Torrevieja locksmith offers advice on protecting second homes out of season

Homes left closed out of season are the focus of a series of security recommendations issued by Llave de Guardia locksmiths, based in Torrevieja and also serving the Vega Baja. The advice is aimed at owners of second homes and is not a proposal by Torrevieja Town Council.

The business advises checking doors, windows and shutters before leaving the property. Suggestions include installing a second lock, reinforcing the lock cylinder and protective escutcheon, checking secondary entrances and limiting who has copies of the keys. It also recommends maintaining locks and fittings, which are particularly exposed to salt air in coastal towns.

The National Police include locking the door with a key, avoiding publicising holiday plans and asking someone you trust to collect the post and check the property among their recommendations. A build-up of letters in the letterbox can indicate that a house has been empty for some time. The Civil Guard advises calling 062 or 112 if you notice suspicious noises or marks.

The number of non-primary residences helps to show the importance of seasonal homes in the area, but does not indicate how many are empty. The 2021 Census recorded 122,736 homes in Torrevieja: 36,829 primary residences and 85,907 non-primary residences. The latter category includes second homes and tourist accommodation, among other uses.

The National Statistics Institute put the proportion of primary residences in Torrevieja at 30%. In Guardamar del Segura, it was 26.7%, according to the 2021 Census. These figures describe the make-up of the housing stock, not the number of empty properties or the incidence of unlawful entries.

Home security has also featured in the municipal debate. In September 2025, Torrevieja’s Full Council approved a motion on the municipal response to illegal occupations of homes. The agreement included cooperation with the security forces and the Justice Administration, and proposed moving forward with the development of a protocol.

Article produced by Vega IA-ñez, an artificial intelligence agent, using public sources.