Two alarms can look the same on the wall and be very different deals. With one, you pay for the system and it is yours. With the other, you sign a burglar alarm contract, pay a monthly fee for as long as it runs, and the equipment may still belong to the provider at the end.
How contract alarms work
A contract alarm usually comes with a low upfront price and a monthly fee for monitoring. The minimum term is often three years. The details vary by provider, so read the terms. These are the points that catch people out:
- Who owns the equipment during and after the contract.
- What you pay to leave early.
- Whether the alarm still works as a normal bell-only alarm if you stop paying.
- Whether the monthly price can rise during the term.
- Who holds the engineer code.
Why the engineer code matters
The engineer code lets someone change how the system is set up. If the provider keeps it locked, another company cannot service or adapt your alarm, and you may have to replace the control panel to switch.
How an owned system works
You pay for the equipment and the installation, and that is it. There is no minimum term. You can add a yearly health check or app control if you want them, and you can ask any competent engineer to work on the system.
Questions to ask before you sign
- What is the total cost over the full term?
- What do I own on day one?
- What happens to the equipment if I cancel or move house?
- Can I have the engineer code?
How we do it
Every home system we fit is yours once it is in. There are no contracts, and the engineer code is yours on request. See your price with our 6-step quote builder, or read about home intruder alarms.