In 2024/25, there were 245,284 burglaries reported in England and Wales1. Even though burglary rates are falling, the numbers still mean heartache and inconvenience for thousands of households.  Leaseholders can at least take some comfort in that they have fewer potential points of break-in, especially if they live above the ground floor and the doors to individual flats, if properly fire compliant, will be sturdy with multiple hinges, and it is a simple matter for residents to keep them locked.

However, overall building security is still their shared concern, and here it is the communal front and rear doors that are the main line of defence against unwelcome visitors. Everyone needs to play their part in keeping communal front and back doors closed, and in taking due care before letting anyone they don't know into the building. It should be common sense, but building managers may need to remind people from time to time.

Whether you have a sophisticated automatic door entry system or rely on old-school keys and manually opening doors, the same basic guidelines apply:

  • Do not let anyone in that you don't know in, even if they say that they're expected by another resident.
  • Be careful not to let people you don't recognise know 'tailgate' and follow you in.
  • Never feel shy about requesting ID – bona fide visitors will gladly show it.

Dealing with deliveries

Probably the most frequent visitors who will try any and every doorbell just to get access to the block these days are parcel delivery drivers. It can be all too tempting just to buzz them in without really checking who they really are. The bigger the block, and further residents must walk to see someone else's delivery driver on and off the premises, the more tempting it will be just to buzz them in.

Just having parcels dumped outside risks them being stolen by opportunists and is not a solution. A better option is to create a secure safe space for deliveries such as a lockable parcel box outside the building, but even the largest of these are unlikely to cater for a building with more than a few flats.  Nevertheless, it's certainly something to discuss between leaseholders and canvas their thoughts.

Failing that, you might agree on a side alley or unlocked shed as a nominated safe space, if everyone agrees and accepts that using it is at their own risk.

Other options are to encourage residents to opt for more secure delivery options from their online retailers. Some sellers use their own parcel boxes at stations, shopping centres and service stations; delivery firms like Evri allow buyers to nominate to pick up parcels from a local convenience store, and Royal Mail deliveries can be diverted to the local post office where they can be kept until collected.

Keys control

It is important for building managers to keep tabs on keys and fobs, and for people to alert them as soon as possible after a loss. A missing fob can be quickly deactivated and replaced; and good record keeping will ensure that the right fob(s) get deactivated. Where physical keys are used, it may be necessary to change the lock and issue everyone with new keys. It's probably not a bad idea to do that every few years anyway.

Naturally, people should be advised not to have an address tag on their keyring, as that could lead burglars straight to the property. If they are concerned about losing their keys (and who doesn't do that from time to time?) then there are many finder apps working with small Bluetooth devices that can be attached to keyrings, or any other items for that matter.

Who pays for new locks and keys?

Locks and keys are part of the building's structure and fixtures and buildings insurance will often – but not necessarily – cover the cost of repair and replacement after damage due to insured events like burglary, vandalism or accidental damage.

This cover may not be standard, so check with your broker and, if necessary, you can add key cover to your policy. Be sure that your locks meet insurer requirements, which are typically that they meet BS3621, the British Standards Institute (BSI) standard for thief-resistant locks

Simple accidental loss of keys is unlikely to be covered automatically, and you may want to look at Emergency Assistance insurance policy that is specifically written for blocks of flats to protect residents from the costs of having to replace locks and all the keys after a single accidental loss.

The Gallagher Emergency Assistance Group Insurance is specifically designed to give every resident in a block access to a 24/7 emergency helpline service. They can get immediate advice on how to manage an emergency, which will be attended by a tradesman if necessary and with no out-of-hours call-out costs. It may be that an immediate repair can be made. Even if not, the likelihood of further damage will have been prevented.

Gallagher has a policy designed to meet the needs of leaseholders. Do get in touch to find out more. We can help even if we aren't your buildings insurance provider.

1"https://www.statista.com/statistics/956906/burglaries-in-england-and-wales/" statista.com, 25 July 2025

Disclaimer:

The sole purpose of this article is to provide guidance on the issues covered. This article is not intended to give legal advice, and, accordingly, it should not be relied upon. It should not be regarded as a comprehensive statement of the law and/or market practice in this area. We make no claims as to the completeness or accuracy of the information contained herein or in the links which were live at the date of publication. You should not act upon (or should refrain from acting upon) information in this publication without first seeking specific legal and/or specialist advice. Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited accepts no liability for any inaccuracy, omission or mistake in this publication, nor will we be responsible for any loss which may be suffered as a result of any person relying on the information contained herein.

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