Issues that may void your cover…

Christmas might be a time to consume, drink and be merry, but it’s also a time to be on your guard. Break-in claims tend to spike more than the festive season – not to mention any quantity of achievable organic disasters. So before you head off for Christmas holidays, take an hour or so to overview your home insurance and your contents insurance coverage.

With the festivities in full swing and the drinks flowing, it is effortless to let your guard drop when you are at house. Or rushing about to get almost everything ready and get out the door on time indicates you can fail to correctly secure your house when you go away. But failing to lock your door or a window, for instance, will not just ruin your Christmas, it could also void your insurance claim.

Burglars know there are most likely to be further transportable goods around your residence at this time of year, and numerous men and women will be away from residence going to relatives. So this is a great time to evaluation your contents insurance policy and make sure your valuables are covered. Verify not only what is covered, but what actions may well inadvertently void that cover.

Things that could void your insurance this Christmas:

• Leaving windows or doors open, or not locking windows where locks are fitted – especially if you are not at residence. If a burglar is in a position to obtain unforced entry to your home, your insurer may not pay out on your full claim.


• Not securing outside items that are employed to break into your house, or in any way help a burglar to achieve entry (e.g. ladders, tools).


• If you informed your insurer you have a burglar alarm, but failed to activate it when the house was unoccupied.


• Thefts need to be reported to the police within 24 hours in order to receive a crime quantity. Failure to report a break-in quickly could result in claim rejection.


• Any claim produced in the course of a period when your residence is left unoccupied for far more than 30 consecutive days. Verify your policy to see how long you can leave your residence unoccupied.

Current investigation from AAMI found that 30% of Australians have been the victim of a break-in and in practically a third of instances, somebody was at residence at the time.

But numerous folks do not assist themselves, with 27% of the 3,000 adults surveyed by AAMI admitting to occasionally leaving their front or back door unlocked, and 32% leaving windows unlocked. Meanwhile 1 in 5 said they have left keys below pot plants or doormats.

Modest mistakes like that, even though, could end up costing you large. No one desires to endure the anxiety of a break-in at any time of year, let alone at Christmas. So make sure you do not let your guard drop while you enjoy the holiday season. Also, make sure you are aware of your level of cover and any exclusions, since you undoubtedly don’t want to be battling with your insurance coverage business at this time of year.

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Issues that may void your cover…