Grab Home Insurance for Christmas Mishaps

The festive season may be all about joy and merriment – but unless you’re careful that Christmas cheer can quickly backfire as home insurance claims surge due to a number of accidents and unexpected events.

We all know about the dangers posed by thieves on the prowl over Christmas. For burglars, December means rich pickings as our homes are filled with brand new items, many of which we have not yet insured. Bad weather too is a real threat with high winds and snowstorms heightening the risk of damage to our property.

While taking out home insurance for these occurrences appears relatively straightforward, new research from AXA shows that 17 per cent of Brits are more likely to have an accident at this time of year than any other – but very few are taking the necessary steps to prevent them happening.

How to avoid unexpected Christmas home insurance claims

There are many added risks that you should be careful to protect yourself against over Christmas.

If you have friends and family over for a party for example, then one too many drinks can cause an array of trouble. Spilling red wine on a carpet can ruin it beyond repair. As a result you should ensure you have taken the cost of your carpets into account on your contents insurance policy and keep an eye on any drunken guests.

Be ultra careful to avoid breakages over Christmas, particularly when you bring out the fine china and crystal to impress your guests. Accidental damage cover is useful to give you peace of mind in case the worst happens.

Remember too to be careful in the kitchen, particularly when cooking the Christmas lunch as a house fire can occur quickly, particularly if food is left unattended.

Bad weather brings its own dangers and a cold snap while you’re away from home could mean frozen pipes. It can be worth leaving your heating on low to stop pipes from bursting. According to research from AXA, only around 44 per cent of us remember to do this.

Make sure you avoid accidents with candles and Christmas trees too. Many of us like to light candles in our homes over Christmas but around four per cent of us also suffer accidents. Make sure you keep candles away from flammable items such as Christmas cards and blow them out when you leave the house. Don’t forget too, to switch the Christmas lights off when you leave your home to avoid electrical fires. Try and keep the Christmas tree in an isolated area too so that it doesn’t fall and damage furniture. There have also been many home insurance claims relating to ruined carpets damaged by the water or sap coming from the base of the tree.

Take care when decorating the home - be careful not to put a foot through the ceiling when you’re looking for the decorations in the loft, for example. It’s worth having some accidental damage cover on your home insurance not to mention someone to hold the ladder.

The positioning of presents is important too. Burglars are on the lookout over the festive season and so placing a Christmas tree in the window surrounded by a pile of gifts will only attract opportunist thieves. Make sure your home is secure and keep valuables out of sight – store them in cupboards or a home safe if you have one. Also look for a home insurance policy that increases your contents cover over Christmas – several providers offer 10-to 20 per cent increases throughout the month of December.

Of course you shouldn’t just be careful with presents while they’re wrapped up – think about how you use them too. If you have electrical gadgets, read the instructions thoroughly before using them. And if your child picks up a host of new toys from Santa then watch where they are left, particularly if the child plays near the stairs.

In terms of theft protection, make sure that you take the time to secure your home properly when you leave the house over the festive period – around a third of us don’t. It’s worth carrying out a security check before leaving your home each time – checking that every door and window is locked and that the burglar alarm is switched on.

If you’re not satisfied with the level of cover you have in place compare home insurance online and find a policy that is both affordable and sufficient.