Does Your Home & Contents Insurance Hold Up When You Are On Holiday?
The holiday season is almost here. While you're busy booking flights and planning days out, there's one thing that often gets forgotten before you head off: whether your home insurance will protect you while you're away. Spoiler alert: it might not be as watertight as you think. Here’s a quick roundup of things to be aware of. But speaking with us will make sure your home has the most accurate protection. Call us today so you aren’t second-guessing your policy poolside.
The auto-renewal trap
Let's start before you even leave the house. If your policy is due for renewal soon, please do not just let it roll over automatically. Loyalty rarely pays in the UK insurance market, and it's extremely common for insurers to increase premium year on year. Take the time to get a like-for-like comparison at renewal. Same level of cover, same excess, same add-ons. Just a fresh quote. You could save a meaningful amount. It's one of the easiest wins in personal finance.
Read the small print before you go
Your policy schedule is full of conditions that most people never read until it's too late. Many insurers require you to lock windows, double-lock doors, and, in some cases, even turn off the water supply before leaving. If you forget, or simply didn't know, a claim could be rejected on a technicality. Have a quick look through your schedule before your next trip. It's not the most exciting pre-holiday reading, but it's a lot better than coming home to a problem and being told you're not covered.
Going away for more than 30 days?
This one catches a lot of people out. Most standard home insurance policies include an unoccupied property clause, which typically kicks in if your home is left empty for 30 consecutive days or more. Once that threshold is crossed, certain elements of your cover, particularly for escape of water or theft, may be restricted or removed entirely. If you're planning a longer trip, contact your insurer before you go. A quick call now could save a very expensive conversation later.
Document everything
Finally, a simple habit that makes a real difference: walk around your home with your phone and record a short video of your belongings or take photos, room by room. Store it in the cloud, so it's accessible anywhere. If you ever need to make a claim, having clear evidence of what you own, and its condition makes the whole process significantly smoother and faster.
Your home insurance should give you peace of mind while you're away, not a nasty surprise when you get back. A quick check before you leave could save you thousands.
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