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More helpers? Heed home insurance warning

Mon, 17 Oct 2005

Bradford & Bingley has warned that home security could become diminished with more people hiring helpers and supplying them with keys to their homes.

Increasingly 'cash rich and time poor' British adults are employing third-party help and Bradford & Bingley says this could lead to "more diluted" home security.

"In theory, anytime you hand over another set of keys to your home you are weakening the security of it," says Dave Foyle, head of general insurance at Bradford & Bingley.

He warns that dog walkers, gardeners and cleaners are likely to have a number of clients and it is possible that they may have your address and your keys together. A risk is posed if this gets lost or stolen.

"In general, insurance policies do cover you if entry is gained to your home using keys unknowingly lost, stolen or in the possession of other persons, but changing the locks if you are concerned about unaccounted for keys will provide that much needed peace of mind," Mr Foyle says.

He said that home insurance providers will usually pay for key replacements in the case of loss or theft, but are "less likely" to pay for the replacement of locks if the keys were lost.

Mr Foyle noted that the level of cover provided by a home insurance policy varies between insurance providers, so homeowners should check their home insurance policies carefully.

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