Post-Christmas insurance warning for UK homeowners

UK homeowners are being urged to ensure that 2022 is a happy new year by checking that new and expensive gifts received at Christmas are adequately insured.

The festive period is a time when most people’s social calendars are at their busiest, meaning insurance cover is not usually at the forefront of their minds.

With many high value presents such as jewellery, fine wines, phones and other electronic gadgets being gifted however, it is important to evaluate whether these items are adequately covered by existing home contents policies.

Research suggests that the average person spent more than £1,100 this Christmas, the largest element of this being attributed to presents and gifts.

Expensive new items are often left on open display and long dark nights mean visibility is reduced. These factors, along with many homes standing empty while families take winter holidays, mean the dark months are an opportune time for thieves to strike.

According to police forces across the UK, this is partly the reason we see an increase in burglaries this time of year.

In some cases, insurers will automatically provide cover for expensive gifts, but this will vary depending on who is providing the insurance and what type of policy you have.

The increase typically applies for up to 90 days, so it is imperative people make arrangements with their insurers that will protect newly acquired expensive items beyond this time.

Households should consider the single item price limits set by insurers – the highest price they will pay out for individual items. Should gifts or purchases exceed those limits, then they should be listed individually on your policy and insured to their full value.

Where applicable, gadget insurance should also be considered. This covers items such as laptops, digital cameras and tablets, but not mobile phones. For those who are into their tech and who may have been lucky enough to receive several gadgets this Christmas, it may prove more economical to opt for multi-gadget insurance as this offers a discount.

Advice should be sought from your insurance provider.