If you don’t properly secure your house or take undue risks, your insurer may refuse to pay your claim due to negligence.
Keys
If a criminal uses your keys to break into your house, keeping them in a key safe or beneath a doormat may invalidate your home insurance.
Your insurance company may refuse to cover thefts caused by misplaced keys or keys supplied to a friend or neighbor.
Keep your keys indoors, out of sight and reach of windows and doors, to keep your home secure and your insurance valid.
You could even keep your car keys upstairs, making them more difficult to locate and preventing burglars from making a quick getaway.
Failing to use security
Declaring a home security alarm and certain types of locks to your insurer could lower the cost of your home insurance while also providing you with peace of mind.
However, disclosing these steps but not implementing them could result in your policy being invalidated. Many insurers require that an alarm be activated at specific times, such as when you leave the house or when you are sleeping.
Opening windows or neglecting to secure them might cancel your insurance, and if a thief gains unauthorized entrance to your home, you won’t be protected for anything taken.
Which key safes are insurance approved?
Supra makes the most secure key safes in the UK. Supra C500 was created in close conjunction with UK insurance firms, with the majority of major underwriters agreeing that “no claim for theft from a client’s house would be compromised or affected.”
Does leaving a key in door invalidate insurance?
From a young age, some parents entrust their children the house keys. Every family has its unique set of circumstances.
It’s possible that your work schedule necessitates your youngster having a key to enter the house when you’re not present.
However, before you get an extra set of keys made, talk to your youngster about the responsibilities that come with having a key.
Make it clear to them that if they lose it, they must immediately notify you so that you can take appropriate steps, such as changing the locks if necessary.
However, it isn’t simply youngsters that are affected! Everyone with a key is accountable for ensuring that your home is locked when they depart.
Many home insurance policies stipulate that particular door locks be installed, and if a burglary occurs as a result of the locks not being installed, your insurer may deny your claim.
Can key safes be broken into?
You’d be forgiven if you assumed that a locking device would keep your key safe. Unfortunately, many lock boxes are composed of materials that are easily broken into and cannot endure impact.
Should I use a key safe?
Outdoor key safes provide a lot of advantages. Before you decide to put one up, make sure it is professionally installed. Consult a local tradesman.
Key safes, like anything else related to security in and around the home, might be insecure. The fact that your house or car keys are locked in one location implies that if someone tries to break in, it can be incredibly damaging.
If you have a family and frequently misplace keys, an indoor key safe is a smart solution. Businesses and schools that require numerous persons to use different keys at different times may benefit from an indoor key safe or key cabinet.
The best usage for an outdoor key safe is to leave spare keys outdoors for visitors to readily obtain entry to your house. You might have a loved one who lives alone and has trouble answering the door. An exterior key safe is great for allowing family members and medical personnel access to the property without bothering the occupant.
Which key safe is best?
This high-security key safe is Secured by Design and Sold secure accredited, and is specifically built to guard against external attack. The Master Lock High Security Key Safe is a heavy-duty key safe that weighs 3kg and has a recessed door structure. It comes with a hinged plastic protective cover for protection against the elements and is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. This key safe has 14 push buttons that may be used to generate 16,000 distinct codes.
Does House Insurance Cover keys?
It can be distressing and costly to lose your house keys, but the good news is that home insurance can help. Replacement locks and keys coverage may be included in your insurance, and if it isn’t, you may be able to add it.
If you’re locked out or your home isn’t safe, home emergency coverage, which you may add to your policy, may include locksmith services.
If you lose your keys or they are stolen, you should change the locks as quickly as possible – not only for security reasons, but also to ensure that your house insurance is valid. Your insurance company may be able to help you find a locksmith.
If you’re moving into a new house, replacing the locks should be on your to-do list. Previous owners have been known to return to take advantage of the current owners’ possessions. How many spare keys did they give out to relatives and friends?
If your home is broken into, your insurance company will search for indicators of forced or violent entry, such as a cracked glass or a busted door.
It’s possible that your claim will be denied if an intruder enters your home with a key and there’s no evidence of forceful or violent entry.
Does working from home invalidate home insurance?
As a result, you may have to spend a bit more on your premiums to cover your house contents and structure, but costs for those who work from home can sometimes be reduced.
This could be due to the fact that your home is often occupied during the times of day when most homes are empty, making it less likely to be burgled.
If you work from home, your home insurance premiums may increase since you have more office equipment to insure and, if you receive clients, you have a higher chance of accidental damage, fire, or theft because you have more visitors.
Is it illegal not to have house insurance?
It is legal to own a home without having homeowners insurance. Those that have a financial stake in your property, such as a mortgage or a home equity loan, will almost always demand it to be insured.
Why you should never leave keys in the door?
There are a variety of low-cost options for securing your property. To help you beat the thief, Keys4U Locksmiths has compiled a list of easy home security advice.
Safe Practice
- Never open the door to someone you don’t know. Install a door viewer (peep hole) or a door chain to see who is at your door before you open it.
- Breakers can shatter a window and reach inside to unlock the door if keys are left on the inside of door locks or on window ledges near the door.
- Make sure your name and address aren’t written on any key tags. If you lose your keys while not at home, they may end up in the wrong hands.
Physical Security
- Install window locks as necessary. Lock your windows, especially those on the bottom floor or those that are easily accessible due to flat roofs.
- All external doors should have 5 lever deadlocks, according to the home office. Locks that meet British Standard BS 3621:2004 should be installed or upgraded.
- Sheds and outbuildings are particularly prone to theft, so you should secure them with a strong lock and a padlock or padbolt. All valuables should be kept locked up in sheds and barns, and expensive garden equipment should never be left outside. Ladders and other equipment that could be used to break into your home should be secured with a chain and padlock.
Other Deterrents
- Gravel or pebbles on driveways serve as a warning when someone approaches your home. Burglars are aware of this, and it serves as a deterrent.
- Install window blinds. Because they are a noisy barrier for intruders seeking to gain entry, venetian or vertical blinds can be a considerable deterrent.
- Install an alarm system, or at the very least a dummy alarm box, in a visible location on the outside of the property.
- Participate in your local Neighbourhood Watch program and show the Neighbourhood Watch and CCTV in Use stickers.
- Reduce the height of shrubs and trees near your home to make it more difficult for criminals to hide.
- Property markers can be an effective deterrent since they make it harder for a burglar to sell your belongings.
- Burglars are deterred by time light switches with motion detection since there is nowhere for them to hide.
When Away From Home
- To give the idea that someone is home, use a timer switch to turn on and off a radio.
- To turn lights on and off at appropriate periods of the day and night, use timed switchers.
- Your milk and papers will be canceled. Finally, while you are away, ask a neighbor to keep an eye on your property.
How to choose a locksmith
- You don’t want to give just anybody access to the locks on your home, vehicle, or place of business, so choosing the correct locksmith is crucial.
- Examine credentials; a locksmith must be licensed and qualified. You may also see if they are a member of a union or a locksmith organization.
- Because you must trust your locksmith, be sure the company has no negative reviews or complaints.
- Find out if they have a storefront and how many people work for them.
In the Greater London area, Keys 4 U Locksmith is a group of fully qualified locksmiths. Our comprehensive variety of locksmith services includes, but is not limited to, lock installation and replacement, door repair, automobile and residential lockouts, and the creation and duplication of car keys. We are dedicated to upholding the highest industry standards. Our fitters are all highly trained, and our surveyors have a wealth of experience in advising customers on the most cost-effective approach to install a variety of doors and locks.