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Pricey Christmas gifts at home? Check your insurance

Paloma Kubiak
Written By:
Paloma Kubiak
Posted:
Updated:
20/12/2016

With hundreds, if not thousands of pounds’ worth of presents waiting to be unwrapped on Christmas Day, it’s best to check your insurance policy will cover your new items.

As we head towards Christmas, many people will have already bought and wrapped presents for their family and friends, and stowed them under the tree.

With all the additional wealth in the family home, particularly if you’ve bought expensive TVs, laptops or jewellery, it may be best to check your insurance policy for piece of mind they’re covered.

Gemma Schwarz, head of home insurance at comparethemarket.com, said this is especially important if individual items are worth £1,500 or more.

“As we all stock up for Christmas, we’re all bringing many more high value items into our homes, so it is really important that consumers list all items that are worth £1,500 or more on their home insurance policies so that they can be safe in the knowledge that they are adequately covered.”

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said some policies automatically assume you will have a higher value of goods in your home in the run up to Christmas.

But it added that anyone buying a very special gift which might break a policy limit on individual items should look at getting it covered separately.

Anyone lucky enough to receive such special gifts should also consider whether their insurance covers the item away from home.

Even if the item is already insured, if it’s something you may use or wear or carry with you outside the home, it may be worth extending your home insurance so it’s covered for any incidents outside the property.

Top tips to prevent your home being a target for thieves:

Schwarz said that many will be planning to go away this Christmas so there are a few simple things you can do to make your home less of a target for burglars.

“We recommend making every effort to keep properties well-lit; timers for lights are affordable and effective. Let your neighbours and the local Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator know you are away, so that they can keep a watchful eye on your property.

“If you have left your doors unlocked or windows open you risk invalidating any insurance claim, likewise, leaving a key outside could prevent you from pursuing a claim successfully, so make sure that you leave your house secure. And finally, make sure you hide car keys – you don’t want to provide potential perpetrators with a getaway vehicle.”