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Home Security Survey: Basement flat or apartment

Tips for completing this questionnaire:

  • To get the most out of this survey be totally honest when answering the questions
  • Consider your security from a burglar's perspective, not your own
  • You must answer all of the questions in order to receive your individualised home security report
  • Be rest assured; we don't know who you are or where you live, but we are asking you for either your country, or your country and county/state of residence. This is to help us promote this free service more effectively
  • If, after completing the survey, you have some suggestions to improve the service, please let us know using the Feedback form

Section 1: Dwelling location and tenure

Question 1

In your opinion, before you answer the rest of the survey, how would you rate your home security? Please try to be as honest as you can.

Question 2

My home is:

Question 3

My dwelling is located in: - Select the closest description

Question 4

The building in which I live is located:

Question 5

The local area is:

Question 6

I have lived in this dwelling for:

Question 7

I would estimate my dwelling security to be:

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Section 2: Personal risks

Question 8

My age group is:

Question 9

My employment status is currently:               

Question 10

I am a:

Question 11

I have been the victim of a burglary at this dwelling within the last: - Select the closest answer

Question 12

A nearby neighbour has been the victim of a burglary within the last: - Select the closest answer

Question 13

Do you have home contents insurance?

Question 14

On a normal weekday, during the daytime, how would you describe the 'occupancy' of this dwelling? - Select the closest description

Question 15

Is there a dog living at the address for which you are currently filling out this questionnaire? - Select the closest answer

Next »

Section 3: The front of the dwelling

Question 16

What is the view of the building (of which your basement flat is a part) from the main road? - Choose the closest description

Question 17

A person calling at the entrance door to my basement flat:

Question 18

The position of the entrance door to my basement flat is: - Choose the closest description

Question 19

The entrance door to my basement flat is:

Some notes to help you answer this question:

An enhanced security PAS24-2007 doorset should be marked as such.  Look around the edges of the door and frame to find the mark.  If you cannot find the mark and you rent the property contact the landlord to check.  The very latest may be labelled PAS24 - 2012

To identify a BS lock, look for the British Standard Kitemark on the faceplate of the lock. BS 3621 locks have keyways on both sides, BS 8621 locks have a keyway on the outside and a thumb turn on the inside and BS 10621 locks are similar to 8621 locks, but you can lock the internal thumb turn from the outside.

Sashlocks consist of a key/key or key/thumbturn operated dead bolt and a handle operated sprung bolt.

A nightlatch is also referred to as a ‘rim lock’ or a ‘Yale’ type lock.

Question 20

The main entrance door to my basement flat also has:

Question 21

Do you have clear glass or a door viewer in the main entrance door to your basement flat?

Question 22

Is there a door chain or door limiter on the entrance door to your basement flat?

Question 23

Does one or more of your doors have a cat flap or maybe a dog flap?

Question 24

At the front of my basement flat I have accessible windows that are: - Choose the closest description. 

Accessible windows are those on the ground floor and in the basement and those that can be climbed to with or without the assistance of one other person, but not with the use of a climbing aid such as a ladder, rope or high vehicle.

Question 25

The accessible windows to the front of my home have:

Question 26

The steps down to my basement flat are accessed: - Choose the closest description

Question 27

Is there is a lockable gate at the top of the access steps down to your basement flat?

Question 28

Are there things out the front that could be used to force open a door/window?

Question 29

Do you keep items of value, such as bicycles and potted plants, outside your basement flat at the bottom of the access steps?

Question 30

Where do you keep the spare key to the main entrance door? - Choose the closest description

Question 31

If you have a security alarm is the alarm bell box visible from the road?

Question 32

Are you displaying things of value in your front windows?   

Question 33

Can the emergency services easily see the number/name of your dwelling from the road?

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Section 4: Lighting

Question 34

Do you have a light outside the entrance door to your basement flat?

Question 35

Is there a street lamp right outside your basement flat?  

Question 36

Are there lights outside the rear door?

Question 37

Are there lights outside the side door?

Question 38

Are there extra lights in the basement well in front of your flat?

Question 39

Do you leave lights on inside your flat when you go out for the night? - Choose the closest description

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Section 5: The side of the dwelling

Question 40

Can you walk down the side of your basement flat? - Choose the closest description

Question 41

If you can walk down the side of your basement flat can you easily get into the back garden? - Choose the closest description

Question 42

Is it possible to look over the side access from inside the basement flat?

Question 43

At the side of my basement flat I have accessible windows that are: - Choose the closest description. Accessible windows are those on the ground floor and in the basement and those that can be climbed to with or without the assistance of one other person, but not with the use of a climbing aid such as a ladder, rope or high vehicle.


Question 44

The accessible windows to the side of my home have:

Question 45

The single leaf side door to my basement flat is: - Choose the closest description

Notes to help you answer the question

PAS24-2007 doorsets should be marked as such.  Look around the edges of the door and frame to find the mark.  If you cannot find the mark and you rent the property contact the landlord to check.  The very latest enhanced security doors may be marked PAS24 2012.

To identify a BS lock, look for the British Standard Kitemark on the faceplate of the lock. BS 3621 locks have keyways on both sides, BS 8621 locks have a keyway on the outside and a thumb turn on the inside, BS 10621 locks are similar to 8621 locks, but you can lock the internal thumb turn from the outside. Sashlocks consist of a key operated dead bolt and a handle operated sprung bolt

Question 46

The side door to my basement flat also has:

Question 47

Other doors to the side of the dwelling, such as French doors, sliding patio doors and folding sliding doors are: - Choose the closest description

Notes to help you answer this question

An enhanced security PAS24 doorset should be marked as such.  Look around the edges of the door and frame to find the mark.  If you cannot find the mark and you rent the property contact the landlord to check. The very latest enhanced security doorsets may be marked PAS24 2011.

To identify a BS lock, look for the British Standard Kitemark on the faceplate of the lock. BS 3621 locks have keyways on both sides. BS 8621 locks have a keyway on the outside and a thumb turn on the inside. BS 10621 locks are similar to 8621 locks, but you can lock the internal thumb turn from the outside.

Sashlocks consist of a key operated dead bolt and a handle operated sprung bolt.

Question 48

The side door has:

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Section 6: The rear of the dwelling and garden

Question 49

Is there a garden or yard or other space immediately to the rear of your basement flat? (It does not matter whether or not you have use of this space.)  If you click 'no' then this indicates that the rear of your basement flat consists of solid walls with no doors or windows and certainly no access into whatever might be behind the flat.  

Question 50

Does the back garden or yard's rear boundary border a road, a railway line, an ungated alleyway or other open land?           

Question 51

How much effort would be required to climb over the rear boundary into the back garden or yard?

Question 52

Does the alleyway running along the back of your dwelling have a locked gate at its entrance? 

Question 53

How much effort would be required for an intruder to climb over or through the side boundary from a neighbour’s garden?         

Question 54

Is there an unsecured ladder in your yard or garden or in your neighbour’s yard or garden?

Question 55

Are there garden tools lying around the rear garden or yard or left in insecure outbuildings, such as a greenhouse?

Question 56

Are there items in the back garden or yard that are of particular value, such as statues and rare plants?

Question 57

How well secured is the garden shed or other outbuilding? - Choose the closest description

Question 58

If you have use of the rear garden or yard does someone look after its maintenance when you go on holiday?

Question 59

Can you see most of the rear garden from your rear windows?

Question 60

Is the rear garden overlooked from neighbouring dwellings?

Question 61

If you have a security alarm system is there and alarm bell box on the rear wall?

Question 62

Are you displaying things of value in your rear windows? 

Question 63

The rear single leaf door to my basement flat is: - Choose the closest description

Notes to help you answer the question

PAS24-2007 doorsets should be marked as such.  Look around the edges of the door and frame to find the mark.  If you cannot find the mark and you rent the property contact the landlord to check.  The very latest enhanced security doors may be marked PAS24 2012.

To identify a BS lock, look for the British Standard Kitemark on the faceplate of the lock. BS 3621 locks have keyways on both sides, BS 8621 locks have a keyway on the outside and a thumb turn on the inside, BS 10621 locks are similar to 8621 locks, but you can lock the internal thumb turn from the outside. Sashlocks consist of a key operated dead bolt and a handle operated sprung bolt

Question 64

The single leaf back door has:

Question 65

Other doors to rear of the dwelling, such as French doors, sliding patio doors and folding sliding doors are: - Choose the closest description

Notes to help you answer this question

An enhanced security PAS24 doorset should be marked as such.  Look around the edges of the door and frame to find the mark.  If you cannot find the mark and you rent the property contact the landlord to check. The very latest enhanced security doorsets may be marked PAS24 2012.

To identify a BS lock, look for the British Standard Kitemark on the faceplate of the lock. BS 3621 locks have keyways on both sides. BS 8621 locks have a keyway on the outside and a thumb turn on the inside. BS 10621 locks are similar to 8621 locks, but you can lock the internal thumb turn from the outside.

Sashlocks consist of a key operated dead bolt and a handle operated sprung bolt.

Question 66

The French/Patio/Bi-fold door to the rear of my basement flat has:

Question 67

At the rear of my basement flat I have accessible windows that are: - Choose the closest description. Accessible windows are those on the ground floor and in the basement and those that can be climbed to with or without the assistance of one other person, but not with the use of a climbing aid such as a ladder, rope or high vehicle.

Question 68

The accessible windows to the rear of my home have:

Question 69

Does your dwelling have a conservatory extension? - Select the closest description

Next »

Section 7: Internal security

Question 70

Do you have a fire plan? – ‘get out, stay out and dial 999’

Question 71

Have you marked your valuable property using a security marking system

Question 72

I keep my cash and or valuable jewellery and documents: - Choose the closest description. 

Question 73

I keep the spare keys to my dwelling and car keys: - Choose the closest description

Question 74

Do you have an intruder alarm system?

Next »

Section 8: Vehicle security and garages

Question 75

At night I normally park the main vehicle: - Choose the closest description - there's lots of them! It's appreciated that you may have more than one vehicle parked at your dwelling, but for the purposes of this questionnaire just concentrate on what you regard as the main vehicle.

Question 76

How many vehicles, owned by you or your family, are parked at your dwelling?

Question 77

My garage vehicle door is: - Choose the best description

Question 78

If there is a separate pedestrian door to the outside from the garage I would describe it as: - Choose the closest description. You can select 'there is no pedestrian door' or 'not applicable'.

Notes to help you answer this question

PAS24-2007 and LPS 1175 doorsets should be marked as such. Look around the edges of the door and frame to find the mark.  If you cannot find the mark and you rent the property contact the landlord to check. The very latest enhanced security doorsets may be marked PAS24 2012.

To identify a BS lock, look for the British Standard Kitemark on the faceplate of the lock. BS 3621 locks have keyways on both sides. BS 8621 locks have a keyway on the outside and a thumb turn on the inside. BS 10621 locks are similar to 8621 locks, but you can lock the internal thumb turn from the outside.

Sashlocks consist of a key operated dead bolt and a handle operated sprung bolt.

A night latch is also referred to as a ‘rim lock’ or a ‘Yale’ type lock.

Question 79

If there is a fire resistant pedestrian door from the flat into an attached garage how would you describe it's security? - Choose the closest description

Notes to help you answer the question

All fire doorsets are marked, but sometimes the marks may have been painted over or removed.  Marking is different depending on the certification scheme. CERTIFIRE labels are usually on the top edge of the doorset. ‘Q’ marked doorsets have colour coded plugs inserted into the door at the top of the hinge side and or the frame. LPCB fire doors are marked ‘LPCB approved’ with a serial number.

PAS24-2007 and LPS 1175 doorsets should be marked as such.  Look around the edges of the door and frame to find the mark.  If you cannot find the mark and you rent the property contact the landlord to check. The very latest security enhanced doors may be labelled 'PAS24 2012'.

To identify a BS lock, look for the British Standard Kitemark on the faceplate of the lock. BS 3621 locks have keyways on both sides, BS 8621 locks have a keyway on the outside and a thumb turn on the inside, BS 10621 locks are similar to 8621 locks, but you can lock the internal thumb turn from the outside.

A nightlatch is also referred to as a ‘rim lock’ or a ‘Yale’ type lock.

Question 80

Apart from locking the vehicle I always ensure that I - Choose the closest description

Next »

Section 9: Mail delivery

Question 81

The mail delivered to my basement dwelling is: - Choose the closest description

Question 82

Mail that is posted through the letter plate in the door falls: - Choose the closest description

Question 83

Large deliveries made when I am out are: - Choose the closest description

Next »

Section 10: Additional questions

OK, you've completed the security survey!

Before we can create your written home security report with your score and recommendations, please answer the following questions to help us keep this free service as useful as possible.

Question 84

Why have you completed this Home Security Survey?

Question 85

How did you find out about this website?

Question 86

How would you rate the usefulness of this Home Security Survey so far?

Question 87

In your opinion, how does this website - The Crime Prevention Website.com - compare with other websites dealing with crime prevention and/or home security?

Question 88

What is the likelihood of you or somebody else carrying out some or all of the home security improvements that will be recommended to you?

Question 89

How would you rate the helpfulness of your local police in terms of their provision of crime prevention advice?

Question 90

What is the likelihood of you recommending this website to other people?

Question 91

This website relies on advertising for its very existence, have you noticed or clicked on any interesting adverts as you browsed the website?

Note - The products advertised on this website are individually reviewed by us and must be independently certified to security standards where such standards are available

Question 92

In your opinion, now that you've answered the survey, how would you rate your home security? Please try to be as honest as you can. 


Please note, by clicking 'finished' below you confirm that you understood that this advice is given in good faith and we do not guarantee that you won't be the subject of a crime even if you carry out all of the recommendations given.

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