Assurant Solutions ®

Escape of water is the most common reason why insurance claims are paid. The sooner the problem is found the better.

• Check radiator valves regularly for leaks.
• Check insulation and lagging on your water pipes and tanks including those outside or in your loft.
• Check where your water stop tap is so you can switch the water off in an emergency.
• Keep your central heating on low if you go on holiday during the winter months (generally this would mean October – February).
• You can also keep your loft hatch open so warm air can get to your pipes.
• If you do want to leave your heating off, you should drain your central heating system and switch off the water supply at the mains.
• Check the fitting and working order of your washing appliances.
• Check your overflows on toilets, water tanks and central heating header tanks regularly.

Here are some useful things to know:

Buildings Insurance

This relates to the structure of the house plus permanent fixtures and fittings that are part of the house such as kitchen units, toilets, sinks etc. Imagine taking the roof off the house and tipping upside down – whatever doesn’t fall out is generally considered “Buildings”.

Contents Insurance

This relates to the possessions that are easily moved and transported if you move house. Imagine taking the roof off the house and tipping upside down – whatever does fall out is generally considered “Contents”.

As well as the two main types of insurance explained above, here are a few other things you should consider.

Rebuild figure

Some insurers will cover your property up to a specified amount, others will ask for the rebuild value of your property. The rebuild cost is the amount it would cost to completely rebuild your home if it was destroyed beyond compare including the price of labour, cost of materials and removal of any existing materials. NB: The rebuild cost can be very different to the cost it would be to buy your home i.e. the market value.

Accidental Damage

Does your policy cover accidental damage? This means things like spilling paint on the carpet or nail through a water pipe. Most insurers will charge extra for accidental damage cover, so you must opt for it specifically when you take out your policy.

Locks & Burglar Alarms

Your insurer will also want to know information about external locking doors and windows. NB: If you forget to set the alarm or lock the door and you are burgled, this may affect your claim. Did you know that most burglaries take place between 10AM and 3PM, not at night!

High Value Items 

Most insurers will cover you for valuable items in the home but you may be asked to specify any expensive items, which usually means items worth over £1000. NB: Don’t forget to add items if you buy any new things that fall into this category.

Home Business

If you use your home as a business address you will need to declare that with your insurers as some may decline cover based on what your business is and if you have any visiting clients.

Listed Buildings

If you live in a listed building you will need to declare this when you take out your policy. This is mainly because the rebuild cost can be tricky to calculate - specialist craftsmen and materials may be required to restore the building to its original state.

Contents Outside of the Home (also known as Personal Possessions cover)

If you have any items you usually wear or take out of the home (watch, rings, glasses etc), you will need to request this cover. Similar to Valuables cover, if you have any items worth over £1000, you would need to specify these.

Excess

This is the fixed amount you have to pay if you make a claim. Your insurer will deduct this from any pay out they make. You can choose to increase the excess when you set up your policy and this should help to decrease the cost.

Holidays and travel

If you’re lucky enough to be going on a longer holiday than the norm, you need to check the unoccupancy period on your policy. If your property is left unoccupied for a significant stretch of time - usually 30 days or more – some insurers will not cover past this extended period. NB: Don’t advertise on social media that you are on holiday and your house will be empty!

DIY

Professional tradesmen will have their own insurance, but if you’re intent on ‘doing it yourself’ it’s worth checking your policy first. Accidental damage cover should offer you piece of mind for minor mishaps, but if you’re undertaking some major renovations, extending up or out, you need to check any cover restrictions on your policy.

Exclusions

Your insurance policy will always have a list of excluded items, so make sure you read your documents to ensure you’re covered. General wear and tear to your possessions won’t be covered, which may seem pretty obvious, but there may also be less obvious exclusions such as cyber-attacks or lost data.

Always read and familiarise yourself with your own insurance documentation. If you’re in any doubt call your insurance company to check the details of your policy.

A fire in your home can be terrifying for all of the family. Whilst these are not a common incident, it is worth stacking the odds in your favour.  

• Sweep chimneys of open fires once a year to stop soot building up that may cause fire or brickwork damage.
• Agree a fire escape plan with your family making sure you all know how to get out of the property.
• Make sure you all know where the door and window keys are kept at night
• Check electrical sockets are not overloaded and switched off at night and unplug all your appliances if you go on holiday.
• Don’t leave burning candles unattended or in the reach of children, put them in secure holders on a surface that cannot burn and away from anything that could catch fire.

Flooding is unfortunately becoming more and more common news and the effects can be devastating.

If you think your property may be prone to flooding or extreme weather conditions:

• Be aware of flood warnings in your area via news and internet reports.
• If you can, roll up carpets and take them upstairs.
• If you are able, move as many items as you can upstairs, such as furniture, family heirlooms and important documents.
• Move your car to higher ground.
• Lift curtains and secure them over the rails to keep them away from the floor.
• If you are able, block the doors with sandbags.
• Turn off water, electricity and gas at the mains.
• Keep a stock of filled sandbags handy to help seal your doors – your local council may provide these.
• Keep all valuables and copies of important documents (for example, your insurance policies and bank details) locked safely away, preferably in a waterproof / fireproof container kept on an upper floor.

To help avoid claims after a storm:

• Check your roof for missing or loose tiles and repair any damage to prevent leaks.
• Check and clear your gutters regularly and repair any damage so water does not leak into your home.
• Get your roof inspected every few years and keep proof that this has been done.
• Check gates and fences are secure as these are not usually covered on a home insurance policyjjj

Should there be an issue with your home during a storm, it's a good idea to put together a home emergency kit to keep to hand.
Items should include:

- External mobile phone batteries
- Portable mobile phone chargers
- Cash and debit card
- A torch
- Batteries
- Candles
- Matches
- Bottled water and canned food
- Blankets and waterproof clothing
- A list of local emergency numbers
- Your insurance details
- A first aid kit

If you do need to make a claim after a storm, 

• First and foremost, make sure you are not putting yourself or others in any danger.
• Contact your insurer as soon as possible.
• You can take pictures to show the extent of damage
• If you have added Home emergency to your cover, this could help quickly fix any damage or stop further damage in the interim

You can get some further informatuion on this from the "Making a Claim" section on the website

• Be aware of any new cracks in your walls or any cracks that are getting bigger, this may be down to ground movement.
• Check your existing trees and shrubs and think carefully about where you plant any new trees or shrubs so the roots don t damage your home.

• Consider higher level security locks on your external doors and the doors are in good condition and have toughened glass.
• Lock your windows and doors when you leave your home.
• When you go on holiday, ask someone to keep an eye on your home and pick up your mail.
• You can mark valuable items with your postcode and house number using special security markers.
• Consider having a burglar alarm installed.
• Check your sheds / outbuildings are locked.
• If you have ladders, keep them in a locked outbuilding or locked to a permanent structure away from the home.

• Check for patches of damp, mildew or mould, this may lead to gradual leaks that could damage your home.
• Look at having a gas safety check once a year on the boiler, radiators and gas appliances in your property.
• Check your loft regularly for squirrel and wasp nests. If you find any, have them removed.
• Keep receipts of goods where possible.
• If you do not have receipts, proof of ownership is important – take digital pictures of items of value in your home and outbuildings. Include pictures of you wearing personal possession items; watches, rings, bracelets etc.
• Back up your computer to avoid the loss of any sentimental material, such as family photos.

Create a home emergency kit that you keep to hand:

• Portable mobile phone chargers
• Money
• A torch
• Bottled water and canned food
• Blankets and waterproof clothing
• A list of local emergency numbers
• Your insurance details.
• A first aid kit