Protect your home from festive thieves and accidents
House thefts rise in winter, insurance firm warns
YOUR home and possessions are at greater risk at this time of year than any other, thanks to the combination of long nights, bad weather, piles of expensive presents and increased drinking.
But taking some basic precautions, and checking the small print of your buildings and contents policies, should reduce the chances of a domestic disaster ruining the festive period
Instances of housebreaking rise during the winter as thieves target homes filled with new electrical items and other gifts. House parties also increase the threat of accidental damage while freezing temperatures and high winds do their worst indoors and out.
According to Co-op Insurance, home theft claims rise by 36 per cent between November and March, when the cover of darkness makes detection less likely.
Jonathan Guy, the Co-op’s head of claims, said: “While in a lot of cases it is simply bad luck, there are things homeowners can do to deter thieves, such as installing CCTV cameras, or at least dummy ones, and having a professional alarm fitted.”
Lynn Farrar, chair of Neighbourhood Watch, added: “The very best thing you can do to stop yourself being a burglary victim is to make your house look occupied when you go out.
“We recommend fitting window locks, leaving inside lights on a timer so your house isn’t in darkness, fitting double or dead bolts on your doors and installing an outside light on a sensor.”
When Co-op Insurance interviewed former burglars, they said motion activated lights were the most off-putting security measure, with 26 per cent steering clear of homes that had them.
If you have outdoor Christmas lights, instead of giving thieves a way in by running an extension through an open window, get an electrician to install an inexpensive external socket.
Do not advertise valuables or Christmas gifts by leaving them where they can be seen through windows and make sure unwanted packaging is not left where it is visible from the street.
Never store ladders outside where they can be used to gain entry and do not leave house or car keys in reach of the letterbox. Do not conceal a spare key outside – no matter how cunning your hiding place, thieves will find it – and never leave notes for delivery drivers announcing that you are out.
If you go away overnight or for an extended break, do not publicise the fact on social media or your answering machine message, and ask a friend or neighbour to keep an eye on things.
Some home insurance includes an automatic cover increase at this time of year, so check your paperwork. If yours does not, this is likely to be available for a small charge and could be invaluable if you are storing expensive gifts.
Also check your single item limit. Anything worth more than this, such as jewellery, laptops or home entertainment systems, should be listed separately.
If you make even a modest claim and your provider decides you do not have enough cover for everything in your home, it will reduce the payout proportionately and could even turn you down altogether.
If you are having a party, check your contents cover includes accidental damage and that any replacements will be made on a new-for-old basis, as breakages and spills are more likely when people have been drinking.
House fires increase dramatically over the festive period too. Co-op Insurance puts the average domestic fire damage claim at £14,000, so take care with candles, cigarettes and other naked flames. Do not overload sockets and double check that everything is off before going to bed.
Storms and freezing weather can also wreak havoc at this time of year, with water damage a common cause of claims. Insurer
‘‘ The best thing you can do is to make your house look occupied when you go out
Saga puts the average cost of a burst pipe at £3,380.
Reduce the danger of pipes freezing and bursting by insulating them with foam. Protect your water tank with a jacket and repair dripping taps, indoors or out – if there is a freeze, they could split. Make sure the entire household knows where to find the stopcock so the supply can be cut quickly if necessary.
If you are going away, leave the heating on low. Simon Stanney, general insurance director at SunLife, said: “Letting your home get really cold and then suddenly putting the heating on full blast is not good.
“If the pipes were frozen, it can cause them to thaw too quickly and burst. It can also cause damp on ceilings and walls through condensation.”
To minimise the risk of all kinds of weather-related problems, keep your house well maintained – if your insurer thinks you have been negligent, it could refuse to pay any claim. Check for missing, slipped or damaged roof tiles and for signs of damp that could be caused by leaks. If you are at risk of flooding, put sandbags outside doors and airbricks. Turn off water, gas and electricity at the mains and disconnect pipes to washing machines and dishwashers.
Mr Stanney at SunLife said: “Every winter, insurers receive thousands of claims for damage done by frozen and burst pipes, blocked drains and fallen trees and fences.
“Insurance gives us peace of mind that our homes are covered should the worst happen, but the inconvenience can be very stressful.
“We all know that prevention is better than cure, and while there is nothing we can do about the freezing cold weather, you can protect your home now before the winter weather really takes hold.”