Why you should check your home insurance in time for Christmas

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As the festive season draws near, homes across the UK are filling up with Christmas gifts costing hundreds or even thousands of pounds.

But how safe are they in the face of burglary or accident? Homes without a suitable level of home contents insurance cover run a huge risk of losing out financially if disaster strikes.

At this time of year, a comprehensive home insurance policy is essential to cover the cost of the increase in valuables in the home, such as digital cameras, laptops, games consoles, iPods, jewellery, designer clothes and other gems often found on the Christmas wish-list.

Many insurers offer an automatic seasonal increase in level of contents cover for a limited period at no extra cost to the policyholder. Not all do, so policyholders should double check with their insurance company.

It pays to revalue any contents cover in the New Year when new gifts have been received and update the sum insured to avoid being underinsured when the 'temporary increase' period expires. Any new gifts that exceed the single item limit (often £1, 500) on the policy may well need to be insured separately.

Common Christmas Claims

The lure of a houseful of presents is all too tempting for the opportunistic thieves. Every year thousand of burglars strike to do their Christmas shopping at your expense.

As well as claims for theft, insurers see an increase in number of general claims for accidental damage as Christmas parties get under way. Common claims include spillages and burns on carpets and furniture and breakages.

Not all home insurers include accidental damage as standard. Those without this 'add-on' could find they spend more than they budgeted for this Christmas.

Christmas Safety & Security

• Christmas tree lights and decorations are a potential fire hazard. Check that all light connections conform to the correct British Standards number.

• Never overload power sockets or leave flexes trailing across the floor.

• Install an alarm to deter burglars. Insurers tend to favour NACOSS approved alarms systems.

• Lock windows and doors securely. Using mortice deadlocks and rimlocks that conform to British Standard 3621 will reduce your premiums by up to 10%.

• Keep Christmas presents out of sight of potential thieves.

• Close curtains when it gets dark.

• Dispose of boxes and wrappings carefully; these can act as an advert to burglars for goods inside the house.

• Inform your insurer if you are going to be away for a long period of time.

• If you are going to be away make sure you cancel milk and newspapers and ask a neighbour to remove your post and keep an eye on your property. An accumulation of any of the above will advertise to burglars that the house is unoccupied.

• Leave lights and a radio on if you are out during the evening. Invest in a timer switch if you are going on holiday.