Will a Rental Security System Contact Me Directly or Notify the Police?
If investing in a new rental security system is on your mind, it’s fair to assume that you’ve got questions. One of the most common questions about rental and home security systems regards who the system will contact first, either you or the police.
Home vs. Rental Security System
Before diving into the question, let’s first recap the differences between a home security system and a rental security system.
For the most part, these two systems are similar in terms of the protection they offer, but the term “rental security system” can mean a couple of things, such as a system designed for rental properties like apartments or a system that you rent instead of buy.
In contrast, a home security system involves buying the equipment — either in a lump sum or through a series of installments — and paying a monthly subscription for its monitoring services.
Who Gets Contacted First?
If an alarm trips in your house, most rental security systems will notify you first, often with a push notification sent directly to your device. The instant alert gives you a chance to respond to an alarm and check out what’s going on.
If you determine that the situation is a false alarm, you can clear out the alert and silence the alarm, but if you don’t respond to the app notification soon enough (usually within 30-60 seconds), the alarm company will probably give you a call. They will notify you of the nature of the issue, and if it’s a false alarm, they will require you to provide a verbal passcode.
If you don’t answer the call or if you’re not sure if the alarm is signaling you to real danger, the provider will notify the police.
Why Aren’t the Police Notified First?
The simple reason as to why the police are not alerted first is that most scenarios involving tripped security systems are false alarms. By notifying you first, the system helps cut down on unnecessary police responses and ensures more officers are available for real emergencies.
That’s not to say you should worry if something is genuinely wrong, as most alarm systems have a pretty short window before notifying the police anyway. Usually, they will alert the authorities if you don’t respond to an alert in around a minute or so.
However, if you have a self-monitored system, you are responsible for calling for help, so keep that in mind when you are searching for a rental security system for your residence.
Professional Monitoring: Your Safety Net
Sometimes, you might miss an alert, be it because your phone is on silent or because you’re in a place with bad reception. In such instances, most rental security systems have a backup plan: a professional monitoring service. It operates non-stop, watching over your home when you can’t. If it detects danger and is unable to reach you, it will notify the police right away.
While it might be tempting to go for a self-monitored home security system, professional monitoring is the better choice, as you’ll have peace of mind knowing professionals have your back, day or night!