a target. There are many ways to do this, namely an alarm system. And it’s a smart investment if you want peace of mind day and night. After all – you can’t put a price tag on safety.

In this report, we will discuss how having an alarm system can benefit in multiple ways, and how it’s not just a financial investment, but an investment in protecting yourself, your loved ones and your beloved home.

Having an Alarm Can Increase Property Value

When considering how to increase the value of a property – many homeowners tend to think about the big-ticket projects, for example remodelling the kitchen. Whilst it’s undeniable that these makeovers can add huge value to your home, they also come with big upfront costs, which can restrict your total return-on-investment. The smaller and less obvious solutions, like installing an alarm system, can sometimes be overlooked. However, sometimes smaller ventures can be your golden ticket. They can bump up the value of your home by a considerable amount but for an upfront cost that doesn’t require you to dig deep into your pocket.

The most important purpose of a home alarm system is to keep you, your family and your home safe. However, as an added bonus, having an alarm can also increase the value of your property. Home buyers aren’t just looking for conservatories or en suite bedrooms anymore – they’re also looking for peace of mind. Of course, we all want to be confident that our dream home will be a safe place to live in. And fitting a home alarm system is one of the simplest projects to take on, that can boost your home’s value and make it more appealing to potential buyers.

Overall, across England, having an alarm system can increase property value by a remarkable £10,900. So, you can protect your home and increase its asking price, if you ever decided to sell – what more could you want?

Below, we have outlined how much house price can increase when having an alarm system, based on cities[1]. These figures are based on properties within a 5-mile radius and between a 5-to-12-mile radius of their city centre. It’s important to note that when pulling the data together, we were unable to include Manchester in the findings, as their police department doesn’t have open data on criminality rates.

• Durham

Across the UK, Durham wins a gold medal, as houses with an alarm can increase by a mammoth £18,900 in price. Within a 6-mile radius of the city centre, take a terraced house with two bedrooms, one bathroom and an alarm system for example. On average, the cost of a property like this is £210,000. However, a bungalow with no alarm system, but the same amount of bedrooms, bathroom and plus the added benefit of a garden, can cost £175,000 (on average). Therefore, even if your home has all the fun extras like a garden, it still can’t beat the great impact an alarm system can have on property value.

• Southampton

As we head down south, on average, properties with an alarm in Southampton can increase by £14,900 in value. A flat within a 6-mile radius of the city centre with a communal garden still has a higher value than a flat in the same area with no alarm system but its own private garden. The price difference between the two is £50,000 – perhaps taking measures to ramp up home security could be the answer to significantly increasing property value.

• Lancaster

In Lancaster, you can expect properties to increase by £13,500 in value if they have an alarm system. For example, a third-floor flat with two bedrooms, one bathroom and a communal garden can cost on average £210,000. However, a bigger house without an alarm system, that also has one bathroom, but four bedrooms and its own private garden can cost £189,950 (on average). This is a huge £20,050 difference, indicating that regardless of having a larger property with extra bedrooms – having an alarm system will still prevail.

• Leeds

Across England, Leeds ranks 4th as the city where house prices increase the most with the addition of an alarm system. On average, a £13,300 increase in property price can be expected. However, houses with an alarm system, that are closer to the city centre (within 4-mile radius), experience a higher increase in value than houses further out (between 4-to-7-mile radius). Properties that have an alarm system and are within a 4-mile radius of Leeds City Centre can increase by a huge £21,300 in comparison to houses without an alarm system. On the other hand, properties with an alarm system that are located a little further out, experience less of a price increase when compared to properties without an alarm system (£5,300).

• Newcastle

If you live further away from Newcastle City Centre (between 4- and 11-mile radius) and you’ve got a home alarm system – you’re in luck! This is because, on average, the value of your home could be increased by £56,550 (on average) compared to homes in the same area without an alarm. For example, take a two-bedroom flat with two bathrooms and an alarm system worth £300,000, between a 4- and 11-mile radius of Newcastle City Centre. A house like this can add £110,000 (on average) onto property value, than a townhouse with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, garden and a driveway/garage. It just goes to show the power an alarm system can have on the value of a home!

• Bristol

In Bristol, on average, you could experience a £12,100 increase in property value if you have an alarm system. Investing in security like this is more valuable than an extra bedroom in some cases. This is because within a 5.5-mile radius of Bristol City Centre, a one-bedroom flat can add on £100,000 more to property value, than a flat in the same area with an extra bedroom and a communal garden. Clearly, it’s not all about bedrooms and gardens anymore!

• Birmingham

Out of the 14 cities analysed, Birmingham ranks on the lower end of the spectrum as the with the biggest price difference between properties with and without an alarm. This price difference is £7,100. In comparison to other cities, the price difference between similar properties with and without an alarm system is much lower. For example, a semi-detached house further out of the city centre, with an alarm system, three bedrooms, one bathroom and a garden, is worth only £50 more than a similar house without an alarm system.

• Liverpool

In Liverpool, you can expect your property to increase in value by £1,800 if it has an alarm system, which is considerably lower when compared to the other cities. In fact, a flat with two bedrooms, two bathrooms and an alarm system (within a 5.5. mile radius of the city centre) is actually lower in value by £31,000, than the same property but without an alarm system.

The Counties with the Highest Burglary Rates
 

The most recent crime count details over 5.7 million offences across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. More specifically looking at burglaries, approximately 274,899 were committed last year in England and Wales, which is a substantial drop of 37% when compared to 2019. However, this is probably due to factors occurring such as lockdowns and having to stay at home more, during the period where burglaries dropped. As restrictions have lifted, it’s likely that burglaries could shoot up again. More people wanting to get out and about equates to more houses being empty at times – the perfect situation for a trespasser.

Let’s investigate the counties with the highest burglary rates in the UK, according to CrimeRate:

• 1. South Yorkshire

Burglary in South Yorkshire is rife as it ranks first as the most dangerous county for burglary in the UK. This is due to the fact that a burglary rate of 7.12 offences per 1000 people in 2020 was recorded.

• 2. London

Not far behind South Yorkshire, London follows as the second most dangerous county for burglary, with a crime rate of 6.82 per 1000 residents.

• 3. West Midlands

In third place is the West Midlands. The county has a burglary rate of 6.69 offences per 1000 people. It comes as no surprise, considering the fact that it was recently reported that only 1 in 10 burglaries have been solved by the West Midlands police over the last 5 years. Across England, 88.7% of cases that went unsolved between September 2016 and September 2020 were higher than any other police force in the country.

The city of Birmingham is 11% more dangerous for burglaries than the West Midlands as a whole. December 2020 saw many burglaries for Birmingham residents, as it was the county’s most dangerous area for the crime. 777 burglaries at a rate of 0.67 per 1000 residents were recorded.

• 4. West Yorkshire

Also suffering from a burglary pandemic – West Yorkshire. The county has a burglary rate of 6.47 per 1000 residents. Within the county, Leeds is actually the 6th most dangerous city for burglary in the UK. In particular, December 2020 was a bad month for the residents of Leeds, as West Yorkshire was the most dangerous place for burglary, with 293 crimes at a rate of 0.57 per 1000 residents. The most dangerous neighbourhood for burglary is Leeds City Centre with 296 crimes per 1000 people.

• 5. Bristol

Across the UK as a whole, Bristol is the second safest major city. However, when it comes to residential burglaries – you may want to consider a home alarm system after all. It’s the 5th most dangerous county for burglary with 6.29 per 1000 residents. Close to the city centre, Temple Meads is the most dangerous neighbourhood in Bristol for burglary, with 109 crimes per 1000 people.

The Average Cost of Burglary UK

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the average residential burglary costs £3,030 in the UK. £1,400 of this amount accounts for the value of the property stolen/damaged, which is a lot to lose in one go, and enough to plunge someone into a financial crisis. However, more than one-third of £3,030 accounts for the emotional detriment to victims – which can hit harder. And it makes sense when you think about it, as someone will be home during 58% of burglaries. Plus, the single most frequent cost (£440) to victims of burglary is the time needed off work and reduced productivity, to deal with lengthy paperwork, appointments, repairs and other elements of the crime.

There are other costs involved too, for example:

• Defensive expenditure

This includes the money spent on crime detection and prevention. For example, burglar alarms and CCTV equipment.

• Insurance administration

Insurance administration involves the cost of insurance firms dealing with insurance claims, and it also includes the administration costs of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority 13. When considering the replacement costs of the stolen goods, insurance plays a huge role. One of the most commonly stolen items is jewellery (38%). So, if you have jewellery that’s irreplaceable heirloom and has been passed down generations – insurance can only replace sentimental things with money. Insurance premiums often soar after a burglary or incident, so this may also be another permanent future expense.

• Health services

This includes the costs of dealing with the physical and emotional detriments of crime. If you or loved one is at home when the burglary happens, in the instance that you confront the thief, you could suffer serious injuries as well as emotional trauma. This will of course lead to medical intervention, for example having to undergo surgery or counselling.

Often, we overlook the fact that burglaries can have psychological impacts. And it can’t be determined how long this will last, it could be ongoing for years, or triggered unexpectedly. Unfortunately, there’s no specific cure for the emotional side effects of a burglary – though therapy can help. Some of the emotional impacts suffered by burglary victims include:
 

- Feeling guilty for not doing more to stop the burglary
- Loss of faith in society
- Feelings of mistrust, loneliness and distress
- Depression, anxiety, panic attacks and insomnia
- PTSD-like symptoms and flashbacks
- Socialising less
- Lack of confidence and feeling vulnerable
- Living in constant fear of a repeat burglary

• Police costs

Police costs include the cost of police time and resources taken up by investigating a particular crime instead of engaging in other activities.

• Additional CJS costs

The CJS is a set of agencies and practices created by the government to control crime and enforce penalties on people who break the law. For example, the expenses include the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), court, defence, prison and probation.

These additional expenses bump up the total average cost of residential burglary in the UK from £3,030 to a staggering £5,930.

The True Price of Safety

When breaking down the information from CrimeRate, it seems to be the bigger counties that experience more burglaries. You may not have expected for South Yorkshire to beat London in terms of its high burglary rates, nor the West Midlands or West Yorkshire ranking so highly. However, the conclusion from the results is evident – heavily populated areas are more at risk.

If the idea of fitting surveillance gear all over your home fills you with fear, a smart alarm system may be the answer to your prayers. They’re so much more than just an intelligent version of a traditional burglar alarm. These clever devices normally use wireless sirens, sensors, keypads and cameras to take your home security up a notch. Traditional burglar alarms are managed via a control panel that’s normally in your hallway. But with a smart alarm – you can control everything from the palm of your hand through an app on your smart device.

This means you can manage settings from wherever you are, as well as receive alarm sensor trigger warnings straight to your pocket – handy right? Best of all, installing an alarm system for your home doesn’t just protect your home, as demonstrated, it can also add a significant increase in value to the price of your property.

Across the UK, the data pulled regarding alarm systems adding to property value, revealed that on average the price difference between similar properties with and without alarms is £10,900. Across multiple cities, the differences vary between £100 to £18,900. However, bigger variations in certain cities have brought the average number up.

For example, in Leeds and Bristol, homes with alarm systems are worth £13,300 and £12,100 more than properties with none. And it makes sense, considering they’re both in the top five counties with the highest burglary rates, with Leeds also being the 6th most dangerous city for burglary.

If you live in these areas, invite the Somfy Home Alarm into your life – the only plug and play alarm system that chases away burglars before they can even get in. Even if you go for a more advanced alarm system that’s £599, your investment will still be worthwhile when you factor in the cost of burglary. Would you rather lose £3,030 all in one go or make a £599 investment to prevent it in the first place? A small investment in an alarm system doesn’t sound as heavy on the pocket now, right?

The biggest price difference was in Durham, as you can increase your property’s value by a whopping £18,900 if you have an alarm system. And it’s no surprise, considering the fact that CrimeRate reported it being the 7th most dangerous county for burglary. Naturally, it makes sense for Durham residents to value more highly, a house that comes with increased security and protection. Paying £349 for a home alarm system is virtually nothing, when comparing it to the fact that you could roughly add £18,900 to the value of your property by having one. Plus, by not taking measures to protect your home, can you risk having £1,400 worth of property stolen or damaged? If irreplaceable heirlooms are taken – those are gone forever, and no amount of money can replace their sentiment. Therefore, installing an alarm system seems a minor task, when it can keep yourself, your family and home safe, as well as increase the value of your property – what more could you want?

Let’s shine a light on Birmingham and Liverpool. Both have high burglary rates yet the price difference between houses with and without an alarm is lower than other cities evaluated. Therefore, high burglary rates don’t always equate to higher property value if the house has an alarm system. This means that many other factors will also influence the true price of safety for each household e.g. income, lifestyle and risk adversity. Take Birmingham for example, where you can expect an increase of £7,100 in houses with an alarm system. Yet, it’s a city where 777 burglaries at a rate of 0.67 per 1000 residents were recorded in December 2020. Plus, Birmingham is in the West Midlands, ranked by CrimeRate as the 3rd most dangerous county for burglary. Likewise, in Liverpool, an increase of £1,800 can be seen for properties with an alarm system, which is considerably lower in comparison to other cities. Though, regardless of this small increase, as recorded by CrimeRate, Liverpool has a burglary rate as high as 6.49 per 1000 residents.

Unsurprisingly, the cities with the most dangerous neighbourhoods for burglary being the city centre or in close proximity, also experience a higher increase in value than houses situated further out the city. For example, Leeds’ most dangerous neighbourhood for burglary is Leeds City Centre with 296 crimes per 1000 people. Therefore, it makes sense that houses within this area have a price difference of a whopping £21,300 (on average) if they have an alarm system. Whereas, properties further out the city, only experience a £5300 increase.

When looking at Bristol, a flat within a 5.5-mile radius of the city centre, with one bedroom, one bathroom and an alarm system, still has a bigger increase in value by £60,000, than a similar flat with no alarm system but with the added benefit of a garden. This could be justified by the fact that Temple Meads, less than 2 miles from the city centre, is Bristol’s most dangerous neighbourhood for burglary, with 109 crimes per 1000 people. It’s clear that nothing can beat peace of mind – not even a garden!

63% of burglaries have occurred to people without a basic home security system. This is no surprise, since most burglars carefully monitor where they’re planning on breaking into, to make sure there aren’t any deterrents that will get in the way. Such deterrents, like installing an alarm system, will make your home lose its charm to burglars, seeing as they know it’ll be trickier to break into and chances of getting caught are higher.

The lucky ones are the 77% with some form of basic home security system and as a result haven’t been burgled. You can also be part of this lucky statistic by installing a basic alarm system in your home. All it takes is £349 to avoid losing £3,030 of damaged property, items of sentimental value and your precious time. Don’t forget the detriment to your emotional and physical health too – the cost of burglary isn’t just monetary.

If you compare this to the £10,900 increase (on average) that an alarm system can add to property value, it becomes crystal clear just how much there is at stake. However, more importantly, it brings to light just how big the price of safety is. Remember – prevention is always better than cure. And that’s especially true, if in the process, you can make a few pennies on your property along the way too.

Methodology

In this report, we used property platforms Zoopla[2] and Rightmove[3] to determine how much value an alarm system can add to a property. We created a spreadsheet showcasing fourteen cities across the UK, and for each city we compared at least 10 different properties within a close proximity to the city centre – 5 without an alarm system and 5 with an alarm system. The properties were chosen on a basis of being similar in terms of their amenities and other benefits that could increase their value.

Following the same process, we then gathered data for the same cities, but instead comparing at least 10 different properties further out from the city centre (5+ mile radius). In cities where we could only access data on a limited number of properties, we only recorded those further away from the city centre.

After the data pull was completed, an average price was calculated from all properties without an alarm and deducted from the properties with an alarm. This determined the difference in price and therefore calculated the value an alarm system can add. In the cities where we managed to pull data on both properties within the city centre and outside, the average was calculated between the two averages – the average of all properties within the city centre and the average of the properties outside the city centre. This allowed us to determine the most accurate value.

To put things into perspective, we used this data and compared it against the ONS report[4] detailing the average burglary cost, CrimeRate[5] burglary statistics by county and the cost of alarm systems[6]. This comparison allowed us to highlight how much you could lose by choosing not to protect your home, and at the same time, show the power an alarm has over property value in comparison to other amenities.

Methodology

[2] https://www.zoopla.co.uk/

[3] https://www.rightmove.co.uk/

[4] https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/732110/the-economic-and-social-costs-of-crime-horr99.pdf

[5] https://crimerate.co.uk/burglary

[6] https://shop.somfy.co.uk/alarm-system/