If you were to look back 15 years, the tiny home movement wasn’t much of a movement at all. In fact, most people didn’t even know tiny homes existed and would never even think about calling one their permanent home. Now 15 years later, the movement is more popular than ever.

As people open up to this new way of living, it’s extremely important that new tiny homeowners take the right safety precautions to secure their home from potential predators. Much like any home, there are a ton of different ways someone can break into or damage it -- if they wanted to.

There are a wide amount of mental health issues that can arise after experiencing a break-in or having your tiny home damaged by a predator -- which happens more often than you’d think. Don’t hesitate to reach out to a good therapist if these mental health issues are overbearing.

So, how do you stay safe and secure in a tiny house?

The good news is there are a ton of ways you can prevent a break-in or damaged property when owning a tiny home -- as well as preventing the mental health issues that arise as a result. You don’t have to live in fear and can effectively protect yourself and your family from danger.

Below, we’re going to discuss five of the most important things you should do when safely and securely living in your tiny home. By the time you’re done reading this article, you’ll have all the information you need when getting the most out of your new tiny home -- each and every day!

1. Securing the Hitch

Most tiny homes are made to be mobile and portable. That way, the owner can take it with them wherever they go. This makes your tiny home perfect for vacations and rentals year-round, especially if you’re the type that likes to explore and adventure new places all around the world.

Of course, that means most tiny homes come with a hitch. It’s what attaches to the tow vehicle and keeps it in place when on the move. Although it makes moving your tiny home extremely easy, it also makes it easy for an intruder to attach their tow vehicle to your home and drive off.

To avoid this from happening, every tiny homeowner should install a hitch lock when the home is stationary. This prevents anyone from attaching your home to their tow vehicle and driving off with it -- without your permission. Instead, your home stays put where you left it, every time!

Securing the Wheels

In addition to the hitch, mobile and portable tiny homes are often fit with custom wheels for easy transportation. With these built-in wheels, all you need to do is hitch the home to your tow vehicle to drive off with it. Again, this makes it very easy for someone to drive off with the home.

In addition to a hitch lock, you should consider purchasing wheel locks for added protection. They’re yet another low-cost, low-tech solution when deterring potential thieves from your tiny property. Even if someone detaches the hitch lock, they’ll need to get past the wheel locks.

When your tiny home is stationary for long periods of time, you can also consider replacing the wheels (temporarily) with blocks or jack stands. This allows you to hide your wheels in a secure location and make your home less mobile. If you want to take away all mobility, you can always build your home on a foundation!

Installing Security Cameras

Once you have your hitch lock and wheels secured, the next step is making sure any intruders are caught on camera in the event of a crime or suspicious activity. In many ways, installing security cameras also acts as a deterrent, since no one wants to be filmed in the act of a crime.

With the amount of technology available today, securing your home with cameras is extremely easy and cost-efficient. While there are more expensive options available, they aren’t always needed for a tiny home and can be rather unnecessary when all you need is a working camera.

Of course, location is everything when setting up these security cameras. You not only want to make sure the doors are secured, but you want the field of view to cover the rest of the home -- including the windows and other access points. You can speak with a professional for advice.

Installing an Alarm System

A security camera does a great job of filming suspicious activity for future evidence against the suspect, but it won’t do much in response to any crime or suspicious activity. That’s where an effective and efficient alarm system comes in handy when securing your tiny home for good.

An alarm system does an excellent job of alarming you when someone is trying to break-in to your tiny home, but it also automatically notifies local authorities -- such as the police or fire station. This allows for a speedy response time, which can be a huge difference maker.

Today, most alarm systems have extremely robust capabilities. Not only can they be set off when someone tries to open your door without permission, but they can be set off due to glass breaking (windows), a potential fire due to smoke, or the presence of carbon monoxide.

Installing a GPS Device

The final piece of advice we have for you when securing your tiny home for safe living is having a GPS device installed. This is more of a last resort that won’t do much to prevent, deter, or respond to criminal activity. It can, however, keep track of where your home is at all times.

If something were to go wrong and someone were to steal your tiny home, the GPS device makes it extremely easy to find your tiny home -- no matter where the criminals are trying to hide it. Of course, this means local authorities can easily and quickly return your home to you.

Making Safe & Secure Living a Reality for Everyone!

Whether you’re installing a hitch lock, wheel lock, security camera, alarm system, or GPS device (or all of the above), it’s important to be prepared for anything when owning a tiny home. It’s a wonderful investment and unique way to live, but it also comes with several downfalls.

In the event your tiny home was stolen, damaged, or broken into, you should always seek the right kind of help when getting your life back together. If your mental or emotional health is suffering as a result, don’t hesitate to speak to the amazing therapists over at BetterHelp.

For more tips and advice when getting the most out of your tiny home experience, head over to our Tiny House Blog. It’s filled with wonderful reads from professionals that understand what it’s like to be a part of the tiny home movement that’s sweeping across the world today!

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