Hidden keys a home insurance risk

Households are increasing the chances of having to claim on their home insurance as the result of burglars gaining access with keys hidden under door mats.

A new report from esure has revealed that 39 per cent of Brits have a spare key hidden somewhere around the outside of their home, in case they misplace the original or get locked out.

However, the home insurance firm has warned that these keys offer easy access to burglars if found and households should not store them in obvious places such as plant pots, under door mats or in the garden shed .

Mike Pickard, head of risk and underwriting at esure, said: Homeowners should make sure their property is as secure as possible because if they can't prove to their insurer that they took steps to keep their home and contents safe, then a claim may not be paid out.

Home insurance provider Saga recently offered a discount on its contents policy to deal with the increased number of expensive items kept in the house as people prepare for Christmas .