UK homeowners turn to smart tech to avoid unwanted house calls this Halloween

When it comes to deterring Halloween visitors, the most common tactic cited by homeowners was to avoid putting up Halloween decorations. 

Pretending not to be home, another classic ploy, also ranked highly. However, a more modern method is also emerging - the use of smart home technology. 

Smart doorbells and cameras have become a new tool in the homeowner’s arsenal, ranking as the third most popular way to deter trick-or-treaters, as they allow homeowners to screen who is at the door before answering. 

35% of homeowners surveyed by eXp UK said they own a smart doorbell or home camera, and of these, two-thirds (66%) plan to use it to screen and ignore unwanted visitors on Halloween night. 

Adam Day, Head of eXp UK and Europe, commented: 

“Halloween is, for the most part, harmless fun, but it can also heighten instances of anti-social behaviour and disturbance for some homeowners. For others, it’s simply an inconvenience having to pause dinner, or our favourite show, in order to answer the door every few minutes. 

While many will still rely on traditional deterrents such as keeping the lights off or avoiding decorations, the rise of smart home tech has given homeowners an additional layer of control. 

Smart doorbells, in particular, allow people to see exactly who’s at their door and decide whether to answer, helping to avoid unwanted knocks while still ensuring they don’t miss any genuine visitors on All Hallows’ Eve.” 

Data tables and sources: -

• Survey of 1,020 UK homeowners commissioned by ProperPR on behalf of eXp UK via Find Out Now ( 21st October 2025).

• View the full data tables and sources online here.