The Intermediary – April 2025 - Flipbook - Page 61
P RO T E C T I O N
Opinion
Eggs aren’t the
only thing at
risk at Easter
D
uring the Easter and
Spring holidays,
there is an increased
risk of accidental
damage as families
and friends spend
more time at home or together, and
this increase in household activity can
result in a higher incidence of home
insurance potential claims.
Interestingly, the latest Which?
analysis found that most policies don’t
include accidental damage cover as
standard – only 22 of the 78 policies
looked at included it as standard for
buildings and 23 for contents. At
Safe&Secure Home Insurance, we
only offer policies that have Standard
Accidental Damage included, and
additional cover for spillages and
breakages or DIY accidents can be
included, too.
Now that the sun is out and
temperatures are rising, we are all out
in our gardens sprucing things up,
and in our homes doing DIY projects.
The Easter break is a popular time
for home improvement projects,
but mishaps can lead to unexpected
claims and costs. AXA reported that
accidental damage claims on Easter
Monday have soared by up to 29% over
the annual average in previous years,
with an average claim nearing £500.
Many insurers offer special
events cover which extends contents
insurance during significant occasions
like Easter. This additional coverage
protects extra items in your home
such as food, decorations, and gis –
during the lead-up to and duration of
the celebration.
Here’s an Easter home insurance
checklist for your clients:
1. Review the policy cover
Make sure accidental damage is
included, especially if doing DIY.
Check the limits of contents
insurance – are they enough for
valuables or gis?
Have you got home emergency
cover, and if not, do you want to
add it on?
Some insurers boost your contents
cover temporarily around holidays
like Easter, with the addition of
special events cover.
2. Prep for DIY projects
Avoid complex tasks, like
anything involving plumbing
or electricals. People oen take
on DIY tasks they might not be
qualified for.
Take photos before and aer
projects – this is useful in the event
of a claim.
3. Safety
Big family meals, roasts, and baking
Easter treats means more time in
the kitchen, so don’t leave cooking
unaended.
Check smoke alarms.
Avoid overloading sockets with
appliances – slow cookers, air
fryers, coffee machines – all at once.
Remind family and guests to be
cautious – for example, no candles
near curtains.
4. Security
Lock all doors and windows if you go
out, even for a short walk.
Keep valuables out of sight,
especially from front windows.
5. Home emergency cover
Make sure your policy has
emergency cover, especially for
boiler or heating breakdowns,
plumbing and drains, and lost keys
or security issues.
Save your insurer’s emergency
helpline number to your phone.
STEPH DUNKLEY
is development director
at Safe&Secure
6. Keep up to date records
Use your phone to take photos or
videos of valuable items or general
room setups.
Update your inventory if you’ve
bought anything expensive recently,
such as tech and jewellery.
7. Increased pressure
With more people using the home,
especially bathrooms and showers,
you may see: blocked drains or
toilets, boiler or water system
overloads, and pipe issues due to
fluctuating spring temperatures.
8. Valuables and gifts
People oen buy gis – especially
for kids – or host parties with extra
valuables around.
The claims can increase if people
leave doors or windows open or go
out and forget to secure the home.
Items like electronics or jewellery
might not be fully covered unless
the policy has valuables specified if
over a certain individual value.
So, during Easter claims have been
shown to spike, with Easter Monday
seeing a particular increase.
Homeowners should be encouraged
to review their policies to ensure they
include accidental damage, home
emergency, and special events cover.
With more valuables, guests, and time
spent in kitchens or gardens, it’s vital
to stay safe, secure the home properly,
and keep records updated.
Brokers such as Safe&Secure Home
Insurance want all their clients to
have a safe and happy Easter, and so
emphasise the need for reviewing
buildings and contents cover and
always geing advice on the possible
optional extras. ●
April 2025 | The Intermediary
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