If you’re about to have any building work carried out on your property, be extra careful not to accidentally invalidate your home insurance in the process.
The best way to avoid this happening is to notify your home insurance provider of any planned onsite works and ask them whether you need to increase your buildings and contents cover for the duration.
Additionally, if the works involve an extension to the property, a permanent upgrade to the buildings insurance will be required to cover the extra floorspace and value.
Reasons to keep your home insurance company updated:
Structural Changes
If an extension or modification involves works to a load-bearing wall, this could mean an increased risk to the property and to the people inside. Failure to inform the insurer of any structural changes could invalidate any future claims, and the cost of making good could fall to the homeowner.
To illustrate just how common an oversight this is, a recent survey by Halifax found that 1% of homeowners who had removed an internal wall in the previous five years failed to notify their provider.
Home Security
If external walls, windows or doors are removed during any building works, your home will obviously be more vulnerable to burglary. Therefore, it's important to contact your home insurance provider to find out whether you’ll still be covered during this period. Different insurers may have different rules in this regard, so you may have short-term restrictions placed on your cover or your premiums may temporarily rise.
Also, if an extension features new doorways and windows, you should provide your home insurance company with details of the increased accessibility, plus particulars of the types of locks, security measures in place etc.
Additional Cover
Whether you’ve extended the kitchen, built a conservatory or added a whole new wing to your home, don’t forget to upgrade your buildings insurance to cover the increased rebuild cost. If you’re unsure of the cost, get a quote from a surveyor or gauge a rough idea by using a rebuild calculator [change link destination once our own calculator is up and running]. Increasing buildings cover is vital because in the event of any claim the insurance company will only pay out on the part of your house that is actually covered.
Basically, it’s in a homeowner’s interest to make sure their property remains adequately covered during and after any home improvements – it’s the best way to avoid being lumbered with a hefty bill should property damage or a break-in occur.
One last thing…
It’s not just your insurance you need to check, if you’re getting builders in to do the work, check that they have adequate ‘public liability’ insurance. This will cover accidental damage that builders may cause to your home, your neighbour’s property or the street outside.
Find great home insurance deals
Source: http://www.confused.com/featured-articles/household/home-insurance/got-the-builders-in-make-sure-you-don-t-invalidate-your-home-insurance-1041348052
Got the Builders In? Make Sure You Don’t Invalidate Your Home Insurance
Freak Home Insurance Claims
A UFO was alledged to have caused damage to a wind turbine in Lincolnshire recently which begs the question, if a UFO crashed into your house, are you covered by your home insurance? This and many others are included in this list of the oddest freak insurance claims.
Claims for freak household disasters are nothing new but if something like this happens to a householder, too often they fear the response from an insurer. They worry that it will be up to the policyholder to prove that a little green man was responsible. ‘Act of god’! More like ‘Act of Alien’!
What if a meteorite was to strike my house?
How about a stampede of wildebeest on the run from a local safari park?
What if a vindictive ex-husband bulldozes my home to the ground?
How about if a shark fell through my roof?
British motorists made claims last year for everything from a frozen squirrel crashing through a car windshield to a cow jumping on a quad bike, an insurance company said. Freak accidents involving animals topped the list of odd excuses for motor insurance claims with food-related mishaps in second place.
"We see a lot of strange claims but we were surprised at how many involved animals and food, of all things," said Sally Leeman of Norwich Union, one of the country's biggest insurance providers. "We can hardly tell drivers to beware of flying kebabs and frozen squirrels when they're on the roads but this shows how important it is to be aware of what's going on around you at all times."
The top 10 motor insurance claims were:
"The car was parked when a reindeer fell on the bonnet of my car."
"As I was driving round a bend, one of the doors opened and a frozen kebab flew out, hitting and damaging a passing car."
"A herd of cows licked my car and caused damage to the paintwork."
"A zebra collided with my car when I was at a safari park."
"While I was waiting at traffic lights, a wasp went down my trouser leg which made me hit the accelerator and prang the car in front."
"I couldn't brake because a potato was lodged behind the brake."
"My parked car was hit by a bull which had escaped from an agricultural show."
"A cow jumped on my quad bike."
"As I came over the hill, I hit a cow in the middle of the road, which then hit the bonnet and shattered the windscreen with its rear end."
Unusual Home Insurance Items
Confused.com have some interesting stories of unusual items being insured under home and contents insurance policies. If you have individual items worth £1,000 or over in your home, we all know it’s a good idea to make sure that they are listed on your home insurance.
Usual suspects include such things as plasma TVs, laptops, expensive furniture and costly jewellery.....but the more unusual suspects include the following bizarre valuables:
Peculiar paintings covered by home insurance
- If he’s good enough for the queen, he’s good enough to be displayed in your homes: yes, that’s right, a Rolf Harris original was one of the items declared under the High-Risk Item – Picture category.
With Rolf’s artwork valued at up to £55,000, it’s no wonder that householders feel the need to protect his carefully-crafted kangaroo cartoons on their home insurance. - Some of you seem to have a little problem with providing adequate details of your valuables. One applicant thought that ‘it’s a picture’ would suffice to describe their precious work of art. Another declined to give any more information than ‘Painting of Boots’. What we’d like to know is: which branch?
- Similarly, the single phrase ‘John Farnham’ was also listed in this category. Underwriters were left to puzzle over whether the picture was by John Farnham, of John Farnham, or whether the person seeking insurance actually owned Aussie singer John Farnham himself.
If the latter is the case, Mr Farnham may be offended to learn that he is only worth £4,500.
- We could understand someone being keen to insure their extensive Manolo shoe collection, or some vintage Westwood creations, but listing a ‘work uniform’ for a massive five grand is a little less comprehensible. Exactly what job could this outfit be for? Deep-sea diving? Jet-packing off to work? Or do we have evidence of Robocop’s meticulous attitude to home insurance?
- The High-Risk Item - Fur category makes for some interesting reading. We’re guessing that people used this as a catch-all for miscellaneous items, and that furry grandfather clocks, furry desks, furry oil paintings or furry barracudas aren’t really present in UK homes. We could be mistaken though: for instance, a furry desk would be invaluable for a comfy lunch-time nap at work.
- Another entry in the fur category is a ‘mint and ocelot’ coat. We’re not sure whether the ocelot spent his last moments enjoying a pack of Polos, or if the mint part was a later addition by an original fur-coat manufacturer. Or perhaps people just don’t proof-read their home insurance documents properly.
- A ‘disco-dancing costume’ worth £1,200 is lurking in the wardrobe of an applicant with a particularly bad case of Saturday Night Fever.
- An ‘Ann Summers demonstration kit’ was considered worthy of protection from, no doubt, the kind of burglar who is desperate to host their own underwear party.
- Someone owns their very own crocodile skull. Could this be a trophy belonging to Britain’s answer to Crocodile Dundee, or merely the possession of a keen osteologist (that’s bone expert to you and me)?
- A £10,000 collection of meteorites is listed as part of one person’s contents insurance policy; perhaps they were worried that these rocks, which survived sun-like temperatures as they fell through our atmosphere, might be damaged by a house fire.
- Someone wished to cover their ‘lace bobbins’ for £3,000 on their home insurance – that’s a lot of bobbins!
- We’re impressed by the person who’s managed to build up a £4,500 Scalextric collection: Santa must have been very generous last Christmas.
- A ‘James Bond cheque from a film’, listed for £8,000, is one of the most intriguing items we’ve come across. Was this written by James Bond to cover a particularly long night on the martinis? Or to him? And what movie did it appear in? Dr. No Cash? The Credit Card is Not Enough? From RSB With Love?
Protect both unusual and standard high-risk items on your home insurance
So whether you have the type of expensive possession that will raise a smile in the underwriting department, or the more usual stash of computers and pricey rings or watches, you need to make sure that your home insurance provider is made aware of these valuables as they may not be covered under standard home insurance policies.
Source: Who Would Want to Steal a Crocodile Skull? - Strange Items Listed on Contents Insurance Policies
Home Insurance Accidental Damage Explained by Confused.com
Labels: Accidental Damage, Contents Insurance, Home Insurance
The term 'accidental damage' has been subject to much debate and tears over the years. Here is advice on accidental damage from Confused.com
Accidents Will Happen – But What’s Covered Under Accidental Damage On Your Home Insurance?
Most of us take good care of our homes. But as Elvis Costello sang in his classic ode to the importance of home insurance: "accidents will happen". And what better reason to make sure that you’re adequately covered? After all, who would want to shell out for a new carpet after knocking over a glass of red wine?
But what exactly constitutes accidental damage in buildings and contents insurance policies? Our basic guide covers the main inclusions and exceptions.
What is accidental damage?
The definition of accidental damage is pretty uniform across home insurance policies: damage that occurs suddenly as a result of an unexpected and non-deliberate external action. In layman’s terms, that usually means an unintentional one-off incident that harms your property or its contents.
So, general wear and tear or damage that occurs gradually will be excluded. You also won’t be covered for mechanical failure. A computer that just gives up the ghost can’t be claimed for, but it would be covered if it smashed after you accidentally dropped it onto the floor.
Claims caused by children
Young children are the cause of many home insurance claims; and even if you don’t have offspring yourself, a lot of accidental damage is created by visiting kids. Incidents involving home entertainment equipment (for example if a toddler manages to topple your TV) are often covered under standard contents insurance policies – though it’s always a good idea to examine the small print of your particular policy to make sure.
Extending the accidental damage cover will protect most other items in your home, so you may be able to claim for fruit juice split over your curtains, or a felt-tip masterpiece drawn on your sofa. Common home insurance policy exclusions are portable electrical equipment, and clothing: so keep sticky fingers away from your laptop and favorite designer jeans and, again, check your policy wording.
Animal-related accidents
Many home insurance providers will not cover for damage caused by chewing, tearing, scratching or fouling by animals. This provision is the same pretty much across the board and few contents insurance policies will cover for pets. Sorry animal lovers: Rover needs to be fully house-trained before he’s allowed near any expensive furniture.
Several home insurance providers will not cover for damage caused by insects, vermin or infestation. Squirrels are specifically excluded from the vermin classification of a few home insurance policies; so if your doorframe has been gnawed away, you need to cross your fingers that the culprits have bushy tails.
DIY damage
Checking your home insurance policy conditions before undertaking any work is always a good idea. You may need protection under both buildings and contents policies, depending on the particular job. If you’re unsure of the difference between buildings and contents insurance, take a look at our guides on buildings and contents insurance explained. Be aware that some plumbing and electrical work will not be covered if it’s completed by an amateur.
As a general rule, if you’re not really sure what you’re doing, it’s best to avoid an accidental damage claim altogether by getting a professional in.
Claims for common accidents, such as bursting a water pipe with an ill-placed nail will usually be accepted. Be careful, though, when you’re clearing up the mess that you’ve created; damage caused by cleaning is excluded from several home insurance policies.
As the details of accidental damage cover are not always consistent between home insurance providers, it’s wise to familiarise yourself with the details before committing to a home insurance policy to ensure that you get the cover you need. At Confused.com, we’re devoted to finding you the most suitable buildings and contents insurance so that accidents don’t lead to disaster.
Source: Home Insurance Accidental Damage Explained by Confused.com
Act of God and Home Insurance
Labels: Act of God, Home Insurance
Home insurance policies sometimes contain clauses which refer to an ‘Act of God’. These tend to limit liability for natural phenomena such as lightning strikes, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and plagues of frogs – freak occurrences which cannot be prevented.
Insurance providers occasionally include these clauses to protect themselves from the hefty payouts usually associated with such unpredictable events. So, in the event that your property is damaged by what is deemed to be an ‘Act of God’, you may find that your insurance provider refuses to pay out. At which point, you might well take certain names in vain.
To this end, it’s always an idea to check your home insurance policy and see what’s excluded under the ‘Act of God’ clause. Obviously, the very essence of these exemptions is that they are unpredictable, so it can be difficult to judge if they apply to you. For example, you may not think of your property as being particularly lightning-prone, but you never know. However, it is certainly prudent to check for supposedly freak events which are becoming more prevalent, such as floods. If you do live on a floodplain, and yet floods are considered to be an ‘Act of God’ by your insurance provider, then you may later regret being underinsured.
That said, policies today often provide cover for chance occurren
ces in their standard buildings insurance inclusions. A certain level of flood damage cover may be provided, for example – probably no surprise since flooding seems not uncommon nowadays. Likewise a certain degree of storm damage cover may be provided. To be sure of the extent to which you’re covered, be sure to read the small print in your policy.
What if your house were to be destroyed? It is obviously unlikely, but not unheard of. In such a situation, if you have taken out buildings insurance (which you almost certainly will do if you have a mortgage, as it is likely to be one of your lender’s requirements), then you will be able to recover your rebuild cost. Plus some policies may be able to provide an ‘alternative accommodation’ payment in the undesirable event that your property is rendered uninhabitable for a period of time.
Last, but by no means least, it is an idea to know exactly what constitutes this exemption in the eyes of your insurance provider. Don’t get caught out by vague wording… If the situations which constitute an ‘Act of God’ aren’t specifically defined in your policy, then request clarification from your insurer, so that they cannot hide behind something loosely defined in the event of a claim. Possibly the best advice that can be given – with ‘Act of God’ clauses and as with all insurance – is know your home insurance policy!
Source: Act of God Confused.com
How to get the right travel insurance?
Travel insurance doesn't just cover lost luggage and cancelled flights. When accidents happen, it's a financial lifeline. Forgetting your travel insurance, or going for the cheapest option, might end up costing you thousands - so how can you get the peace of mind of knowing you're properly protected?
Get cover for the unexpected.
When Caroline Brown fell off a banana boat on a Greek island, she was concussed and lost her memory for 9 hours - but fortunately she hadn't forgotten her travel insurance. After 3 visits from the doctor, Caroline was back on her feet. And thanks to her insurance she claimed back all the medical expenses.
If you fancy trying something new on holiday such as horse riding or bungee jumping, make sure your activities are covered. And even if you're not planning anything quite so adventurous, it's still vital to have the right travel insurance.
Avoid a financial headache.
Accidents and sudden illnesses affect thousands of travellers every year, and the costs of medical treatment or flying a loved one home can run into thousands. Inadequate travel insurance could mean the added worry of a huge financial burden.
When something goes wrong on holiday, the right travel insurance really shows its worth. Cheaper policies may pay partial costs - but exclusions and excesses can leave a shortfall that you or your family will have to bear the brunt of. So when choosing your travel insurance, check that the policy really covers you for what you need.
Know what your luggage is worth.
When you add it all up - outfits, shoes, digital camera, MP3 player, phone, jewellery, designer sunglasses - there could be thousands of pounds in a single suitcase. And if you're into golf, scuba diving or skiing, that figure could rise even higher.
We all know that sinking feeling when you reach for your phone or camera and find it missing. But if you're not insured, you'll have to foot the bill yourself, and that's enough to ruin your holiday. Work out what your luggage is really worth, and check you're fully covered.
Buy cheap travel insurance from Post Office®; single trip and annual multi trip travel health insurance offering you comprehensive cover with a range of additional options.
UK drink driving worries at Christmas time
Over the last couple of decades anti-drink driving TV advertising campaigns have become as much a part of Christmas as the Coca-Cola 'Holidays are coming,' and Slade appearing several times during every ad-break. So with the run-up to Christmas 2008, what is the current state of drink driving in the UK? And is it time for an even harder hitting campaign?
'Think' is a UK government campaign to reduce deaths and serious injuries on the road by 40 per cent by 2010. Their most recent statistics show that amongst drivers, the unacceptability of drink driving has increased since 2006. This also correlates with the increase that drivers believe it likely that they will be caught by the police if they drink drive.
In the news however, The Yorkshire Post reported in August that Green Flag's most recent findings show that the number of women who drink drive has drastically increased. Since 1995, the number of women convicted after drink driving has increased by 60 percent, whilst 11 per cent admitted to driving over the limit. The Yorkshire Post report seems to contradict the apparently positive findings from 'Think', as the words of road safety campaigner Andrew McGavin sum up the situation:
"There was a fantastic campaign in the 1980s which made drink driving a social taboo. Sadly, that's no longer the case. People have realised the chances of actually getting caught is small."
This statement is reflected by the recent actions of police in Northern Ireland. Due to a reported 3,800 motorists being found over the limit already this year, authorities have warned of the difficulties faced by those who get caught in being able to acquire car insurance in the future. As well as urging motorists to face these consequences, they have reminded potential drink drivers that they will also face a one year ban.
It seems that although improvements have been made on the road overall (drink driving deaths decreased a further 18 per cent from 2006 to 2007), efforts still need to be made. But it would also seem that the social worth of having a hard hitting advertising campaign showing the evils of drink driving might be over. Maybe today's television audience are not as easily shocked and we need to see some more concrete evidence of harsher punishments to really cut drink driving further.
For those looking for cheap car insurance, try the from Post Office® who search from a panel of leading insurers to bring you the best car insurance quotes and car insurance options, for all your auto insurance needs.