Security in new dwellings

Purchasers of new or newly refurbished dwellings may think that the home they are buying or renting could be expected to offer a defined level of resistance to entry by unauthorised people. This is not the case, and new developments are still being constructed and offered for sale or rent with inadequate security. While there is legislation on the statute book that could be used to address this situation, the relevant section of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 has not been implemented. In contrast, policy‐makers have succeeded for instance in making energy efficiency in dwellings and security in motor cars factors that influence buying decisions and that have resulted in significant improvements for consumers.