Check Local Crime Before Buying
If you are moving to a new town or city and know nothing about it find out about local crime e.g. from estate agents who know the area. The obvious starting point to increase you home security is to buy your home in a low crime area. If you already have a home which you are intending to carry on living in for some time this first section is of less relevance. But bear it in mind when you do decide to move house.
When you are thinking of buying a house ask around...
It is no secret that some areas are much more prone to crime than others so check out the local area before you buy. Walk along the main streets and look out for signs that could signal a crime-ridden area.
Does the area appears shabby and rundown? A shabby area with poorly maintained property , unkempt gardens , graffiti and litter could indicate high unemployment that could mean alcohol and drug problems; which in turn could mean a high crime rate because the residents need to get money to feed their drug habits.
Look out for vandalism, fly tipping, graffiti, broken glass and other petty crime. Remember it is often the case that low-level crime is an indication of unseen, more serious crime.
Wealthy areas can also have problems. Large well-kept houses containing lots of valuable possessions can be very attractive to burglars. Large gardens and lots of trees and shrubs and hedges provide cover for the approaching burglar.
Modern open plan estates will have houses more open to observation meaning that criminals could be more easily spotted.
Try to find out about the area from people who live or work in the area or whose full business is connected with the area. Look for information about crime rates, threats and risks in the area. Look at anything that could affect the security of property or the people living there.
Where to find information about the location
Estate agents
It is the business of estate agents to know the local area and know the properties would be familiar with the status of the area. Tell them you are thinking of buying a house in a certain area and ask them what sort of area it is. They should answer, even although not likely to admit that any area is a bad area , because they have houses to sell from all areas. Try talking to several estate agents and compare the advice that they give you.
Letting agents
Try asking letting agents the same questions as you ask estate agents to get another perspective. Suggest that you are going to rent a property, and you want to know which are the safe areas and which areas you should avoid. Again you may not get the whole truth, but you only need a comment from one agent to raise the red flag about any particular area.
Shopkeepers
Local shopkeepers are good sources of information. First, check out the appearance of local shops. Do they have steel shutters, CCTV cameras, and alarm systems? Is there a lot of graffiti around? Then chat to the shopkeeper. Tell him that you are thinking of buying a house in the area and ask his opinion. If there are local residents in the shop you will probably get a number of opinions, and plenty of advice about which areas to avoid.
Insurance companies
Talk to your insurance company or insurance agent and ask them to quote to insure a house in the area in which you are interested. If they charge more for certain areas it is a good sign that the crime rate in those areas is higher.
Local Authority
Try contacting the local authority to get information about the various areas. Ask about crime rates, vandalism etc.
Local Newspapers
Buy the local newspapers and maybe check through back issues in the local library or online. They will carry articles and items of local news about crime in their area. This may give you an idea where the crime is concentrated.
Schools
Check the ratings of schools in the area. A poor school is likely to be a refection of its local catchment area.
Local Police
If you can try talking to the local police officer. Suggest you are going to live in a certain area and ask him if he would be happy to live there.
Work Colleagues
If you are starting work in the area ask your work collegues. Do the same if you attend a local gym, sports club etc.
Environment Agency
If the house is in a low-lying area you should check with the environment agency to make sure that the house to looking after this the subject of the risk of flooding. You can check on their web site www.environment-agency.gov.uk
Internet Sources
There are various web sites where you can check for information about local areas.
To find out about crime statistics you can visit http://www.crimestatistics.org.uk/. They provide statistics that compare local areas to the national average. If you see one area has crime statistics three times the national average and another area has crime statistics half the national average you can draw your own conclusions.
Another useful web site on the Internet is http://www.upmystreet.com/. This provides a whole range of information about local areas . (Enter the postcode in the look-up block)
The site provides a wide range of useful information about local areas based on postcodes. They also provide message boards where you can ask questions about local areas.
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