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Fitting burglar alarms and locks to doors and windows is common sense, yet 11% of people still leave their front door wide open to burglars each year, according to recent research from Newcastle Building Society. Newcastle found that, while the majority of people understood the measures to take to reduce their home contents insurance cover, many admitted to acts of forgetfulness over the last year which could cost them dear should they need to make a claim.
The top acts of forgetfulness by UK residents included:
Some of these acts of forgetfulness occur even though people have had to make a claim on their home contents insurance in the past.
Steven Marks, Lending Executive at Newcastle Building Society commented, "It stands to reason that leaving your home without locking the doors or setting the alarm creates a risk for burglary but it can also affect your home contents cover should you come to claim.
"If people really want to feel the benefits of their home contents cover they shouldn't leave their home at risk even if it just to pop to the shops!"
The survey also found that people who rent their property are less likely to have home contents insurance compared to those who own their home outright or have a mortgage and specifically those renting in London are less likely to have home contents insurance compared to other areas of the UK.
People in the North of the UK are most likely to make a claim on their home contents insurance due to burglary (10%) while people in the South are most likely to make a claim due to damage from appliances or flooding (7% for both).
02 July 2008 © Moneyextra.com
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