Importance of reading the small print and safeguarding your home

As with any type of  insurance, it's vital you know exactly what you're buying before committing to a policy. The last thing you want to do is accidentally invalidate a claim or find out that you're not actually covered for something you thought you were.

To check what’s covered and what might invalidate any future  claims, read the policy small print and familiarise yourself with the contract terms and conditions and any exclusions.

Examples of small print circumstances which may affect or invalidate a claim you make on your  home insurance policy include:

• Having a burglar alarm fitted but not using it
• If a burglar is able to gain unforced access to your home.
• Being burgled where there are no signs of forced entry, e.g. leaving doors and windows open or not locking them where locks are fitted
• Failing to report a theft to the police and obtaining obtain a crime reference number
• Incorrectly describing the locks on your home
• Leaving your property unoccupied for more than 30 consecutive days
• Not informing your insurance company when using your home as a place of business - which in their eyes increases the likelihood of theft and other claims
• Not securing tools which were used to break into your home and valuables in the garden that are not specifically covered by the policy
• Failing to notify your insurer that builders are on-site, in the event of accidental damage to your property

Safeguard your home against burglars

Here are some tips on how to reduce the risk of your property being targeted by burglars:

• Install motion-sensitive security lighting to the outside of your property
• Keep all house keys out of sight and in a safe place. Never leave door keys in obvious hiding places such as underneath a mat or plant pot
• Use time-switch lights when the property is unoccupied overnight so that it looks like someone is home
• Cancel newspapers, milk and any other deliveries when you are away and the property is unoccupied
• Fit a cage around your letterbox to prevent burglars from opening the front door from the inside. Fit a chain/bar and a spy-hole to your front door
• Ensure all doors and windows in your home are in good condition - doors should be at least 44mm thick and windows should be certified to British Standard
• Use laminated glass for windows as it’s stronger and much harder to break than normal glass
• Apply non-drying, anti-climb paint to drainpipes
• Make sure all garden equipment and bicycles are locked away overnight and when the property is unoccupied