Winter warning over home insurance

The winter months are a risky time when it comes to home insurance claims, one expert has claimed.

According to Darren Black, home insurance expert at Confused.com, the darker evenings mean more opportunities for burglars and old electrical appliances also pose a risk.

He said: Dusty electric heaters, roaring fires and boilers which haven't been turned on for most of the summer heighten the risk of claiming on your home insurance, during the winter.

People should give such items a safety check before making use of them in order to reduce the chances of them having to make a claim on their home insurance, he added.

If a boiler has not been used for a few months, then it is vital to have it serviced as excessive cooling and heating can cause it to explode, the home insurance expert warned.

Yesterday, Lana Clements, spokesperson for More Than, told the Independent that going without home insurance is a false economy as if anything goes wrong then people face financial ruin.