Skip to main content
LoginContactFavourites
FI
/
EN
/

Keep your home safe while on holiday

Heading off on a summer holiday or to the cottage for an extended stay? By preparing your home carefully before your trip, you’ll avoid unwanted surprises and enjoy a more pleasant return. Follow our handy checklist and start your holiday with peace of mind!

1. Lock doors and close windows

You may already feel the holiday mood kicking in, but before you leave, double-check that all doors and windows are securely closed. Don’t forget the balcony door and glazing as this helps prevent break-ins and lets you enjoy your holiday worry-free. Home insurance usually only covers burglary-related damage if doors are locked and windows properly shut.

2. Ensure your home is secure

If your front door has a security lock, remember to use it. If you live in a SATO rental home and don’t yet have a security lock, you can have one installed at your own expense without needing separate permission – just contact your building’s locksmith.

Please don’t hide spare keys near your home or storage spaces. Instead, give them to someone you trust.

3. Keep your home looking lived-in

Even while you’re away, it’s a good idea to make your home appear occupied. Be sure to store any loose belongings, such as bicycles, pushchairs, and sports equipment, in the designated storage rooms of your building.

Let your closest neighbours know about your trip. Why not bring a packet of coffee and a bunch of flowers as a friendly gesture and ask them to keep an eye on your home or water your plants while you're away?

If your lights have a timer, set them to come on for a few hours in the evening. Don’t close all your curtains as that can be a clear sign no one’s home. You can also ask your plant-watering friend to occasionally move the curtains when visiting.

Consider redirecting newspapers and magazines to your cottage or even pausing them for the holiday period. You can limit other post by switching to e-invoicing and placing a “no unaddressed mail” sign on your door.

A young woman is placing a plastic bag into an outdoor waste bin. She is smiling and wearing a denim jacket and a light pink backpack. Other waste bins and the wall of an apartment building can be seen in the background.

4. Prevent unpleasant odours

Before you leave, make sure you won’t be greeted by musty smells on your return. Take out the biowaste and place it in the bio bin at your building’s waste collection point. Clear out any perishable food from your fridge. If you have food that’s still edible but will expire during your absence, consider freezing it or giving it to a neighbour.

Drains that haven’t been used for a while can start to smell. Ask your plant-watering friend to run water into the drains every couple of weeks to prevent odours.

5. Unplug devices and close taps

Check that the water supply to your dishwasher and washing machine is turned off. These valves should be shut after every use. If you tend to leave them open during everyday use, be sure to turn them off before your trip.

Unplug electrical appliances like the TV and coffee maker. While newer appliances use very little electricity when on standby, unplugging them still improves fire safety.

Do not switch off the main power, as this could lead to an unpleasant surprise: a thawed freezer, spoiled food, and water damage. However, if you're away for an extended period, it might be a good opportunity to empty, defrost and clean your freezer to save energy while you're gone.

A person is holding a 9-volt battery and checking or replacing it in a white smoke alarm while sitting at a table. A magazine and a green plant are visible in the background.

6. Check the smoke alarm

Maintenance companies occasionally receive reports of beeping smoke alarms with dead batteries during the holiday season. If your smoke alarm is your personal responsibility, make sure you replace the batteries in good time. This way, your neighbours won’t be woken up in the night by a persistent beep.

If your home is fitted with a smoke alarm maintained by the building owner, test it a few days before your holiday. If you notice any issues, report them immediately. As a SATO resident, you can easily do this via OmaSATO.

7. Think before you post on social media

It’s lovely to share holiday moments online but try not to make too much noise about your plans on social media as it could tip off strangers that your home is empty. Search engines make it easy to find real-time holiday posts from popular platforms, and it’s not difficult to track down an unoccupied home.

Remind children about this too and agree on your family’s social media rules while on holiday.

Public updates on Facebook, TikTok or Instagram could invite unwanted visitors to your home.

If you can’t resist posting holiday pictures before you’re back, consider thanking your imaginary house- or cat-sitter in your captions – even if no such helper exists.

And finally: don’t forget to close your windows and balcony door. Have a great holiday!


This article was originally published in May 2025 and fully updated in June 2025.
This content has been translated with the help of generative AI. Tämä sisältö on käännetty generatiivisen tekoälyn avulla.