Sunday 25th October marked the official end to British Summer Time – when the clocks go back and the days become darker sooner. But if this wasn’t bad enough to contend with on its own, we are also officially entering the riskiest time of year when it comes to our personal safety and possessions.
Safe as houses?
Data spanning 10 years from insurer Aviva – formerly Norwich Union – shows that house burglaries increase by 5% once British Summer Time ends, with forthcoming bonfire night the very worst day of the year for break-ins to your home and car. On Halloween night, Aviva reports a staggering150% rise in malicious damage claims to property up and down the country.
In fact, the onset of darker evenings has led UK homeowners to regard burglary as an even greater threat to their property than being potentially unable to pay for it. Separate research published by LV= last week, found that two-thirds (65%) of homeowners admitted burglary is their biggest fear when it comes to home security. This compares with just 49% citing problems with meeting mortgage costs – in spite of the ongoing recession.
Keeping down premiums
The most significant single factor on which insurers will base your home insurance premium is your postcode – which clearly, there is not much you can do about. However, each insurer will carry different historical data of burglaries for the same postcode so it’s really worth shopping around to ensure you have the cheapest quote possible.
Once you have the best home insurance deal under wraps, don’t assume that it will still present the best value when the policy comes up for renewal the following year. Insurers’ databanks may be vast – even incomprehensible to consumers – but they are constantly changing and homeowners would be wise to keep a step ahead by constantly reviewing their deals.
This is especially important in large cities such as London, Manchester and Liverpool where premiums for home insurance are considerably more expensive due to higher risk.
Making security improvements to your home, such as fitting approved door and window locks is, of course, a good idea but these days more of an expectation than a premium-cutting bonus in the eyes of insurers. Joining an active Neighbourhood Watch Scheme however is one measure that will boost your home security and may help to keep your premiums down.
Something for nothing
As the festive season approaches, it’s also worth checking to see if your home insurer offers a seasonal boost in contents cover to account for the extra value of possessions stored in your home. Virgin Money’s home insurance for example, gives an automatic 10% increase in cover over the Christmas period. Other providers may require a phone call to trigger the cover increase which, for a few minutes of your time and no extra premium, has got to be worth doing.
Natural causes
But there are also more natural causes behind the darker, colder months ahead which can be held responsible for the greater number of claims on household insurance. Extreme weather patterns for example are more common in winter which can cause flooding, damage from high winds or frost, and even freezing pipes – all events covered by your home insurance policy.
Driving in the dark
Accidental damage is also more common in the darker months for obvious reasons – but this a lot more prominent on the roads than in the home. Insurer Zurich Connect has recorded an average 11% increase in car insurance claims immediately after the clocks go back for the past three years. The sharp rise is noted when comparing the two weeks preceding and two weeks following the end of British Summer Time.
According to spokesperson, Mike Quinton, this is because drivers get used to driving their regular routes in broad daylight, then find it hard to adjust to doing the same journey at the same time – but in the dark.
The insurer recommends that motorists keep car windows clean – in poor weather conditions and at night, any smears or marks on windows exaggerates the glare from oncoming headlights and reduces visibility. Keeping headlights clean will also help you to see the road ahead, and other road users to see you, while keeping tyre pressure to the recommended guidelines will enable you to stop quicker on wet or icy roads.
Keeping fully covered
Thankfully, most of the claims from both motor and household policies relate to small bumps, knocks and accidental damage. In this case keeping fully covered in this darker and more hazardous time of year is vital.
Shopping around and paying your annual premium upfront will not only ensure you get the best deal for the least money, but will arm you with the most comprehensive cover that you won’t have to think about again until next year.