To leave the windows open when we're out?

[lessonsintightropes]

To clarify, we live in an upper floor maisonette. The windows in question are the tall and thin types that you can flip the handle half way and they swing open on the side, and flip all the way open to leave a five inch or so gap at the top. Our living room, facing the street, is south-facing and sweltering. DH insists we're invalidating the insurance and asking for someone to break in (we live on a fairly quiet suburban street, but there are people around all day every day and I'm pretty sure someone would call the police if they saw someone odd up a ladder trying to smash them open!) He also thinks that there's a risk someone could try and throw a bottle through the gap molotov-cocktail style. I think he's ridiculously overreacting, but would like to put it to the MN jury. AIBU?

You're better off leaning the windows and curtains closed during the day while you'te out. Letting hot air in won't cool the room.

And yes your insurance would be void.

Keep everything closed during the day and get a decent fan for when you're home

Don't count on someone calling the police. When my dear old granny was burgled her neighbours watched the 'removal men' go in and out of the house to load the van. When the police knocked on doors after grandma had called to report the crime the neighbours simply said they thought she was moving away so did nothing. If those entering a property are brazen enough they are likely to get away with it. And as far as I know your DH is right, it could invalidate any claim you make.

Can they be locked in a latched position?

I think he's right about the insurance.

I have left the upstairs window open when I've popped into town, but not if I'm out all day. And my bathroom window opens on to the garden, and I don't think you could get a human through it, and I reckon that if someone's got into my garden (not at all easy to access other than through the house) then I've got more problems than an open window.

Can't say the molotov cocktail possibility has ever occurred to me.

I was saying today as we drove up our road that if I were a burglar, a house with all windows closed would be a safe bet in this heat for having no-one at home and I'd be tempted to break in. You could just see who was in and who was out. However I wouldn't risk leaving a window open whilst I was out.

I leave my bedroom windows open all day and night unless I'm on holiday, or its snowing, in which case they are only open an inch. (locked in place so they can't be opened wider)

Like op, I've always (probably wrongly).assumed that someone would call the police if they saw someone climbing a ladder and entering the house

In the heat, it is best to close the windows and close the curtains too, yes. Even if you are at home.

We don't have curtains which is the main problem, just blinds in the living room. Thanks for replies all, thought DH was massively overreacting taking it more seriously than me, will rethink our ventilation solutions. On the plus side, only likely to be a problem for about four weeks in five years if the last few summers have been anything to go by...

I think he's right about the insurance.

Yes he is, in respect of a theft claim. There must be evidence of forcible of violent entry (smashed window, picked lock, etc.) for a claim to be valid, so unlocked door, open window, lost your key which is then used to gain entry, will all invalidate a theft claim.

We do leave a window or two open at times when not in. But only on the top floor which is 3 floors up. They'd have to have some pretty tall ladders to be able to access through them!

I do it. For the upper levels only.

We have the windows with a small window above the main window. I leave the small window open and the underneath one locked.

My neighbour with same windows easily got into her place using a window cleaner's ladder by reaching through the little one to open the handle of the big window and climbed in through big window, but couldn't have gotten in through the little one itself. And it created quite a spectacle in the street!

So I reason (to myself, not sure the insurance company would see it this way), that if the big window is locked, someone has to be pretty nimble to squeeze in through top window in full sight of the street. I know most of my neighbours and do trust they would question such goings on.

We have to have our windows open - our flat is third floor and it is unbearably hot in here otherwise. We have the windows open but the blinds closed and it keeps the place relatively cool. Everyone saying about keeping the windows shut - really?! We forgot to open them once and the flat turned into a sauna within about half an hour!

Having been burgled by them removing a patio door whilst my neighbour gardened 50yards away without even realising it was something abnormal I would be really cautious of leaving any windows open now.
But yes your DH is right unless you can lock them slightly open it invalidates your insurance.