Get adequate home insurance cover, consumers advised

Britons should ensure they have a sufficient level of home insurance in place.

Homeowners have been reminded of the need to have adequate levels of household insurance in place.

Chris Torney points out in a lovemoney.com article that as people acquire an increasing amount of possessions, so the amount of cover they need will also rise.

And as the majority of policies have a value limit, those looking to protect items which cross this threshold could find that they are charged extra.

However, consumers should not assume that possessions which are kept in sheds, garages and other outbuildings - such as lawnmowers and bicycles - will automatically be covered. While some policies will provide protection for items kept in such buildings, others may not, so contacting an insurance supplier for clarification is recommended.

Britons are also advised to be aware of the differences between contents and buildings insurance, as the former is designed to protect goods which are damaged or stolen.

The latter, meanwhile, "pays out if the fabric of your home is damaged" and if people own their own home, it could be possible that mortgage lenders stipulate that this cover is in place when issuing credit.

Those on the search for home insurance may also want to consider Mr Torney's advice to be truthful about the level of home security protection that they have in place.

While applicants could find that claiming to have fitted high-quality window locks in their home could lower the initial cost of premiums, if these devices are not actually in place then attempted claims on cover in the future could be invalidated, leaving policyholders out of pocket.

Making sure a comprehensive level of cover is in place could be especially advisable following the publication of Sainsbury's research indicating that some 16,000 claims of water damage causing "forcible/violent bursting" have been made since the start of the cold snap.

By Nate Sawyer