Consumers advised to increase contents cover at Christmas

Generous Brits are reminded that, over Christmas, a significant increase in the value of their home contents will impact upon their insurance.

Rural insurer NFU Mutual reported that a recent online poll found 39 per cent of Brits reporting they would spend between £150 and £300 on presents over the festive season this year.

Meanwhile, 20 per cent said they would be spending in excess of £500 pounds on gifts for friends and family at Christmas.

A spokesperson for NFU Mutual, Laura Wood, said, “People do not consider the cumulative value of the gifts which they store or bring into their home during the festive season and it is vital that they remember that the value of these presents will impact on their home contents insurance.”

NFU Mutual set out a series of precautions that could help people prevent thefts at this time of year.

It states that, rather than hiding presents in cupboards, they should be stored in the loft, gifts should not be on display by an open or exposed window and radio and lighting timers could be set to create the appearance of occupancy while residents are out of the house.

Tags: consumers, Insurance, window, home contents, spokesperson

Neighbours cost homeowners £93.4m

Brits spend more than £93.4 million each year on damage caused by their neighbours.

New research by Abbey has found that around 543,000 of us have to endure household damage by our neighbours every year.

Londoners are the worst affected, with ten per cent encountering damage, while people in Wales are the least affected.

The average insurance claim made after a neighbour has caused damage is around £172 but one in twenty is hit for £1,000 or more.

“Not all damage caused to people’s homes by their neighbours is malicious. In many cases this type of damage is accidental. However there are often misconceptions about whose insurance is to be used to claim for it,” explained Prasad Shastri from Abbey.

“It is always the policy holder of the damaged home that will need to submit a claim. For example, if your neighbour was to cut down a tree that accidentally breaks a window, it is only you that can claim for damage to your property, not your neighbour, highlighting how important it is for you to make sure your insurance covers you against accidental damage caused to your property by other people.”

Homeowners are also warned by Abbey that buying insurance on price alone can be dangerous as it is important to make sure that you have adequate cover for your home and its contents.

Tags: Insurance, price, accidental, Household, window, abbey, Wales, misconceptions