5 Best Alarm & Security Installers in Exeter for 2026
🚨 5 businesses·📍 Exeter
✓ Reviewed regularly·✓ Updated 22 August 2026
Written by Mark Reid,
Trades Editor ·Verified 22 August 2026
Exeter's mix of housing throws up some particular security challenges. You've got Victorian terraces around Newtown and St Leonard's with original sash windows that need discreet wired systems, new-build estates out at Cranbrook and Monkerton where developers often fit basic alarms that homeowners later want upgrading, and rural properties out towards Topsham or the villages beyond the M5 that need long-range CCTV and monitoring because response times from the police can be longer than in the city centre. A good installer will know the difference between fitting a bell-only alarm on a semi in Pinhoe and setting up a monitored system with battery backup for a farmhouse with patchy broadband. Local knowledge matters here, whether that's understanding which streets have had a run of shed break-ins or knowing that certain postcodes see insurers ask for NACOSS or SSAIB-approved installations before they'll offer cover.
The businesses featured here are pulled from public business listings and ranked mainly by their review rating and how many reviews they've built up, with a small boost given to those who have a working website and phone number listed. We then read through each business's homepage to check that alarm and security installation is genuinely what they do day to day, rather than a sideline tacked onto general electrical or handyman work. This keeps the page focused and stops unrelated trades cluttering it up. Any listings that show as permanently closed get stripped out automatically. Where you spot a Trust Verified badge next to a business, that firm has gone through our fuller check, covering trade qualifications and accreditations, public liability insurance, trading history, customer review history and registered company information. You can read exactly what that involves on our How We Verify page. For businesses without the badge, we'd encourage you to run those same checks yourself before signing anything.
Before booking anyone, ask to see their SSAIB or NSI accreditation if you want the system to satisfy insurance requirements, and get written confirmation of what's covered under any guarantee. Check whether the quote includes ongoing monitoring fees or if that's a separate contract with a third party, since some installers tie you into multi-year monitoring agreements that aren't always obvious upfront. It's worth asking how they handle false alarm callouts too, as repeated false triggers can affect your relationship with the monitoring centre. Get two or three quotes rather than taking the first one, particularly for anything beyond a basic bells-only system, because prices for wireless CCTV and monitored alarms can vary quite a bit between installers even within the same postcode.
How We Select & Rate The Best Alarm & Security Installers in Exeter
Rankings are based on review rating and review count from public business listings, with a small lift given to businesses showing a working website and phone number. We check each business's homepage to confirm alarm and security installation is their main line of work, which keeps unrelated trades off the page. Listings flagged as permanently closed are removed automatically. Businesses marked Trust Verified have additionally passed our full verification, covering trade qualifications and accreditations, public liability insurance, trading history, customer review history and registered company information; see our How We Verify page for the complete list. Other businesses have not been independently verified by us, and appearing on this page isn't an endorsement. Always carry out your own checks before hiring.
Recommended and Featured listings are paid placements, so a business's fee affects whether and where it appears. Every other listing is ranked on rating and review count from third-party business listings. How we rank & verify →
Quick Comparison — Alarm & Security Installers in Exeter
CCTV installation for domestic and commercial properties forms the core of the work carried out by Taylor Made Solutions in Exeter, alongside alarm systems designed to suit individual sites. The firm holds a five-star rating from 29 Google reviews, reflecting consistent standards across its security fittings and callouts around EX2 and the wider city.
Older properties around Exeter often need rewired alarm circuits and discreet camera placement to suit period features, and Tamar Security works regularly on this type of job alongside more straightforward new-build installs. The firm also covers commercial units requiring access control systems, with a 4.7 rating from 27 reviews reflecting consistent workmanship.
Families and small businesses across Exeter turn to A1 Fire and Security Ltd for alarm and fire safety installations tailored to their properties. The firm covers domestic and commercial premises in the EX2 area, fitting security systems designed to give households peace of mind. It holds a five star rating from ten reviews.
Commercial units and larger premises around Exeter make up much of the workload for Securitas Technology, which installs and maintains alarm and access control systems rather than focusing on domestic jobs. The company holds a 4.1 rating from 13 reviews, reflecting its work with businesses needing ongoing monitoring and support rather than one-off fittings.
Advanced Security Alarm Protection Ltd, known as ASAP, installs and maintains alarm and security systems for homes and businesses in Exeter. The firm covers intruder alarms and related equipment, working with clients to fit systems suited to individual properties rather than offering a one-size-fits-all package. Based in the EX2 area, it serves the wider city and surrounding districts.
Transparency notice: Recommended and Featured listings are paid placements, so a business's fee affects whether and where it appears. All other listings are ranked by a combined score drawn from ratings and review counts published on third-party business listings, plus basic completeness signals such as a working website and phone. A Trust Verified badge means we have independently checked that business's documents; businesses without it have not been independently verified by us. How we verify →
Is your business missing?
Get listed and reach customers actively searching for your services in this area.
How much does an alarm & security installer cost in Exeter?
A basic bells-only burglar alarm typically runs from around £250 to £450 fitted, while a monitored system with contact to a response centre can be anywhere from £500 up to £1,200 depending on the number of sensors and whether it includes smartphone control. CCTV setups vary hugely, a couple of wireless cameras covering a front door and driveway might cost £300 to £600, while a full multi-camera system for a larger property with recording and remote viewing can run past £1,500. Ongoing monitoring contracts, where they apply, are usually billed separately at £15 to £35 a month. Getting two or three quotes is normal practice here, as prices for similar setups can differ by a few hundred pounds between installers.
Do I need planning permission to fit CCTV or an alarm in Exeter?
For most residential properties you won't need planning permission for a standard burglar alarm or CCTV cameras, even external ones. It gets more involved if your property is listed or sits within a conservation area, and Exeter has several of these including parts of the city centre and areas around Southernhay, where altering the exterior (including drilling into stonework for cameras or bell boxes) may need listed building consent. Always check with Exeter City Council's planning department first if you're in one of these areas.
What's the difference between a monitored and unmonitored alarm system?
An unmonitored, or bells-only, alarm sounds a siren and flashes a strobe when triggered but relies on you or a neighbour hearing it and calling the police. A monitored system sends an alert to a monitoring centre, which then contacts you and, if needed, the police, following an agreed procedure. Monitored systems cost more upfront and usually involve a monthly fee, but they're often required by insurers for higher-value contents cover, and they're worth considering if you're away from home a lot or the property is more isolated.
Will a burglar alarm or CCTV system reduce my home insurance premium?
Many insurers do offer a discount for a professionally installed, SSAIB or NSI-approved alarm system, though the reduction varies by provider and isn't always huge. It's worth asking your insurer directly what standard they require before you book an installer, since some policies specify the system must be monitored and maintained under a service contract to qualify. Keep the installation certificate and any service agreement paperwork, as insurers may ask for proof following a claim.
How long does it take to have an alarm or CCTV system fitted?
A straightforward wired or wireless alarm in an average three-bedroom house usually takes half a day to a full day. CCTV installation timing depends on the number of cameras and how much cabling is needed, but two to four cameras with a recorder typically takes a similar amount of time. Larger properties, or ones needing trenching for cable runs to outbuildings, can take two or three days. Ask for a time estimate upfront so you can plan around it, especially if they need access to multiple rooms.
How do I choose between the alarm and security installers listed here?
Start by checking whether the business holds SSAIB or NSI accreditation, particularly if you need the system to meet insurance requirements, as this isn't something checked for every listing on this page. Ask to see their public liability insurance certificate and, if possible, contact a recent customer for a reference. Read through recent reviews for mentions of reliability with callouts and how they've handled any faults after installation, not just the initial fitting. Confirm what's included in any warranty and whether ongoing monitoring, if you want it, is with the installer directly or a separate third-party contract. Where a business carries our Trust Verified badge, you can check the How We Verify page to see exactly what's been confirmed; for anyone without it, it's worth doing that legwork yourself before you commit.
Related Guides
More independently researched rankings you might find useful
