Brits going away this winter warned to check home insurance

Before the ‘I'm a Celebrity' participants arrive in the jungle next week, they would do well to check that their home insurance covers their assets while they are away, warns Confused.com.

However, it is not just the Z-list who needs to worry about their worldly goods; it applies to everyone who is considering escaping another British winter.

Darren Black, home insurance expert at Confused.com, explains: "It is a stipulation on most home insurance policies that homes should not be left unoccupied for 30 consecutive days or more. For anyone planning on a month-long stay, whatever the time of year, it is essential that they make sure that there is someone staying in the house at some point whilst they are away to make sure home owners do not inadvertently invalidate their cover.

"Other precautions which travellers can take include purchasing time-lapse automatic lighting, arranging for someone to open and close curtains daily, cancelling milk and newspapers, not leaving your car on the driveway for extended periods of time or asking someone to move it occasionally, and making sure that all windows and doors are locked before leaving the house.

"Holiday-makers should avoid advertising their absence to thieves. Many internet social networkers change their status on sites like Facebook to say that they are off on holiday which is an open invitation to thieves, particularly if their address details are listed on their personal page.

"It is important for anyone flying south for winter, be it to do a bush tucker trial or just to catch up some winter sun,, to spend a couple of minutes ensuring that their nests are well and truly protected."