Bells-Only vs Monitored Burglar Alarms: Which Do You Need?
By the DC Fire & Security engineering team — installing and maintaining fire and security systems since 2010. Updated June 2026.
Quick answer
A bells-only alarm sounds the siren and notifies your phone — the response is whoever reacts. A monitored alarm signals a 24/7 Alarm Receiving Centre that calls your keyholders, and with a police URN can summon police to a confirmed activation. Choose bells-only for low-risk homes with nearby help; choose monitoring when the property stands empty, insurance demands it, or response genuinely matters.
What you actually get with each
| Bells-only | Keyholder monitored | Police response | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Siren + strobe | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| App notifications | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 24/7 ARC monitoring | — | Yes | Yes |
| Calls your keyholders | — | Yes | Yes |
| Police dispatched | Only if someone calls 999 | Only if keyholder confirms crime | Yes, on confirmed activation (URN) |
| Ongoing cost | £0 | £150–£400/yr | £300–£600+/yr |
| Annual maintenance | Recommended | Required | Required |
The honest case for bells-only
For an occupied family home on a street where a siren gets attention, bells-only plus app notifications covers the realistic risk: burglars leave when sirens start, and you'll see the notification quickly most of the time. It has no ongoing fees and modern app control closes much of the old gap. Its weakness is the empty house, the holiday, the phone on silent — moments when nobody acts on the notification.
When monitoring earns its fee
- The property is regularly empty: rentals, second homes, commercial premises overnight
- Your insurer specifies 'monitored alarm' or police response as a condition — common for higher-value contents and most commercial policies
- You travel: the ARC acts identically whether you're next door or abroad
- High-value or targeted risk: workshops with tools, stockrooms, jewellery at home
- You want police attendance: only a URN system gets dispatch on the alarm itself — for bells-only, police attend only if someone phones in a crime in progress
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I upgrade a bells-only system to monitored later?
Is app notification as good as monitoring?
What is dual-path signalling?
Do insurers discount for monitored alarms?
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