Home insurance should be top of your Xmas wish list

M&S Money is warning homeowners to ensure they have enough home contents insurance over the festive period.

With householders buying their Christmas presents in advance of the big day and storing additional high value items such as MP3 players, games consoles and designer jewellery, many people may be unaware they are exceeding the limits of their normal home contents insurance cover.

Crime statistics reveal that domestic burglaries increase during the coldest and darkest months of the year. The increased value of property stored in homes in the weeks before Christmas means that householders should be particularly vigilant to the threat of a break-in.

A survey by M&S Money has revealed that security is the last thing on the minds of 39% of householders who say they leave presents under the Christmas tree well before the big day. Only 7% of householders are security-minded and wait until Christmas morning to put presents under the tree.

While 75% of UK households have home contents insurance1, only 9% of policies across the market offer unlimited cover for the contents of your home2. M&S Home Insurance gives unlimited cover3 so policyholders can relax knowing that they will never be underinsured, no matter what the value of the presents stored at home.

Judith Roberts, M&S Money Insurance Manager, said: ‘At Christmas it's easy to get caught up in the excitement of the season and forget about home security. However, we all know there are criminals who see this time of the year as providing them with rich pickings.

‘Householders can take practical measures to deter burglars and protect their homes by keeping expensive Christmas presents out of view, closing curtains during the long dark December evenings and fitting timers to lights and radios which will create doubt in the burglar's mind.'

Judith added: ‘Christmas should be a fun time of the year. By making sure you have adequate home insurance you can enjoy festivities in the knowledge that the contents of your home are protected should the worst happen.'

M&S Money offers the following tips for protecting your home this Christmas:

Do not leave presents lying around in view

After buying an expensive gift, contact your insurer to make sure that you are covered

Keep receipts and photos of your gifts as this will assist in any claim

Be careful about storing presents outside in sheds - your policy may not cover it

If disposing of packaging, do not leave it in nearby bins or outside your house, this is an invitation to thieves

If you're going away, ask your neighbours to keep an eye on your home or use timed lights

Close the curtains during the long dark December evenings

Make sure your home is secure over the holiday period if you plan to be away. Exterior doors should be fitted with locks conforming to British Standard, and windows with key-operated locks. Patio doors need locks that prevent doors being lifted.

Improve security on sheds and outbuildings by replacing standard padlocks with closed shackle padlocks.