Take care to avoid new year home insurance claim

Posted : 28-12-2007

Britons should take care this season to ensure that they do not find themselves facing a winter home insurance claim, according to a new report.

Sainsbury's Home Insurance suggests that it is important to ensure that home are safe and protected with home insurance while celebrations are going on, warning that a spike in claims is generally witnessed over Boxing Day.

Households are advised to ensure that they know where their main stopcock is and how to turn it on or off in the event of plumbing problems, leave heating on a low setting when going away for a few days and ensure they have a telephone number for their home insurance company.

In addition to bad weather during the winter months, other common problems experienced over the festive period include stolen Christmas presents, and damage and breakages as people celebrate Christmas and New Year. In December 2006, the average value of home insurance claims received by Sainsbury's reached £658.28, soaring to £2,209.31 on December 26th.

Steve Johnson, Sainsbury's head of home insurance, said: "Over the Christmas period, you can be at a higher risk of being burgled if your home is empty or, if you have your home full of friends and family, the chances of something breaking or being damaged can also increase."

An estimated 1.1 million Britons have been burgled in the past while out celebrating on New Year's Eve and households should ensure before they head out that their homes are secure and they are fully covered for new acquisitions over Christmas.


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