Will My House Alarm Work After the Digital Switchover?

An alarm connected to the old telephone line is not automatically safe after the digital switchover. It should continue only if its alarm company confirms the exact model, dialler and monitoring service work with the new connection, followed by a monitored test. Ofcom says to tell both the landline provider and device supplier before migration. If they cannot confirm a safe setup, ask the phone provider to pause the change while the equipment is adapted or replaced.

Your five checks before the phone line changes

Which alarms can be affected?

The equipment at risk is anything that sends a signal through the old analogue telephone socket. That can include a monitored burglar or fire alarm, a Careline or Lifeline base unit, a pendant alarm, an emergency call button, a door-entry system and a lift emergency phone. The sensor itself may be wireless while its base unit still uses the landline, so inspect the complete system rather than the pendant or detector alone.

A modern unit may use Ethernet, Wi-Fi or a mobile SIM instead of an analogue dialler. That can remove its dependence on the phone line, but it does not prove the service will continue through a power or broadband outage. Ask which connection is primary, whether there is a second path, how long each battery should last and how the unit reports a failed connection or low battery.

Do not use a generic compatibility list as certification. Firmware, adapters, router configuration, monitoring protocols and the provider's voice service can all affect one model differently. The alarm supplier or manufacturer is the right organisation to confirm its equipment; the phone company must explain the new line, migration and emergency-calling support.

Telecare and pendant alarms after the landline switch-off

A telecare alarm may continue through an approved adapter, or it may need a digital replacement. GOV.UK says upwards of two million people in the UK use telecare and that most devices historically relied on the analogue network. Citizens Advice says a person should not be switched until the telecare and home phone providers are confident the personal alarm will work with the new line.

Call the council, housing association or private company that supplies the Careline, Lifeline or pendant alarm. Give the make and model printed on the base unit and ask whether it is analogue-only, compatible with the proposed digital phone service, or due to be replaced. If nobody knows who supplies it, start with the local council's adult social care team and the paperwork beside the unit.

Tell the landline provider separately. Ask it to record that a telecare user lives at the address, note any disability or installation support needed, and state the proposed migration date. A family member or carer can ask to be nominated to help manage the change. Verify calls using a number from a bill or official website because Citizens Advice warns that customers should not be charged simply for the move to a digital phone line.

Does a house alarm need a phone line?

Only alarms with a telephone dialler need a phone service; many newer monitored systems use broadband or a mobile network. Look for a cable from the alarm panel or control box to a telephone socket, but do not open the panel or alter wiring. The monitoring company can check the account and model. A local audible-only siren may not call anyone, while an app-enabled alarm can still use broadband even without a landline number.

For a monitored burglar or fire alarm, ask who is responsible for replacing the signalling path and whether the maintenance contract covers it. Confirm whether police, keyholder or alarm receiving centre response depends on certification or a dual-path connection. This guide cannot certify a security or fire installation. The installer must specify and test the correct migration for that system.

Lift phones, door entry and other shared systems

A lift emergency phone or communal door-entry line belongs with the building's responsible person, managing agent or lift maintenance company. Residents should report the line rather than attempt a test or change. Ask the responsible organisation to confirm the line identifier, equipment owner, replacement technology, backup duration and completed test before the analogue service ends.

A lift line needs an emergency communication route even when mains power fails. A replacement might use an IP connection or a mobile gateway, but suitability depends on the lift standard, equipment and signal inside the shaft or motor room. The same caution applies to warden-call panels, CCTV diallers, fax-based health equipment and payment terminals. Treat each as a separate service even when several share one building.

Power cuts: trace the whole alert path

A standard digital phone line stops if the broadband router loses mains power. The alarm's own battery does not power the router, adapter or optical network terminal. Draw the route from button or sensor to the receiving centre and list every powered component. Ask what remains operational during a local power cut, a broadband fault and a mobile outage, because these are different failures.

Ofcom says a landline provider must offer a free backup solution lasting at least one hour when a customer depends on the landline to contact emergency services and has no working mobile alternative or reliable signal. That rule concerns access to emergency organisations. It does not certify every alarm or promise that its monitoring service will work, so confirm the alarm's separate backup with its supplier.

If a proposed replacement uses a mobile SIM, check reception where the base unit or lift gateway will sit, not outside the building. Ask which network it uses, whether it can roam to another network, how it reports loss of service and what happens when older mobile networks close. A charged mobile can be a useful separate fallback for someone able to use it, but it is not a substitute for an accessible personal alarm.

How to test safely after the digital switchover

1. Book the test with the alarm provider or monitoring centre and follow its instructions.
2. Confirm the router, adapter, alarm base and backup equipment are connected as specified.
3. Activate the approved test and wait for the receiving centre to answer.
4. Ask it to confirm the correct person or site, address, signal type and two-way speech where fitted.
5. Record the date, result, person spoken to and fault reference. Agree when the next test and battery check are due.

A successful call proves the alert path worked at that moment. Repeat the approved test after a router replacement, new phone provider, alarm update, building work or power-backup change. If the test fails, keep an alternative way to summon help, report the fault to both providers and do not accept an unsupported reassurance that the unit is probably compatible.

Keep a critical information record

Write down the details another person would need to check the system without guessing. This practical record is adapted for the UK from safety-device migration checklists used in Australia and New Zealand. It is uncommon in the UK pages reviewed for this guide and turns a one-off test into an owned maintenance task.

• Equipment: alarm type, make, model, serial or account reference and connection method.
• Contacts: landline provider, monitoring centre, installer, council or building manager.
• Resilience: each battery's stated duration, replacement date and mobile-network details.
• Evidence: written compatibility confirmation, migration date, last successful test and fault reference.
• Named owner: the person responsible for the next test, battery check and updating carers.

Keep the record near the alarm instructions and give an accessible copy to the user, nominated relative or carer as appropriate. Do not publish account numbers or medical details. The aim is to make responsibility clear when equipment or providers change, not to create a public register.

What to do if the alarm fails or the switch is unsafe

Contact the phone provider first about loss of digital landline service and the alarm provider about device or monitoring failure. Explain that safety-critical equipment is affected and request a fault reference. If migration has not happened, ask both organisations to agree a safe plan and whether the line change should be paused. If there is immediate danger, use an available working phone to call 999 or 112.

If the phone provider does not resolve a complaint, our broadband and landline complaints guide explains the formal complaint and alternative dispute resolution process. For the wider deadline, provider names and home-phone setup, read the UK landline switch-off guide and Digital Voice guide.